Straightening Teeth: Frequently Asked Questions

Expect tenderness for a few days after braces are fitted or adjusted, and after changing to a new aligner. It feels like pressure rather than sharp pain, and ordinary painkillers manage it.

Sometimes, where there is not enough room in the arch for the teeth present. It is less common than it used to be. Your dentist will explain why if it is recommended, and what the alternative would cost you in result.

Often yes, where the back teeth already meet correctly. This is quicker and less expensive. It is not suitable when the bite itself is the problem, because moving front teeth alone would leave the cause untouched.

Cost depends on the appliance and how long treatment runs, so we quote after the assessment rather than over the phone. Ask about payment arrangements at that appointment, and check what your medical aid plan covers for orthodontics.

Yes. Wear a mouthguard for contact sport, and tell us you have braces so it is made to fit over them. With aligners, take them out and store them in their case rather than a pocket.

Avoid hard and sticky food that can pull a bracket off, including toffee, nuts, ice and hard biltong. Cut apples and carrots into pieces rather than biting straight into them.

Braces move teeth with force. Myobrace changes the habits that caused the crowding, such as mouth breathing and tongue position, while a child is still growing. The two can also be used in sequence.

Around age seven. Enough adult teeth have come through to show how the bite is developing, and there is still growth to guide. Bring them sooner if you notice mouth breathing, snoring or thumb sucking.

They will if you stop wearing your retainer. This is the single most common reason people need treatment twice. Wear the retainer as instructed and the result holds.

Yes, and it matters more than usual. Appliances trap plaque, so keep your regular check-ups and cleaning appointments running alongside the orthodontic visits.

Many people do, without trouble. The risks are gradual: plaque building where you cannot clean, gum inflammation along crowded areas, and uneven wear on the teeth taking most of the bite. Your dentist can tell you whether yours are causing harm or simply not straight.