How much do braces hurt on a scale 1 10?
How much do braces hurt on a scale 1 10 is a question many people ask when they are looking into getting braces. There’s no way to provide a definite answer because it is different for every person, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t general information you can use to help anticipate how much your oral health care provider will hurt.
This post will go over the ways in which each tooth has its own nerve, and how pain receptors interact with nerves and muscles in order to produce sensation in response to an injury. It will also briefly touch on what you can expect for the first few days after your braces are put on (as well as what you should do about it).
Orthodontic Braces can be a pain because they are putting pressure on certain teeth and oral tissues, meaning that those oral tissues must adapt to the changes in position of the teeth. This adaptation is, in part, the result of pain receptors working their way up your jaw and into your central nervous system. Most people don’t have any discomfort with their braces for about two weeks after application. After two weeks, you should start feeling some discomfort. If your braces hurt for more than a week, this may mean that you’re not getting them adjusted frequently enough by your dentist or orthodontist.
What is the use?
Braces are used in helping you get better oral health. The way braces are used is by growing and then moving teeth back into place. This makes it easier for you to chew food, because the spaces between your teeth become smaller. This can help people with mild to moderate crowding. When people have severe crowding they could need braces to be able to eat properly so that their teeth don’t start chipping when they aren’t wearing them.
How much does it cost?
The cost of braces can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. Quality materials and workmanship are worth paying for, so if you’re still not sure about the benefits and the price of braces, use our budget estimate tool to compare estimates from dentists in your area. You can also talk to us at Dentaltown for a free and confidential consultation so we can help you figure out the best way to get your smile looking great without breaking your bank!
Can I get them removed?
Yes, braces can be removed. However, this is more likely if your teeth have come together and may result in less overall improvement than braces placed 6 months earlier.
What is the goal?
The goal is to move teeth into alignment to give you a better bite and improve your appearance. If your bites are off, then the teeth are likely crooked, either in a palatal or occlusal view, and it will be harder for you to chew food properly. The jaw muscles need to work harder when chewing food than when teeth are aligned in line with each other, so getting proper bite can help people eat healthier and enjoy their meals more by avoiding problems such as heartburn and poor speech.
Why do I have to wear them?
Braces are placed using a dental impression, which is built up into the final braces. The dentist will take a mold of your teeth and create a dental impression by creating a thin layer of silicone around each tooth. This gives the dentist an exact image of your teeth ready to be used as the template for making your new orthodontic braces. Once this has been completed, the orthodontist will make custom removable appliances to move your teeth correctly with brackets that sit behind your teeth, within these impressions and on top of porcelain or plastic bridges (your teeth sit in between).
I have to take my braces off. How soon is that?
You will have to remove your braces as soon as you can do without them for about 2 weeks, or until the new moldings set in. You may be able to wear a retainer for a few weeks after that, but in most cases you will need the use of your temporary appliances while they are still soft and then only the final appliances made from permanent materials. Remember, permanent appliances are 3-dimensional representations of your teeth that your tooth enamel needs to interact with to allow them to move correctly with each other under load. So, while it is possible to make removable appliances that work with your temporary (soft) appliances, they cannot replace the final permanent appliances once they are removed.
How long does it take? What’s wrong if I don’t get my braces?
The first appointment can last up to an hour depending on how many teeth are involved in the treatment plan. When you don’t wear your braces you will tend to grind your teeth which may result in tooth fractures and more general wear and tear on your teeth, gums and jaw muscles. You may also suffer from dental caries, gum disease or oral cancer (or all three). Your teeth will continue to move into a less healthy position over time.
