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Thursday, November 1, 2018

Removing Braces

Removing braces is an exciting step for anybody undergoing orthodontic treatment. At Ross Orthodontics, we can say that this is usually a smooth process without much potential for complications. However, since patients are more comfortable when they feel well-informed, we wanted to provide a more detailed explanation of how braces are removed.


Orthodontic brackets are held in place by dental cement. Since dentists are so worried about brackets coming loose if the patient eats something sticky or doesn’t wear a mouthguard, you can probably tell the cement is only as strong as it needs to be. After removing the wire and bands for the last time, we use another pair of reverse-action pliers to compress the brackets, causing the dental cement to snap away from them. This allows us to lift the brackets out without needing to exert force against the patient’s enamel, although the patient may feel mild pressure.


We’ll leave the cement on to ensure the teeth remain protected until all the brackets are removed. The metal bands surrounding the molars are leveraged out using pliers with flat tips. Once the cement is scraped away, we can examine the patient for signs of decay such as white spots and make an impression to use as the basis for a retainer. Patients may want to avoid eating anything sticky immediately after the brackets are removed, since their teeth may still be sensitive. But they should soon be able to resume normal eating habits when they aren’t wearing their retainer.


To learn more about Ross Orthodontics, visit Smiles by Ross. Offices are located in Forest Lake, Minnesota and Hudson, Wisconsin.


 

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