After months of treatment, you’re finally ready to see your new smile! What can you expect on the day braces come off? What comes after braces? Will you have to wear a retainer?
Patients usually have many questions about getting braces off and what happens afterward, from whether getting braces off hurts to whether they can go back to chewing gum. Woodhill Dental Specialties is here to answer your questions!
To us, it’s Debonding Day. To you, it’s the day you finally get to see that beautiful new smile you’ve been dreaming of — and working toward — for months.
What do we mean by “debonding?” Your braces, brackets, and bands were bonded to your teeth, so removing them refers to breaking that bond and removing your braces.
We use a special tool to pinch the brackets until they dislodge from your teeth. We also use a special tool to remove the braces bands from around your molars. Then, we use a special buffing tool to remove the remaining adhesive from your tooth surfaces.
Once that’s done, we give your teeth a nice polish, and your new smile is ready to show off!
How long does the debonding take? On average, it takes about 30-60 minutes to remove your braces, about half the time it took to put them on. This includes removing the brackets and bands, buffing off the adhesive, and polishing your teeth.
Once that’s done, we will need to get impressions and dental images of your teeth to prepare your retainers. These retainers will help you keep that beautiful new smile for a lifetime.
After that, it’s picture time! You want to see your before-and-after shots, right? We’ll be happy to show you, and you’ll be amazed at the transformation!
Most patients want to know if it hurts to get braces off. The removal process itself doesn’t hurt. However, your teeth might be a little sensitive or sore for the first couple of days. That’s perfectly normal as the pressure that’s been on them for months finally stops.
Try eating soft foods for the first day or two while your teeth adjust to being without braces. Keep in mind they may be sensitive, so foods that are hot, cold, or very sweet may cause pain or discomfort.
The good news is that the sensitivity should disappear within a couple of days. Then, you can go back to eating everyday foods.
Once your braces come off, that doesn’t mean that your teeth will stop moving immediately. They’ll continue to move, and they could move out of place. That’s why we fit you with braces as soon as possible.
Your teeth move because your jaw breaks down and rebuilds as it moves. This process will continue until the teeth stop moving, then the jaws harden and hold the teeth in place.
To keep your smile straight, we place a fixed retainer behind your front upper and lower teeth. We also ask that you wear a removable retainer at night until your jaws set, usually for about the first six months.
Many patients want to know if they can whiten their now-straightened teeth. The answer is yes…eventually.
Your teeth will be sensitive right after your braces are removed. Teeth whitening can also make your teeth sensitive, because the whitening solution can penetrate to the dentin, the middle layer of your teeth. Tiny tunnels called tubules connect the dentin to the pulp, the inner living portion of the tooth where the nerves and blood vessels reside.
All of that means your teeth are already sensitive, and teeth whitening may make them even more sensitive. That’s why we recommend waiting a few months before whitening your teeth. By then, the sensitivity should be gone, and your teeth should be able to handle any sensitivity from tooth whitening.
Here are a few more common questions we get about life after braces.
You’ll want to stick to soft foods at first until your teeth are no longer sore. Then you will need to be careful with hard, sticky, or chewy foods that could damage your permanent retainers. Eat them sparingly and carefully, or avoid them altogether.
We polish and buff all the bonding agent off your teeth, leaving them in beautiful condition. The bonding agent is formulated not to damage teeth. The removal process won’t damage your teeth.
The fixed retainer isn’t visible, so people won’t even know you’re wearing it! Because it’s fixed, you won’t need to worry about whether you’ve missed wearing your retainer. It ensures you keep your beautiful new smile for years to come!
Many patients say they have a new self-confidence with their new smile. Braces treatment improves the symmetry of your face and creates a straight, appealing smile. We love seeing our patients’ reactions to seeing their new look!
Braces treatment may seem like a long process because it takes several months, but it’s worth it once you get your braces off and see that amazing new smile!
Are you ready for a new you? If you’re looking to start braces treatment in Dallas, TX, schedule an appointment with Woodhill Dental Specialties. Let us show you how amazing your smile can be!
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