FAQ

The doctor asks about your health, examines the teeth, gums, bite and joint, takes a 3D scan and photos. You leave understanding the diagnosis, the treatment options — aligners or braces — and their cost. The visit takes about 40–60 minutes.

On the complexity of the anomaly and degree of crowding, the chosen system — aligners, metal, ceramic or self-ligating braces — and the amount of preparation: hygiene, treatment of caries and gums, extractions. The doctor gives the exact figure and timeline after diagnostics, and they are fixed in the contract.

The system itself — aligners or braces — and the orthodontist's work fitting, adjusting and removing it. Diagnostics and preparation of the mouth are paid separately, as are retainers — the necessary final stage. The list of work is fixed before treatment starts.

There is no age limit: tooth movement works the same at 15 and at 50. What matters is the condition of teeth and gums. In adults the bone is denser, so treatment takes a little longer and the retainer is worn for life.

Biologically, 12–17: the jaws are still growing and bone renews quickly, so teeth move more easily and treatment is shorter. Braces are fitted once most permanent teeth have erupted, usually by 12–13.

A routine check-up at 6–7, when the first permanent teeth erupt. Earlier if the child breathes through the mouth, sucks a thumb, teeth erupt late or incorrectly, or there are speech defects. While the jaws are growing, many problems are solved with gentle removable appliances.

Fitting and removing braces is painless — you only feel light pressure. In the first days after activation or a tray change there may be discomfort that passes in 2–3 days. For marked sensitivity you can take your usual painkiller, agreed with the doctor.

With aligners, on average 9 to 24 months; with braces, 12 to 36. For minor problems the time drops to about a year. The doctor gives an exact forecast after diagnostics.

The complexity of the case, age — correction is faster in teenagers — and how well you follow the recommendations: tray wear time, regular visits, care of the system, plus the amount of preparatory work.

Both work. Aligners are discreet, come out for meals and brushing, need fewer visits and act more gently on the teeth, but require discipline — 20–22 hours of wear a day. Braces cost less and work without your involvement. The final choice rests with the orthodontist after an examination.

Not necessarily. Modern aligners with attachments and elastics handle distal, mesial, open and deep bites and pronounced crowding. The orthodontist assesses the case on a 3D model and suggests the right option.

Metal braces are noticeable and show in photos. Ceramic braces are hard to spot at conversation distance — they read as a slight feature of the smile. The least visible option is clear aligners.

Rarely. Bite anomalies almost always involve both jaws, even when the issue is visible on one. Single-jaw treatment is possible for localised crowding of 1–2 teeth or a small gap with a correct bite — the orthodontist decides after diagnostics.

The systems themselves do not. White spots around brackets appear only with poor hygiene. Under aligners there is no adhesive or metal, so the risk of demineralisation is minimal. Proper care and professional cleaning keep the enamel healthy.

With braces — brush after every meal with an orthodontic brush, interdental brushes and a water flosser, avoid hard and sticky food, and have a professional cleaning every 3–4 months. With aligners — remove the trays to eat, brush your teeth and the trays before putting them back.

Whole nuts, seeds, crackers, crisps, hard candy, toffee, nougat and gum. Cut hard fruit, vegetables and meat into pieces. With ceramic braces limit staining foods. With aligners there are no restrictions — the trays come out for meals.

Do not try to fix it yourself or wait for the scheduled visit — book an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. A missing element creates uncontrolled forces on the other teeth. A protruding wire end can be covered temporarily with orthodontic wax.

With braces — every 4–6 weeks for wire changes and activation. With aligners — every 2–4 months: you receive a set of numbered trays and change them yourself on schedule, which is convenient for travel and a busy diary.

After the system is removed the teeth tend to drift back, so a fixed retainer — a thin wire on the inside of the front teeth — is bonded the same day and night trays are made. Retention lasts at least twice as long as active treatment, and in adults is often lifelong.

Yes, if you abandon the retainers or ignore erupting wisdom teeth. With the retention regime and check-ups the result is stable.

Yes. Before treatment starts you have a professional cleaning, caries and gum disease are treated, old fillings are replaced and a decision is made about wisdom teeth. If there are no problems, a cleaning is enough.

A malocclusion overloads individual teeth and the joint: the enamel wears, the gums inflame and recede, the joint clicks and hurts, headaches appear, chewing and speech suffer. Over the years correction becomes harder and longer.

Yes. After the 3D scan the doctor models the tooth movements and shows your future smile on screen. For aligners it is a precise staged plan; for braces, a forecast based on the digital model and the doctor's experience.

During tooth change — with children's aligners, plates with screws and springs, and trainers that guide jaw growth, stop bad habits and restore nasal breathing. Braces come after the teeth have changed, usually from 12.

In the first days there may be a slight lisp — it goes away within a few days as you adapt. Ceramic braces and aligners change speech minimally.