Adult Braces Before and After: What to Expect When They Come Off

31 Oct Adult Braces Before and After: What to Expect When They Come Off

If you have adult braces, you might be wondering what it will be like when they come off. The good news is that you will likely get used to the feel of your new smile quickly. You will receive a retainer to help you keep your teeth in place. Read on to learn more.

Removing the braces

While a patient has braces, the dentist will monitor the progress of the braces closely. Once the teeth have moved to the final positions, the dentist will remove the braces. The dentist will remove the wires and bands from the brackets. Then the dentist will remove each bracket from the tooth.

A patient will feel a sense of pressure on the tooth. The patient may also hear a cracking sound as the dental cement breaks loose. The cracking is not the tooth breaking. A tooth is stronger than the dental cement used to place the bracket.

Once the braces come off, a patient’s mouth may feel different. The teeth have been moved around and there is new space in the mouth. This means that the bite will feel different. A patient has most likely gotten used to having the braces, so the teeth can feel oddly smooth. This feeling will usually go away within a few days.

Retainers

All patients should wear retainers after getting braces off. The retainer will keep the teeth in place for a lifetime. This is very important for adults because the teeth are more likely to relapse without a retainer. The jaw has stopped growing and the teeth will want to move back to their former positions.

A retainer is customized for each patient so it will be as comfortable as possible. A patient will likely need to wear a retainer as close to 24 hours a day as possible. After a few months, a patient may be able to slowly cut down on the number of hours per day.

Oral rinsing

A dentist may recommend that a patient use a mouthwash after getting their braces off. This is important to the health of the teeth. A mouthwash has fluoride in it, which can increase the teeth’s strength. Patients should do this process daily to maintain the teeth’s strength. This can also protect teeth from cavities.

Whitening procedures

Patients may notice stains on their teeth after getting the braces off. This is caused by food becoming trapped under the wires or between the braces. The good news is that a dentist can remove the stains with teeth whitening. This can help draw attention to the newly straightened teeth. This can completely change the appearance of a patient’s smile for the better.

Visit a dentist today

After getting braces, you may have better self-esteem. It is important to wear a retainer to help maintain your smile. Fluoride rinses can help you keep your teeth strong. You can also get teeth-whitening treatments to remove any stains. Regularly visiting your dentist will help you keep your smile beautiful.

Request an appointment here: https://www.bracesbyabbadent.com or call Braces By Abbadent at (563) 239-9077 for an appointment in our Dubuque office.

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