Removable braces – what is worth knowing?

Removable orthodontic appliances treat malocclusion mainly in younger children. Their use effectively corrects the wrong bite when the young patient grows and develops. The best effects are seen in children between 4 and 12 years of age. As a rule, they correct small deviations in the teeth. Serious and complicated malocclusions are treated mainly with fixed orthodontic appliances.

Most malocclusions are acquired. This means that they were created in the first years of life. Children often suck their thumbs, fall asleep with a pacifier in their mouth, breathe through their mouths. All this causes the teeth to position incorrectly. A serious cause of malocclusion is also the lack of care for milk teeth, which leads to caries. Untreated malocclusion negatively affects the health of the entire masticatory apparatus. 

Indications for wearing a removable orthodontic appliance

Removable appliances are characterized by the possibility of their removal by the patient. They are mainly used to correct malocclusion in the developmental period. 

In order for it to bring the expected results, it should be used in accordance with specific indications. Belong to them:

• the child’s age between 4 and 12 years old,
• correction of a minor defect, specified in detail by the dentist,
• mixed nature of teeth (milk and permanent teeth),
• readiness of the child and parents to systematically cooperate with the doctor,
• wearing the braces as recommended by the orthodontist.

Removable braces will not correct a complicated defect because it does not allow the teeth to be moved and rotated. Straightening the teeth is then not possible. Therefore, they are rather not used in adults. 

Course of treatment with removable orthodontic appliances

In order to plan the proper and effective treatment of a malocclusion , it is first of all necessary to diagnose the cause. The first visit to the orthodontist should take place very early, as soon as the parents notice the first symptoms of malocclusion . The first X-ray and cephalometric images are taken. The next step is to make an impression of the dentition for diagnostic models. The course of treatment can be planned only on these grounds. The little patient receives his orthodontic appliance on the second visit. Subsequent consultations should take place every 2 months.

Important:   wear it at night and as often as possible during the day.

Only regularity and control on the part of parents allow to eliminate a dentition defect. It is important that your child wears it as instructed by the doctor. Treatment of a malocclusion with a removable orthodontic appliance requires a great deal of commitment and patience. It may take up to several years. As the child grows, the orthodontist replaces it with a larger or wider one. The advantage is the lack of pain while wearing them. 

How does removable braces work?

It is made of an acrylic plate and a part made of a steel, elastic wire. Active elements such as bolts and springs are contained in the plate. All of them are made of stainless steel with strictly defined parameters. And it is these elements that shape the dental arch. By appropriately changing the wire tension, the dental arch can be widened or narrowed. 

The operation uses the principle of pressure elimination and the application force. The contact of the wires with the teeth and alveolar processes is possible while biting the surface of the apparatus. The intensity of the action is regulated by the patient by himself, thanks to the pain reflex. 

In order for the removable appliance to function properly on the bite, it is necessary, in accordance with the doctor’s decisions, to improve its “adhesion” to the teeth. For this purpose, patients receive a special key with which the screw in the apparatus (in its acrylic part) is adjusted. The key should be placed in the screw hole and turned as far as it will go in the direction of the arrow on the plate. The frequency of these actions should be determined by the doctor. After turning it up and putting it on, there is a feeling of pressure on all teeth. But this feeling is absolutely correct. 

Important : the camera should not be “turned up” during the adaptation period (the first two weeks of wearing). When twisting it, hold it by the plate, never by the wires, as it deforms them.

If it does not fit after turning the screw, it is an important signal that it is not worn too often. 

How to correctly insert and remove removable appliances?

The orthodontist should inform the patient in detail about how to put on and take off the braces. This ensures proper wearing and prevents damage. 

Rules for putting on a removable camera: 

• upper plate – placing and pressing the acrylic plate against the palate mucosa with the thumbs,
• lower plate – placing and pressing with the index fingers against the lingual surface of the dental process,
• placing supporting clamps on the teeth,
• a feeling of tight fit to the mucosa.

Rules for removing a removable camera:

• bottom plate – simultaneous and even prying of the last clamps with your thumbs,
• upper plate – gently pulling down the last clamps with the index fingers,
• the need to take it off for eating, brushing teeth and any physical activity

Remember not to remove it by pulling on one side. It causes deformation or complete destruction of the device.

How to properly care for removable braces?

Plaque builds up on orthodontic appliances as well as on the teeth. Taking care of their hygiene is as important as taking care of their teeth. The rule is that it should be washed each time it is taken out of the mouth. It can be washed with a special toothbrush or with an ordinary toothbrush. It is best to use ordinary or gray soap, then rinse with running water. Rinsing the apparatus with water alone is not sufficient. Many doctors also say that the use of toothpaste is inadvisable. 

The paste contains abrasives and may scratch the surface of the camera. Bacteria easily accumulate in these gaps. After washing, it must be wiped and stored in a special box. It is essential that it is always clean and dry. This also prevents tooth decay. 

Important:  as when “turning up” the camera, also when washing it, hold it by the plate, never by the wires! It should always be remembered that the effectiveness of malocclusion treatment with a removable appliance always depends on the close cooperation between the doctor and the patient.