How do you remove an orthodontic appliance?

One of the best news for a patient with braces is to hear from their orthodontist that "next day we'll take your braces off".

And the fact is that, after treatment which, on average, will cost around 18 months of timeAnyone can't wait to 'show off' their smile to their friends, show everyone that the effort was worth it, and enjoy a perfect chew, thanks to working together with their dentist.

And it is common for the patients in Murciaor any other city in the world, arrive on that day with a little uncertainty, because... who knows what it's like to remove a bracket?

In reality, until you finish a treatment, it is normal that you do not know what it consists of, and that assumptions can lead you to 'fear' a little the situation that may arise, so this blog entry is dedicated precisely to resolve this doubt.

The relationship between the two arches is correct, and the teeth are aligned for function and aesthetics.

The patient will 'bite down' on two rolls of cotton wool to avoid any inconvenience when removing the brackets. — The patient will 'bite down' on two rolls of cotton wool to avoid any inconvenience when removing the brackets, Clarity SL from 3M Unitek

A 'remover' pliers perfectly adapted to the anatomy of the brackets will allow us to remove them easily and quickly, without any discomfort for the patient.

Once removed, there will usually remain traces of the cement used to attach them to the teeth during treatment, which must be removed.

The removal is done using a high-speed instrument, with a 'drill' that is stronger than the cement but less resistant than the tooth, so that we are sure that we can never remove enamel, keeping the patient's enamel intact.

The brackets, once removed, are discarded as their base is not suitable for safe re-bonding.

After the removal of the cement remains, the patient has a spectacular, harmonious and balanced smile in the upper arch, while in the lower arch there is still a small adjustment to be made, which will be removed at a later date.

In this way, the orthodontists solve in a simple way, and completely safe for the patient's teeth, one of the phases of orthodontic treatment which, not because it is the last, is less important, since the final result will depend on it, after the time and effort dedicated by both the professional and the patient.

In any case, in any circumstance other than this, you should consult with your trusted orthodontist the steps to follow, which may vary slightly depending on the type of bracket used, or the technique used in your particular case.