For Children and Adolescents

Braces! Now what?

“You’ve just heard the three words that every teen dreads: “YOU NEED BRACES!”. Don’t worry! Braces aren’t nearly as scary as you may think. In fact, braces today come in a variety of types, materials, and colours, making life with braces much easier, more comfortable, and much more stylish than in the past.

Does getting braces hurt?

Contrary to what your friends will sometimes tell you, it absolutely does not! The braces are simply glued on the teeth using a special glue. Having braces placed takes a bit of time but causes no pain at all. The teeth however do get sensitive to chewing a few hours later, and this sensitivity lasts 2 or 3 days. We recommend taking basic pain relievers for this period of time if needed to limit this sensitivity. Soon, the teeth will go back to feeling normal.

How long will I have to wear braces?

The amount of time it takes to treat your smile with braces depends on two key factors:

What needs correction — The type of problem that needs to be corrected will determine how long the process takes. Different patients react to treatments differently, so while it may take one patient only 12 months to complete their treatment, it may take another patient 24 months or longer. Treatment times can vary depending on how quickly your body responds and how much work is needed to give you the dazzling smile you expect.

YOU! — Your willingness to use the appliances your orthodontist gives you and cooperate with instructions plays a major role in the length of time it takes to complete your treatment. Always take care of your braces and appliances and avoid the foods on the list; this truly will help make your treatment shorter! Remember that this is a collaborative effort – if we work together everything will go as smoothly and as quickly as possible.

Braces are a big part of life for many people your age. While braces may have had a bad reputation in the past, today’s braces make it easy to look good and feel good! If you have any other questions on braces or orthodontic treatment in general, please let us know – we would be happy to talk about it with you!