Orthodontics

What is orthodontic treatment?

Orthodontics moves teeth through bone by applying light, sustained pressure. The bone on one side of the root resorbs and new bone forms on the other, allowing the tooth to migrate gradually into its planned position. Whether the pressure comes from a wire in a bracket or from a sequence of clear plastic aligners, the biology is the same.

Treatment corrects crowding, spacing, rotations and the way the upper and lower teeth meet. A bite that is deep, open, crossed or shifted forward or back puts uneven load on particular teeth and on the jaw joints. Correcting it protects the teeth long term, and it is frequently the first stage of a smile makeover, since well-aligned teeth need far less reduction for veneers or crowns.

Who orthodontics suits

There is no upper age limit. Adults now make up a large share of orthodontic patients, and healthy teeth in healthy bone can be moved at any age. The prerequisites are stable gums and no active decay, which is why a periodontal assessment and any necessary restorative work come first.

• Adults with crowding, gaps or relapse after braces in their teens
• Adults preparing for veneers, crowns or implants who need teeth positioned first
• Teenagers, once most of the permanent teeth have erupted
• Children from around age seven, where early interceptive treatment can guide jaw growth
• Patients with bite problems causing wear, jaw discomfort or difficulty cleaning

Orthodontics for children

An orthodontic check at around seven identifies problems while the jaws are still growing. Some children benefit from an early phase with a removable or functional appliance to widen the arch or correct jaw relationship, followed by a shorter phase of fixed braces later. Many need nothing until their permanent teeth are in. Your dentist confirms after examination whether early treatment is worthwhile.

The process: 3D scan, simulation and treatment plan

Orthodontic planning at the clinic is fully digital, which matters particularly for patients who will spend most of their treatment abroad.

• Clinical examination, photographs, panoramic X-ray and a cephalometric X-ray to assess jaw relationship
• An intraoral 3D scan replaces impressions and captures your teeth in minutes
• The scan is used to simulate the planned tooth movement, so you see the projected end result before committing
• The written plan sets out the appliance, the expected duration, the number of visits and the follow-up schedule
• Aligners are manufactured from the approved plan; braces are fitted using the same digital positioning
• Attachments, elastics or small tooth-coloured buttons are placed where needed for specific movements

Clear aligners vs braces: metal, ceramic and lingual compared

Each system has genuine strengths, and the comparison is about suitability rather than a hierarchy.

• Clear aligners: removable, nearly invisible, no dietary restrictions and easy cleaning. Require twenty to twenty-two hours of wear a day and suit mild to moderate crowding, spacing and some bite corrections
• Metal braces: the most versatile and efficient system for complex movements, rotations and significant bite correction. Visible, and require care with hard and sticky foods
• Ceramic braces: work like metal braces with tooth-coloured brackets that are far less noticeable. Slightly bulkier and can be a little slower for certain movements
• Lingual braces: fixed to the inside surfaces of the teeth and invisible from the front. Precise but more demanding to adapt to, with an initial effect on speech and tongue comfort

How the choice is made

The simulation shows whether aligners can achieve the required movements predictably. Severe rotations, large vertical movements and some jaw discrepancies are more reliably handled with fixed braces. Where either would work, your lifestyle, discretion and discipline with removable appliances decide it. A combination, such as a short phase of braces followed by aligners, is sometimes the most efficient route.

Duration and remote follow-up from abroad

Mild cases finish in six to nine months; comprehensive treatment typically takes eighteen to twenty-four months. Aligner patients receive several stages at a time and change them at home on schedule. Progress is reviewed remotely using photographs or a scan app every few weeks, and the clinic sees you in person at key points, usually two or three visits over the course of treatment.

Fixed braces need adjustments roughly every six to ten weeks. For patients living abroad, this is arranged either with longer intervals using specific wire sequences, or in partnership with a supervising dentist near home who follows the written plan. How these visits fit together is set out in the treatment journey, and the practicalities of travel in the international patient pages.

Daily life with aligners or braces

Aligners are removed to eat and drink anything other than water, then teeth are brushed before they go back in. The first days of each new stage bring a feeling of pressure that fades quickly. Speech adapts within a day or two. Because they are removable, discipline is the main demand: aligners left out for hours each day simply do not move teeth on schedule.

Braces require a change in eating habits: hard, sticky and crunchy foods can break brackets. Cleaning takes longer, with interdental brushes and, ideally, a water flosser to keep the gums healthy. Wax covers any bracket that rubs, and the mild ache after adjustments settles within days. Sports are fine with a mouthguard.

Retainers: keeping the result

Teeth have a memory. Once treatment ends, the fibres around the roots pull them back towards their old positions, and without retention some relapse is almost certain. Retainers are therefore not optional and not temporary.

A thin wire bonded to the inside of the front teeth provides continuous, invisible retention for the lower and often the upper arch. A removable clear retainer is worn over it, full-time for the first months and then nightly. The clinic provides both, checks them at review visits, and replaces removable retainers as they wear. Care instructions are included in the aftercare guide.

Risks and limitations

Orthodontic treatment is safe when the mouth is healthy, but there are considerations. Poor cleaning around braces leads to white spot marks and gum inflammation. Root shortening of a millimetre or so is a common and usually insignificant response to tooth movement, though it is monitored on X-ray. Teeth may become slightly mobile during treatment and firm up afterwards.

Not every plan reaches the simulated result exactly, and refinements with additional aligners or a longer period in braces are sometimes needed. In adults with skeletal discrepancies, orthodontics alone can improve alignment but may not fully correct the jaw relationship, and your dentist will be candid about what tooth movement can and cannot achieve. Where teeth are missing or badly worn, the orthodontic plan is coordinated with implant and cosmetic planning so that everything is designed together.