You get braces if your teeth are crooked or don't fit together properly. The braces ensure that your teeth and molars are neatly lined up again and fit together properly. Brushing your teeth is also easier. This way you get a radiant smile again and your teeth stay cool and healthy. Beautiful teeth make you happy!

An orthodontist is a dentist who specializes in braces treatments. Some dentists can do this themselves. An examination will be done before you get braces. After looking inside your mouth, normal pictures and X-rays of your face and teeth are taken. Impressions of your teeth are made with a kind of clay that tastes like peppermint. It is also possible that you do not have to bite, but that the orthodontist or dentist scans your teeth. Then we look at exactly what is going on. Together with you and your parents, we will then discuss what can be changed about your teeth and which braces can be used.

There are different types of braces that can do different things. Braces (brackets (the brackets) that are attached to your teeth) allow teeth and molars to be moved to straighten them. There are different types of locks: white or metal, with or without a spring-loaded cover. An abnormal jaw position can be treated with a block brace or an outboard brace. If there is a lack of space, you can sometimes make some extra space with braces, in other cases it is better to remove permanent molars. The choice for braces depends entirely on the position of your teeth, how far you are with the change of your teeth and your growth. The same goes for the wearing times. The more you wear the brace, the better it works! You discuss all this with the orthodontist or dentist.

A lock bracket works with small subtle forces. These forces cause the teeth to grow in the desired direction. The force is generated by the wire that runs through the locks. Therefore, the thread is often adjusted during the checks. With an outboard brace, the growth of the upper jaw is changed.

A block brace is a kind of fitness device for your lower jaw: it trains your muscles so that the jaw will hopefully grow more forward. The upper jaw can be widened with a jaw expander, which is also called "hyrax" or "spider".

Outboard bracket

On average, you have to wear braces for two to three years. The duration of the treatment depends on the severity of the abnormality and your cooperation. After the treatment you often get a night brace to prevent your teeth from becoming crooked again. Splints are usually also placed behind the front teeth, which remain in place as long as possible.

You will usually need to come back every five or six weeks to get your braces adjusted. In the beginning, these visits last about half an hour. Later they get shorter and shorter. You can't always go after school. You may miss an hour of school for that.

Sometimes your teeth can be sensitive for the first few days after fitting or adjusting braces. Chewing on something soft can help. It is also quite a strange feeling in the beginning that there are braces in your mouth. Then you get used to it.

You can just brush your teeth. It is even important that you pay extra attention to brushing your teeth and your braces. It is more difficult to get it right with some braces. In that case you can use special toothbrushes. You will receive useful tips about this when you get the braces.

Prevent your braces from breaking. Locks come loose easily when eating liquorice, toffees or other hard and sticky things. Chewing gum and pulled pork easily get caught in the braces, making it difficult to remove. Lemonade and soft drinks, with or without bubbles, are better left out. They cause dental plaque, which can permanently discolor your enamel around the brackets or even cause cavities. Make sure you brush away the dental plaque well every day.