1. What are braces?
Dental braces are dental appliances used to correct dental irregularities such as improper bite pattern and crooked teeth. Braces apply a controlled force on teeth to move them to the desired position.

2. Why should I see an Orthodontist to get braces instead of just going to my family dentist?
Like in medicine, dentistry also has its specialty. Orthodontists have received extra training and education in dental and facial irregularities and Orthodontic Treatments such as Braces. This additional knowledge and state-of-the-art equipment ensure a great result every time.

3. Are braces necessary?
If you have an improper bite pattern and crooked teeth then braces are a solution. Braces are necessary if your dental irregularities are affecting your overall well-being. Other orthodontic treatments such as Invisalign Invisible Braces or Lingual Braces, which are applied to reverse side of your teeth, are suitable solutions also.

4. Can adults benefit from braces?
Anyone can have successful orthodontic treatment at any age provided that they have healthy teeth and gums. If you missed out on braces when you were a child, then we can still treat you as an adult. Treatment times are typically longer the older you are. Approximately, 25 percent of our orthodontic patients are adults.

5. How long am I required to wear braces?
Depending on the severity of your case, it can be as short as a few months or as long as 3 years. It will also depend on your overall dental health and age. For children, the treatment will take less time as they have lower jaw bone density. Low jaw bone density allows teeth to move much easier to their desired position.

6. Will braces hurt?
You need to expect mild discomfort every time the wires in your braces are tightened. During the first few days of getting the wires tightened, it may be uncomfortable when chewing solid food. This is basically due to the pressure applied to the teeth. This discomfort normally disappears within 3 days.

7. How old should children be to have braces?
We highly recommend that children be at least 7 years of age should get braces. The ideal age for getting braces is usually in the early teens, as all secondary will be in place and orthodontic issues can be identified. If the secondary teeth have not erupted then children must wait until then.

8. How do braces work?
Braces work by gentle, controlled forces being applied to teeth to move them to the desired position. The force or pressure will come from loosening or tightening the wire connected to each of the bracket attached to the teeth.

9. Are there any alternatives to metal braces?
At Tony Weir Orthodontics, we offer tooth coloured braces. These braces are virtually invisible as the brackets are coloured like the teeth. Some of our patients even report that tooth coloured or ceramic braces are more comfortable than metal braces. We also offer Invisalign Invisible Braces and Lingual Braces. Dr Weir has Platinum Elite Accreditation with Invisalign.

10. What causes crooked or misaligned teeth?
Like our eye colour that we inherit from our parents, we also inherit the jaw features as well as the mouth shape from our parents, which can cause crooked teeth. Finger sucking at an early age, as well as gum disease, trauma, and premature tooth loss can also contribute to having a bad bite.