Braces Removal

It’s official. You have undergone months, or perhaps years, of orthodontic treatment in the form of dental braces and now the glorious moment has come to finally have them removed. Understanding the process that our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center will follow to remove your braces will help you better know what to expect when the time comes.

The removal of braces is a relatively quick and painless procedure and they must be removed in the reverse order from how they were applied. Therefore, the small elastic bands that are placed around each bracket to hold the wiring system in place must be taken off first. To do this, one of our doctors will use a small dental instrument with a hook to carefully remove each band.

After the elastic bands are removed, one of our doctors will use small pliers to gently detach the wire from the groove on top of each bracket and from the anchor bands that may be located on the back molars. He or she will then use special pliers to squeeze and remove each bracket individually. Because the separation of the bracket and tooth occurs at the point where the bracket met the adhesive keeping it in place, residue will remain on the tooth until it is polished and cleaned.

After the removal of your braces, our doctors will discuss the need for you to continue orthodontic treatment in the form of permanent or temporary retainers. To learn more about services provided at the practice, visit www.fairwooddental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, call 425-271-7725.

How Are Traditional Braces Applied?

Traditional braces have been around for many years and are the standard among patients looking to straighten their smile. If you’ve recently had a consultation with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center and they have decided that traditional braces are the right option for you, we’d like to let you know what to expect when it comes time for the braces to be applied to the teeth.

First the teeth are polished with a non-flavored paste and a cheek retractor is placed to provide a dry field that makes it easier to visualize the teeth. The teeth are lightly air-dried, and a conditioner is placed onto the front surfaces of the teeth for about 30 seconds. The conditioner is then rinsed and the teeth are again dried using suction and air. After this step, a primer is painted on the teeth. The bonding cement is placed onto the back sides of the braces, which are then placed onto the teeth. The brackets are then placed in a very precise position onto the teeth, and excess bonding cement is removed. The process is completed by removing the cheek retractor and placing the wires.

If you are searching for a straighter smile, please give us a call to discuss your orthodontic options. To learn more about the services provided at the practice, visit www.fairwooddental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Fairwood Dental Center in Renton, WA, call 425-271-7725.