Braces — fixed orthodontics
Fixed orthodontic treatment corrects the alignment of the teeth and the bite over 12–30 months, using brackets bonded to the teeth and archwires.
- Procedure time
- 12–30 months
- Anaesthesia
- Not needed
- Recovery
- No separate healing period
- Sessions
- Adjustment every 4–6 weeks
- How long it lasts
- Maintained with retention
The most predictable method
Fixed brackets let the orthodontist control tooth movement directly. For complex movements — root movement, closing extraction spaces, camouflaging skeletal problems — they are the more predictable option.
As well as metal brackets, tooth-coloured ceramic brackets and lingual systems bonded behind the teeth can be used. The choice follows the complexity of the movement and your preference about visibility.
Preparation before treatment
The skeletal relationship is assessed with panoramic and cephalometric radiographs, and a model analysis is done. Decay is treated and calculus removed; only then are brackets bonded.
In some cases extractions are needed to create space. That decision follows model analysis and cephalometric measurement, and the reasoning is explained to you before anything is removed.
Oral care during treatment
The area around a bracket is where plaque accumulates most easily. Inadequate brushing ends the treatment with well-aligned teeth and a stained enamel surface.
Interdental brushes, an orthodontic brush and fluoride gel are part of the treatment, not an accessory to it. Oral hygiene is assessed at each review; where it is inadequate, the treatment plan is reconsidered.
- Brushing with an orthodontic brush after every meal
- Interdental brushes and superfloss for cleaning under the archwire
- The fluoride gel or mouthwash your dentist recommends
- Avoiding hard, sticky and stone-containing foods
The retention phase
Treatment does not end when the brackets come off. Teeth tend to move back until bone and ligament reorganise around their new positions, and that tendency is strongest in the first year.
Retention is achieved with a fine wire bonded behind the teeth or a retainer worn at night. Its duration and form are set case by case and need regular review.
Who this is not for, and what not to expect
Orthodontics moves teeth within bone. Where the bone holding a tooth has already reduced, the force applied accelerates the loss; brackets are therefore not bonded until periodontal treatment is complete.
Brackets do not change the position of the jaws relative to each other. In adult cases with a severe skeletal discrepancy, orthodontics alone is not enough and a comprehensive assessment is needed.
- Untreated gum disease and bone loss — orthodontic force accelerates the loss
- Active decay and apical infection — treated before brackets are bonded
- Situations where oral hygiene cannot be maintained — high risk of permanent enamel staining
- Severe skeletal discrepancy — in an adult, brackets alone will not correct the bite
- Where the retention phase will not be followed — the result deteriorates within the first year
This page is general information and does not replace a clinical examination. The method, dose and timescale that apply to you are decided by a doctor after examining you.
Frequently asked questions
Am I too old for braces?
Do braces hurt?
What changes the length of treatment?
Is fixed orthodontics realistic if I live abroad?
Pre-assessment
Describe your situation and we will answer with a measurement
Send a photograph or an X-ray. A doctor in the relevant speciality will reply with a graft range, a number of teeth or a dose range in units. If you are not suitable, we say so plainly.