Braces
Braces use brackets and a wire to move teeth gradually into a healthier position, correcting crowding, gaps and bite problems. At Suman Dental Care braces are planned and fitted by Dr. Aashka Doshi, an orthodontist with an MDS in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopaedics.
Step by step
Braces
- Before
- Treatment
- After
Typically 12–24 months of treatment with visits every 4–6 weeks, followed by retainers worn for years.
Crowded or crooked teeth are harder to clean, and a bite that does not meet properly can wear teeth unevenly and strain the jaw. Braces move teeth gradually into a healthier position. They suit most bite problems, including the more complex ones that aligners cannot treat.
- Crowded, overlapping or gapped teeth
- Overbite, underbite or crossbite
- Children can be assessed from about age 7
- Adults: there is no upper age limit
Teeth and cheeks are sore for 3–5 days after the braces go on and for a day or two after each adjustment. Eat soft food at first and use your usual pain relief. Orthodontic wax over a rubbing bracket helps.
Avoid hard, sticky and chewy foods, such as nuts, hard sweets, toffee and biting directly into apples or sugarcane. Brush after meals and clean between the wires with an interdental brush.
For a poking wire or a broken bracket, call us. Do not wait for the next adjustment visit. See the braces aftercare card.
- Tooth decay and white marks can appear around brackets if cleaning is poor.
- Gum inflammation is common with braces and usually improves with better brushing.
- Root shortening: small, usually harmless, and checked on X-rays.
- Relapse: without retainers, teeth tend to drift back.
- Soreness and mouth ulcers from the brackets, especially in the first weeks.
- Longer treatment if brackets break often or elastics are not worn.
What affects the cost
We don't publish prices online. After an examination you get a written estimate that lists each item.
- Consultation, records and a written treatment plan
- Fitting of the brackets and wires
- Regular adjustment visits
- Removal of the braces and polishing
- A first set of retainers
Questions patients ask
Do braces hurt?
Braces are not placed with needles. Teeth feel sore and tight for 3–5 days after fitting and a day or two after each adjustment. Soft food and your usual pain relief help.
How long will I need braces?
Typically 12–24 months, depending on how crowded the teeth are and what the bite needs. Your orthodontist gives an estimate at the plan visit.
Can I have braces as an adult?
Yes. There is no upper age limit. Healthy gums and bone are what matter, so gum treatment may be needed first.
Braces or aligners?
Braces suit nearly every bite problem and cannot be left out. Aligners suit milder problems if you can wear them most of the day. See clear aligners and braces vs clear aligners.
Do I need to remove teeth?
Sometimes, if there is not enough room for all the teeth. Many people do not need any removed. Your orthodontist explains this at the plan visit.
What happens after braces come off?
You wear retainers, a fixed wire behind the teeth, a clear removable retainer, or both. Without them, teeth tend to drift back.
Living with braces
What to do after treatment, day by day.
Questions about this treatment?
Send a WhatsApp message or book an examination. The dentist explains the options before anything starts.