Available Treatments

Functional

Worn on the upper and lower teeth at the same time, functional braces change the way the teeth meet. They only work on children and young people and are worn at a time when the teeth and jaws are in development. Usually they are worn for about 9 months and then followed by fixed braces which move the teeth into new positions.

Fixed

Still the most effective and most widely used system for straightening teeth, fixed braces come in many forms, including aesthetic and lingual. The brackets have different designs depending on the tooth they are placed on and they are linked by an archwire. When it is attached to the brackets, the arched shape of the wire is distorted. However, the wire has been programmed to return to its original shape and it is this force which moves the teeth into new positions.

Aesthetic

A form of fixed brace for private patients, the aesthetic appliance has tooth-coloured ceramic brackets in place of metal.