Braces, Beautiful Straight Teeth

What are Braces?

Braces are wire-based devices used help to correct crowded or misaligned teeth and/ or jaws.
When one’s teeth and/ or jaws are straighten, one’s bite and facial profile can be improved.
Treatment usually takes between 2 to 3 years, sometimes longer or shorter depending on the complexity.

What is Involved?

Initial Consultation
Dental Records
Review Appointments
Follow Up Care

The Process

Initial Consultation
For most patients, the best time to start braces is after all their milk teeth have been replaced by permanent teeth. This is usually between the ages of 11 to 14 years old. Contrary to popular notion, adults can also reap the same benefits as teenagers from braces treatment.

During the initial consultation, our dental specialist/ dentist will find out the details of your medical and dental history, discuss concerns you have with your teeth and advise the best form of orthodontic treatment to align them. Clinical records such as X-rays, impressions and photos of the teeth will be taken to help in an accurate diagnosis and planning of the treatment and type of braces for you.

Review Appointments
Subsequent appointments involve insertion and adjustment of the braces.Insertion may take between 1 to 3 visits to complete depending on the type of braces.

After the braces are in the mouth, you will be reviewed and your braces adjusted every 4 to 8 weeks. You should avoid biting on large hard pieces of food (e.g. biting into an apple) to prevent dislodgement of your braces.

Initially, there may be some discomfort and feeling of ‘tightness’. Your teeth feel sore because they are moving into alignment. After a few days, the discomfort should lessen.

Occasionally, the inner side of your cheeks or lips may get an ulcer from rubbing against the braces. This can be quickly and easily relieved with the application of dental wax.

Retainers
Treatment with fixed braces usually takes between 2 to 3 years, although it may sometimes be adjusted shorter and longer depending on the complexity of the case. After your braces are removed, your dental specialist/ dentist will provide you with removable or fixed retainers. Retainers need to be used throughout your life. They are important as they hold your teeth in their corrected positions after the braces have been removed.

Follow-Up Care – Regular Reviews
You should see your dental specialist/ dentist about 1-3 months after your retainers are fitted. Subsequently, you can arrange for your visit to coincide with your routine 6-monthly dental check-up.

Braces Fees

Package Fees
Other Fees
Medisave Claimable?

Description	Fee (SGD)
Consultation	$80 – $200
2 Digital x-rays (Orthopantomogram & Cephalometric x-rays)	$280
Metal braces	$4,800 – $6,500 (Dr May Ling Eide) $6,500 (Dr Eugene Chan – includes all retainers: Essix & Bonded)
Self-ligating steel braces	$5,500 – $6,500
Ceramic (tooth coloured) braces	$5,800 – $6,500 (Dr May Ling Eide) $7,500 (Dr Eugene Chan – includes all retainers: Essix & Bonded)
Lingual braces (placed behind the teeth)	$12,000 – $14,000^

Dr Eugene Chan
Dr May Ling Eide

Fixed Braces
- Metal Braces
- Ceramic Braces
- Self-ligating Braces
- Lingual Braces
Removable Braces
- Invisalign®

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF BRACES?

There are two main types of orthodontic treatments – fixed and removable appliances.

Fixed Appliances

Metal Braces

Traditional metal braces comprise of brackets that are affixed to teeth and wires that are threaded through slots in the brackets. Some patients may also have metal bands encircling back teeth. Wires are held to brackets by tiny rubber bands. Brackets are generally made of stainless steel and the wires are made of metal alloys to deliver a constant, gentle force to move teeth.
Although not the most aesthetic type of fixed braces treatment, metal braces are predictable, yield good results, and it is the least less costly option.
We also provide colourful braces where you can choose the colour of the elastic ties that bind wires to the brackets. You can even change the colour each time you visit the dentist.
We have patients who change the colours of their elastic ties according to the holiday season. For instance, opting for red and green ties during Christmas. Wearing metal braces can be fun!

Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces are tooth-coloured. While not completely invisible, they are more subtle and less noticeable, making them the more aesthetic option.
Did you know that Tom Cruise wore ceramic braces? If you were not aware of this, then it means that the ceramic braces did a good job of being unnoticeable on this much-photographed Hollywood personality.
Similar to metal braces, ceramic braces are affixed to teeth, and wires are threaded through slots in the brackets. Wires are held to brackets by tiny rubber bands. The brackets are made of ceramic and the wires made of metal alloys to deliver a constant, gentle force to move teeth.
Ceramic braces blend in with your teeth and are less noticeable from a distance or in photographs.
On the other hand, the professional fees involved for ceramics braces are higher than traditional metal braces.
The clear/white elastics also stain easily if not cared for properly. The good news is that since your elastics are changed regularly at your monthly orthodontic visits, the stained effect only lasts until your next dental appointment.

Self-ligating Braces

Instead of using wires or elastic bands, self-ligating braces are designed with a tiny gate to hold on to the archwires gently. This means that treatment is more comfortable than metal and ceramic braces.The entire treatment also takes a shorter timeframe, roughly an average reduction of 4 months, to complete. The number of appointments to the dental specialist/ dentist is reduced by an average of 4 visits as compared with conventional metal or ceramic braces.
In addition, oral hygiene is easier to achieve as self-ligating brackets do not accumulate plaque as much as rubber modules or wires. They do not easily stain since they do not contain rubber parts. They are also strong and rarely break.
Self-ligating braces are aesthetically better compared with conventional metal braces as they do not need any ligatures, elastic bands or wires to hold on to the archwires

Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are placed on the back of your teeth (at the side of the tongue), hiding the appliance from your smile, making it unnoticeable to others. This is the main advantage of lingual braces and one of ways to straighten your teeth in an “invisible” manner.
In terms of materials involved and techniques required, it is largely similar to conventional metal braces.
In terms of comfort level, lingual braces generally require more time to get used to and wear.

Removable Appliances

Invisalign

Invisalign® uses 3-D computer imaging technology to plan and map your complete orthodontic treatment. Your teeth are gradually moved into place by a series of customized clear aligners.
The clear aligners are easy to insert and remove, making cleaning the aligners easier. Oral hygiene is also much easier as the clear aligners can be removed when brushing teeth. There is no need to deal with messy wires and brackets.
Invisalign is like contact lens for your teeth. The aligners are not easily noticeable and cannot be seen in photographs or from afar, only subtly close up.
However, Invisalign requires discipline – the aligners have to be worn for a minimal of 20 to 22 hours a day.
For more information, please refer to the Invisalign page here.

In order to know which orthodontic treatment is most suitable for you, consult one of our dental specialist/dentist and share with them your concerns (eg. aesthetic, comfort, affordability) so that they can advise accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is orthodontic treatment suitable for patients with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems or patients who are pregnant?
Does diet play a part in crooked teeth?
What happens after the braces are removed/ after I complete my Invisalign treatment?