What to Expect When Your Braces Come Off – Part 1

It has probably been at least year or two. You have had to deal with uncomfortable braces on your teeth, a ton of orthodontist appointments, wearing rubber bands, feeling aches and pains, and not being able to eat some of the foods that you love. But it is almost over – your braces are ready to come off!

At Grace and Bowman Orthodontics in Fort Walton Beach and Niceville, we know that this is a big day! We want you to know what you can expect once your braces are removed.  If you have any questions about your appointment or to speak with one of our staff, contact Grace and Bowman Orthodontists.

Will you know when your braces will come off?

Most orthodontists will be able to give you an approximate timeline telling you how long you will probably have to wear braces. As the end gets closer, they may even be able to set up a specific appointment to take them off. However, do not get your hopes up. There are many times where it seems the teeth will be ready at the next appointment, but they do not make the final progress in those last few weeks like the orthodontist was hoping. The bottom line is that there is no guaranteed way to tell when your braces will come off. But you have lasted this long, so a few more weeks will be easy.

How are braces removed?

Getting braces removed is a fairly easy process. When your teeth are ready, the orthodontist will use a pair of pliers to clip the brackets of the braces to remove them from the teeth. While this will not hurt, you may feel some pressure on the teeth and hear some popping noises. After the removal is completed, there will still be some adhesive stuck to your teeth. This will be scraped off your teeth either by hand or by a polishing device. This whole process should take less than an hour.

What happens after braces are removed?

Most people who had braces are required to wear a retainer to prevent the teeth from shifting back to their original positions. Once the braces are removed and the teeth are cleaned, the orthodontist will take a mold of your mouth to create a retainer specifically for you. Depending on your situation, the retainer may need to be worn all the time or maybe just at night. For some people, it is recommended that a retainer is worn indefinitely, while others may only have to wear one for a few months or years.

Congratulations on getting your braces off! For more information on what to expect when your braces come off, check back next week for our final installment. In the meantime, feel free to contact Grace and Bowman Orthodontics to schedule your appointment.

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