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Orthodontics

We care for people who have problems with their jaws and teeth.

Our orthodontics team looks at the development of your teeth and the way your face grows. They help patients with a treatment plan and use techniques to straighten your teeth and align your jaws.

You may see an orthodontist several times before they think you’re ready to begin treatment. You’ll also need to see your family dentist who’ll help to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy.

How to access our services

Your dentist or GP can refer you to us. If you’re suitable for treatment, we’ll add you to our waiting list.

We’ll write to you when we can offer you an appointment. Your letter will tell you where you need to go, and what you need to bring.

Please allow extra time for your appointment. Sometimes our clinics run late and you may need x-rays or to see another clinician during your appointment.

Our services

Depending on your problem or condition, you may need to wear a brace and/or a retainer or have surgery.

 

We use these to correct certain types of ‘bite’ problems (how your upper and lower teeth come together or meet). Removable braces usually have plastic plates that cover the roof of the mouth and clip on to some teeth.

In some cases, we might use functional braces to reduce the prominence of your upper teeth and improve the way the teeth meet together. Functional braces are a pair of removable plastic braces that join together or are designed to interact together and fit on to both the upper and lower teeth.

Although removable braces can be taken out, they only work to correct your teeth when they’re in place. You need to wear your braces as much as possible to get the best result in the fastest time.

We’ll tell you how many hours per day you need to wear your braces. We generally only ask you to remove them for eating, sports activities and whilst cleaning your teeth.

 

They’re braces that you can’t remove. They’re made up of brackets that are glued to the front of each tooth and linked with wires. We can brighten up the brackets with different colours during your appointment.

We use these braces to correct most bites. You should not try and remove them yourself.

Your orthodontist will explain how to look after your brace, the foods you must avoid to stop marks appearing and the importance of regular appointments.

 

Sometimes teeth become stuck in the bone above the gum, known as impacted teeth. You’ll need an operation to either:

  • attach a thin gold chain to pull the tooth into your mouth or;
  • remove a small section of gum to make the tooth visible use a brace to pull the tooth into the right position.

We’ll assess you for treatment. You might go to Stoke Mandeville Hospital or Wycombe Hospital for surgery

 

Sometimes an assessment reveals that braces alone won’t correct a bite problem. In this case, you may need a combination of fixed braces and an operation to change the way your jaws meet. This is called orthognathic treatment.

An orthodontist and maxillofacial consultant will assess you in our joint clinic. If you need jaw surgery, you’ll go to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. We provide brace treatment at Amersham Hospital or Stoke Mandeville Hospital. 

 

They can help to prevent your teeth moving back to their original position after we remove your brace.

There are removable retainers and fixed retainers. Your orthodontist will discuss with you the best options for your condition before removing your braces.

 

These information leaflets from the British Orthodontics Society explain more about how to take care of your braces.

Contact

01296 322000

See also…

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery