Dental Braces

The treatment for dental braces takes between 2 - 3 years on average. The exact length will depend on your individual needs.

It might take a day or two to get used to talking and eating with your newly fixed braces in your mouth. In the meantime, also avoid biting on hard pieces of food such as whole uncut apples, to prevent your braces from dislodging.

The slight discomfort and tightness you experience will lessen as you get used to your dental braces. Your teeth are in the process of straightening and will feel more comfortable over time.

If ulcers develop on the side of your cheeks or lips due to the friction from the braces, you can relieve it with dental wax provided by our dentist or bought over the counter at pharmacies.

Do inform our dentist should you need help with managing any discomfort.

You will have to keep up your scheduled dental appointments and brush your teeth well. You should also care for your braces to prevent breakage, so that you complete your treatment within the expected duration.

If your braces become loose, call our clinic right away. You might need to book an earlier appointment to reapply your braces. Meanwhile, use dental wax to cover any sharp points and protect your mouth from getting cut.

If the bracket (part of the braces that attaches to each tooth) comes off, use a pair of clean tweezers to move it securely between teeth or on to a tooth to prevent it from sliding around.

Depending on the structure and placement of your teeth, we may need to extract one or a few teeth to make space for bringing the rest of them into alignment.

You will be required to wear retainers to maintain the alignment of your teeth in their corrected position. The removable retainers must be worn full time daily for the first six months, followed by night-time wear.

The duration of wear can be progressively reduced over time. However, we recommend that you continue to wear your retainers as often as possible to maintain the results of your newly straightened teeth.

Keep your retainers clean, simply by using a toothbrush and toothpaste, and rinse them with cool water. During your follow-up appointment every 6 months, our dentist will carry out regular professional cleaning of your teeth to keep them clean.

Getting treatment with dental braces may be done for aesthetic or functional reasons, or a combination of both.

You may find getting braces necessary if you experience problems with speaking or chewing well, or if you frequently bite on your lips, tongue and cheeks. Crooked, crowded or misaligned teeth also make it difficult to clean plaque and food debris effectively. Straightening your teeth through dental braces can help with correcting these issues.

As soon as all your permanent teeth are out, you can start your orthodontic treatment. The best time for braces is between the age of 12-24. On some occasions, our dentist will recommend early treatment.

It is never too late to have braces, as long as your gums are in good condition.

A quicker way to achieve straight teeth is by getting veneers, where a new set of teeth are bonded onto natural teeth. This process takes only a few visits to complete, as compared to braces which takes 1 - 2 years. Veneers can also improve the look of your teeth.

However, getting a set of veneers is more costly than braces. To find out if you are suitable for veneers, call us at 6336 6222 or submit an online enquiry with our form and we will be in touch with you.

Braces close gaps of various sizes and positions, and re-distribute the remaining gaps for an aesthetic filling. Aside from braces, gaps can also be filled with composite resin bonding, where a tooth-coloured filling is added to the teeth to make them wider. However, composite resin bonding only works when the gaps are small and symmetrical on both sides.

Damon braces and traditional braces are both used to straighten teeth. However, while a dentist manually adjusts the elastic bands that hold wires and brackets with traditional braces, Damon braces self-tighten according to the shape and structure of teeth.

Damon braces also typically have a shorter treatment time compared to conventional braces and typically require fewer dental appointments.

We do not provide Invisalign braces. For those who want that "clear-braces" look, you may consider the Damon self-litigating braces for a more discreet option to conventional braces.

The Damon System is gentler and uses light “memory-shape” wires to progressively guide your teeth to their ideal position. Damon braces also uses less friction to move teeth, making them more comfortable than regular braces.

Damon System metal braces are available in two materials, stainless steel or polycarbonate.

At NTUC Health Denticare, we offer several types of archwires that come in varying materials and sizes as well as a nickel-free solution. Feel free to have a chat with our dentists to determine which solution is right for you.