A lot of people would have thousand worries before decided to put the braces on, so did I. However, if you have never start, you would never know. Let me share with you my true real experience, and explain "is it painful to wear braces". Hope every single tip helps to those who's currently flooded with million worries of braces.
1. Choose your braces type
Generally there is three types of common braces:
- Metal braces (basic one with full of silver colour metal brackets on your teeth)
- Ceramic braces (as mine, it is still be tighten with a silver thread but the bracket can be in white transparent which is not so visible)
- Invisalign (it is totally invisible which only a clear transparent retainer binding your teeth)
2. Cost
Singapore market, price range approximately:
- Metal braces: SGD2500 - SGD3000++
- Ceramic braces: SGD4000 - SGD6000++
- Invisalign: SGD8000 - SGD10000++
No step back when you saw this amount of cost, braces cost usually to be paid partially (monthly) according to several times of treatment. Basically one time treatment per month, minimum 20 times of treatment in total.
Except for the Invisalign, it usually to be paid in full, or to be paid by credit card instalment plan, instead of follow the monthly treatment.
3. Tooth extraction needed?
You may heard some said they did tooth extractions before/after the braces on, but some didn't.
Yup, it is depend on your existing teeth condition. It is not about the health of your tooth, what does matter is the alignment. To get your braces perfect by tightening and pulling every single tooth, dentist will decide which tooth to be removed in order to create extra space for braces working.
And that's why chin will get pointed and slimmer when braces completed, because of the space after extraction then it shaped inward.
For myself, I got 4 tooth extraction, done in 2 different days (one month apart).
Do it before or after put the braces on? It is depend on your dentist, it will be no difference for your ownself.
4. Tooth extraction painful?
Couldn't promise on this because dentist mentioned it's depend on individual body condition but for me, it's almost completely no pain (95%).
First, dentist will apply some cream on your gums to make it numb.
Second, when your gums numb, dentist will do injection of anesthetic onto your gums. No worries on injection, you will have no pain (99.9%) under influence of numbed gums.
Third, dentist will start to use tool to extract your tooth, basically is like force to plug it out. At this step, you will feel the strength of pulling, plugging out, but 99% have no pain. In any case that you feel light painful when dentist extracting it, you can actually raise your hand to pause it.
When extraction is done, the space after tooth removal must be filled and nipped by cotton pad, no rinsing, no eating, no drinking, no talking for at least 90 minutes (I suggested based on my experience).
If your condition is be no painful as mine, you can easily spend this 90 minutes. And after removal of first cotton pad, you can active as usual.
Continue to nip another cotton pad if you found it's blooding. Usually it will not blooding seriously like freshly after extraction, may just a little of blood water.
I did not take any pain killer after every tooth extraction, so it is not necessary if you didn't feel painful too.
5. When put on the braces
Kind of nervous when putting it on. It was very simple steps, not a big job. My dentist suggested to put on the upper braces, then put the lower one at a month later. This's to lower down the painful level.
First time to put on the braces (upper and lower each), it takes approximately 30 minutes each.
It's like to apply some gum on middle of your teeth, paste on the brackets, and use the thread to tighten.
I thought it must be so much pain right away when wore them on, it wasn't.
I was only feeling "tight" at about first 6 hours, with no pain, and I can eat as usual. Only happened after first 6 hours, my whole teeth will be strengthless. But if I wouldn't really feel pain if I don't try to do "biting" action. Which means, no pain if both my upper and lower teeth no touch to each other, and even don't touch to any solid food. So yes, I actually slept well! Because completely no pain if I don't bite.
6. How long will be pain?
How long will the pain gone for eating normally? For me, the critical period was first 7 days. It doesn't mean the painful only last for first 7 days. It was just I took cereal milk and soaked soft biscuit in only first 7 days, because it must be exact soft texture food to consume. And after that first 7 days, painful still there but at least I could take noodle soup, porridge and egg. Learn to use tongue to smash your food for swallowing.
Last, I can then eat as usual after that first 14 days. Of course, no hard and crispy fried foods, no solid fruits like apple, no almond kind of thing.
7. Don't forget about the wax
As image below, it is the braces wax I was asked to purchase from dental clinic. Do not think this is useless. Paste this wax onto the brackets to prevent metal scratching your oral surface. You may not feel scratches in first few days but you will definitely regret for not buying them in advance. Stand by 2 packs will be ideal.
Generally there is three types of common braces:
- Metal braces (basic one with full of silver colour metal brackets on your teeth)
- Ceramic braces (as mine, it is still be tighten with a silver thread but the bracket can be in white transparent which is not so visible)
- Invisalign (it is totally invisible which only a clear transparent retainer binding your teeth)
2. Cost
Singapore market, price range approximately:
- Metal braces: SGD2500 - SGD3000++
- Ceramic braces: SGD4000 - SGD6000++
- Invisalign: SGD8000 - SGD10000++
No step back when you saw this amount of cost, braces cost usually to be paid partially (monthly) according to several times of treatment. Basically one time treatment per month, minimum 20 times of treatment in total.
Except for the Invisalign, it usually to be paid in full, or to be paid by credit card instalment plan, instead of follow the monthly treatment.
3. Tooth extraction needed?
You may heard some said they did tooth extractions before/after the braces on, but some didn't.
Yup, it is depend on your existing teeth condition. It is not about the health of your tooth, what does matter is the alignment. To get your braces perfect by tightening and pulling every single tooth, dentist will decide which tooth to be removed in order to create extra space for braces working.
And that's why chin will get pointed and slimmer when braces completed, because of the space after extraction then it shaped inward.
For myself, I got 4 tooth extraction, done in 2 different days (one month apart).
Do it before or after put the braces on? It is depend on your dentist, it will be no difference for your ownself.
4. Tooth extraction painful?
Couldn't promise on this because dentist mentioned it's depend on individual body condition but for me, it's almost completely no pain (95%).
First, dentist will apply some cream on your gums to make it numb.
Second, when your gums numb, dentist will do injection of anesthetic onto your gums. No worries on injection, you will have no pain (99.9%) under influence of numbed gums.
Third, dentist will start to use tool to extract your tooth, basically is like force to plug it out. At this step, you will feel the strength of pulling, plugging out, but 99% have no pain. In any case that you feel light painful when dentist extracting it, you can actually raise your hand to pause it.
When extraction is done, the space after tooth removal must be filled and nipped by cotton pad, no rinsing, no eating, no drinking, no talking for at least 90 minutes (I suggested based on my experience).
If your condition is be no painful as mine, you can easily spend this 90 minutes. And after removal of first cotton pad, you can active as usual.
Continue to nip another cotton pad if you found it's blooding. Usually it will not blooding seriously like freshly after extraction, may just a little of blood water.
I did not take any pain killer after every tooth extraction, so it is not necessary if you didn't feel painful too.
5. When put on the braces
Kind of nervous when putting it on. It was very simple steps, not a big job. My dentist suggested to put on the upper braces, then put the lower one at a month later. This's to lower down the painful level.
First time to put on the braces (upper and lower each), it takes approximately 30 minutes each.
It's like to apply some gum on middle of your teeth, paste on the brackets, and use the thread to tighten.
I thought it must be so much pain right away when wore them on, it wasn't.
I was only feeling "tight" at about first 6 hours, with no pain, and I can eat as usual. Only happened after first 6 hours, my whole teeth will be strengthless. But if I wouldn't really feel pain if I don't try to do "biting" action. Which means, no pain if both my upper and lower teeth no touch to each other, and even don't touch to any solid food. So yes, I actually slept well! Because completely no pain if I don't bite.
6. How long will be pain?
How long will the pain gone for eating normally? For me, the critical period was first 7 days. It doesn't mean the painful only last for first 7 days. It was just I took cereal milk and soaked soft biscuit in only first 7 days, because it must be exact soft texture food to consume. And after that first 7 days, painful still there but at least I could take noodle soup, porridge and egg. Learn to use tongue to smash your food for swallowing.
Last, I can then eat as usual after that first 14 days. Of course, no hard and crispy fried foods, no solid fruits like apple, no almond kind of thing.
7. Don't forget about the wax
As image below, it is the braces wax I was asked to purchase from dental clinic. Do not think this is useless. Paste this wax onto the brackets to prevent metal scratching your oral surface. You may not feel scratches in first few days but you will definitely regret for not buying them in advance. Stand by 2 packs will be ideal.
8. Dental cleaning is a must
Teeth cleaning is a must-do in every 4 months, is to ensure your oral and tooth gap are fully clean in order to reach perfect braces result. Dental cleaning and braces treatment can be done in the same day, can just do it right away after each other.
Whether the cleaning is extral chargeable, it's depend on your braces package from your clinic.
9. Monthly treatment
To change the brackets every month, duration will be shorter, it's usually takes only total 10-15 minutes for both upper and lower braces. All hassle free, monthly treatment isn't that troublesome.
10.Tied up rubber
Not sure if this step applies to everyone but I am currently on this stage. Dentist basically asks to tie up this rubber band onto your brackets in order to heal the hole & space that caused by extraction.
Once you're being asked to put this on, it must be wore 24 hours even when eating and sleeping.
Some may curious "can I remove it when eating? I will wear it all the time other than eating so it should be no problem?".
NO! The most important chance for this rubber band to works is during eating, biting, chewing. Because your teeth is moving up and down, and so the rubber band will be stretching follow by teeth action.
What if you accidentally ate the rubber band? Have no idea but no worry, I ate a lot of them since started a month ago.
Teeth cleaning is a must-do in every 4 months, is to ensure your oral and tooth gap are fully clean in order to reach perfect braces result. Dental cleaning and braces treatment can be done in the same day, can just do it right away after each other.
Whether the cleaning is extral chargeable, it's depend on your braces package from your clinic.
9. Monthly treatment
To change the brackets every month, duration will be shorter, it's usually takes only total 10-15 minutes for both upper and lower braces. All hassle free, monthly treatment isn't that troublesome.
10.Tied up rubber
Not sure if this step applies to everyone but I am currently on this stage. Dentist basically asks to tie up this rubber band onto your brackets in order to heal the hole & space that caused by extraction.
Once you're being asked to put this on, it must be wore 24 hours even when eating and sleeping.
Some may curious "can I remove it when eating? I will wear it all the time other than eating so it should be no problem?".
NO! The most important chance for this rubber band to works is during eating, biting, chewing. Because your teeth is moving up and down, and so the rubber band will be stretching follow by teeth action.
What if you accidentally ate the rubber band? Have no idea but no worry, I ate a lot of them since started a month ago.
Had consulted dentist that my braces condition is currently reached to a stable stage, which the tooth extraction was completed. The following months will be only for common monthly treatment and cleaning. Shall be all the way till the final result. To be updated in about 2 years later.
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