Fixed braces use brackets and wires to gradually move crowded, protruding, or misaligned teeth into a healthier, more functional bite.
Overview
Braces consist of brackets bonded to the teeth and connected by an orthodontic wire. The wire applies gentle, continuous pressure, encouraging the bone around each tooth to remodel so that the teeth gradually move into their planned positions.
Braces can correct crowding, gaps, protruding teeth, and bite problems such as overbite, crossbite, and open bite. Because they are fixed to the teeth, braces can control complex tooth movements that may not always be possible with removable aligners.
Suitability
Braces may be suitable if:
Children often begin comprehensive orthodontic treatment between the ages of 10 and 14, although the right time depends on dental development rather than age alone. Adults can also have braces, provided their teeth and gums are healthy enough for treatment.
Depending on your needs, other options may include:
The most appropriate option depends on your teeth, gums, bite, age, treatment goals, and lifestyle. If braces are not the right choice, we will explain the alternatives - including when monitoring the condition without immediate treatment is appropriate.
Step by step
During your first visit, we assess your teeth, jaws, and bite. This may include photographs, a panoramic OPG X-ray, and a digital scan.
We then explain:
Before braces are fitted, any active decay or gum problems must be treated. Your teeth may also be professionally cleaned.
In some cases, tooth extractions may be recommended to create space or improve the bite. If so, we will explain the reason, alternatives, and expected effects before proceeding.
The brackets are bonded to the teeth, and the first orthodontic wire is placed. Fitting usually takes 60-90 minutes and generally does not require anaesthesia.
Your teeth may feel tender or achy for several days afterward.
You will usually return every 4-8 weeks. During these appointments, the orthodontist may change or adjust the wire, replace elastic ties, or introduce other components to continue the planned tooth movement.
Most adjustment appointments take approximately 15-30 minutes.
Once treatment is complete, the brackets are removed and the adhesive is polished away. You will then receive retainers to help maintain the corrected tooth positions.
Retainers are an essential part of treatment. Without them, teeth can gradually move back toward their original positions.
Benefits
Braces can treat complex crowding and bite problems that may not be suitable for aligners.
Because they are fixed, treatment does not depend on remembering to put them back in.
Correcting the bite may distribute chewing forces more evenly.
Straighter teeth can be easier to clean, although good oral hygiene remains essential.
Braces can be used for children, teenagers, and adults when the teeth and gums are healthy.
After treatment
Some tenderness is normal for the first few days after fitting and after adjustment appointments. To protect your braces and keep your teeth healthy:
Orthodontic treatment is generally predictable, but it has potential risks and limitations.
Treatment duration and results vary according to the complexity of the case, biological response, oral hygiene, attendance at appointments, and compliance with instructions.
Who will treat you
MDS · MNDC (New Zealand) · MADC (Australia) · PGDAI (CIIOMFI, France) · Fellow ICOI (USA)
Dr. G. Vijay Srinivas is an Oral & Maxillofacial Pathologist and Implant Dentistry practitioner with more than 35 years of clinical experience, and the founder of AP Superspeciality Dental Hospitals.
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Questions
Most cases run 18 to 24 months. Mild crowding can finish in under a year; significant bite correction can take 30 months.
Fitting them does not hurt — no injection is needed. The ache starts a few hours later and lasts three to five days, and returns more mildly after each adjustment. It responds to ordinary painkillers and soft food. Brackets also rub the cheeks for the first week or two until the mouth toughens up.
Around 10 to 14 is the usual window, once the adult teeth are through and the jaw is still growing. But there is no upper limit — a healthy adult tooth can be moved at any age, and a good share of our orthodontic patients are adults. What matters is gum health, not age.
If your case is complex, or you doubt you would wear a removable appliance 22 hours a day, braces are the more reliable choice. If appearance during treatment matters most and your case is mild to moderate, aligners are worth discussing. We will tell you honestly if your case is not suited to aligners rather than sell you the less suitable option.
In practical terms, yes — some form of retention is lifelong. Teeth have a persistent tendency to drift back. Most patients wear a retainer nightly for the first year and then a few nights a week indefinitely, or have a fixed wire bonded behind the front teeth.
Usually, yes. Brackets bond to crowns with a different technique, and gaps from missing teeth are often used as space for the movement. We plan this with your restorative treatment together, so tell us about any implants or bridges you already have.
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