FAQs

Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry dealing with the alignment of the teeth and jaws. Orthodontic treatment can optimise mouth and jaw function and enable patients to eat correctly and care for their teeth and gums more easily. It can also be used for cosmetic reasons.

At Links Orthodontics, our highly trained team will ensure that you feel comfortable and at ease from the moment you step through our door. In a relaxed, professional atmosphere, we will listen carefully to your needs and concerns and make a full clinical assessment of your smile.

The assessment of your teeth includes x-rays, scans and photographs to help us to diagnose the orthodontic problem and decide how to achieve the best results. We will then provide you with a tailor-made treatment plan, prepared by your Specialist Orthodontist.

Orthodontic treatment is generally pain-free, with no injections and drills to worry about. We always explain what we are going to do in advance, so you always know what to expect.

You may experience some soreness and discomfort after fitting and adjustments, but this should be short-lived and can be managed with over-the-counter pain relief if needed.

There are many potential benefits of orthodontic treatment, including:

• A symmetrical, straight smile without crowding or large gaps
• Enhanced facial features and profiles
• Properly aligned upper and lower dental arches
• A functional bite, improving eating and general comfort
• Reduced risk of tooth decay or oral trauma
• Correction of impacted, unerupted or displaced teeth

Orthodontic treatment on its own cannot prevent gum disease or tooth decay. You need to practise proper dental hygiene and straighter teeth can make it easier for you to do so.

Most children begin treatment around the age of 12 or 13, once all their permanent teeth have erupted. Sometimes it is better to start treatment earlier, and your dentist may want to make an earlier referral. But age is not a barrier, and the number of adult patients is increasing.

Your treatment at Links Orthodontics will be carried out by a Specialist Orthodontist who has undergone an additional three years of specialist training to learn how to straighten your smile.

There are also dentists with a special interest in orthodontics who have trained to treat the more straightforward orthodontic cases, but they don’t have the expertise to treat complex cases.

For very complex cases, such as patients requiring surgery, we can refer you to a Consultant Orthodontist in a hospital.

Within the NHS, orthodontic care for children under 18 can be provided for free if the need for treatment is great enough. This only applies to metal braces and the waiting list can be two or three years long.

Private treatment can offer a wider choice of braces, including clear brackets or invisible braces, and more convenient appointment times. Costs for private treatment are likely to be in the range of £1,500 to £4,500 depending on the type of treatment and extent of treatment required.

Advances in technology mean that extractions are needed less frequently than in the past. We can determine if you need extractions during your assessment, but we try to avoid them where possible. Any needed extractions will be carried out by your general dentist before treatment.

You will usually need to have appointments every six to eight weeks, but this depends on the type of treatment. You may need fewer appointments if you use Damon braces, or if you have Dental Monitoring, such as with Invisalign^® treatment.

It is not advisable to start treatment if you know you will not be able to keep regular appointments or if you are planning to be out of the country for long periods of time.

If your brackets allow for elastics, we can customise them in different colours to suit your mood, school or seasonal activities.

Everyone’s treatment is different. Simple cases may take a few months, and the average case takes 18-24 months. Complex cases may take three years or more, especially if referral to a hospital is involved. We can give you an estimated time frame at your free consultation.

Yes. In the early months after your brace is removed, your teeth will want to shift back into their original positions. The best advice is to continue using retainers indefinitely to ensure you keep your beautiful results.

Probably not. It’s best to avoid changing orthodontists in the middle of treatment, as it can mean a setback in your progress. If a transfer cannot be avoided, we can advise you how to find someone to take over your treatment (and the NHS can make a provision for this).