Can you wear braces twice?

If you’ve worn braces before, and you’re wondering if you can wear them again, the answer is yes! We’ve helped hundreds of patients to straighten their smile for a second time.

If your teeth have shifted after braces, you’re not alone. Maybe you stopped wearing your retainers or weren’t happy with your result. Whatever your reason for wanting treatment again, we can help.

Braces keep getting better

If you had braces as a teenager, you probably sported metal train tracks. They’re excellent at straightening teeth but most adults prefer something less conspicuous.

Luckily, we have several discreet braces for you to pick from:

• Invisalign (pictured below) features crystal clear aligners, which can be removed for eating and brushing.
• Incognito lingual braces are custom-made to fit behind your teeth, so they’re essentially invisible.
• Clear braces look a lot like traditional fixed braces, but they have clear brackets so they’re a touch more subtle.

If your teeth haven’t moved far, you may be a good candidate for Invisalign Express. It’s been specially designed to correct mild crowding and spacing.

Your treatment could take just a few months and you’ll be able to remove your Invisalign aligners for a couple of hours each day to eat, drink and brush your teeth.

Is it safe to undergo orthodontic treatment twice?

Before we fit your braces, we’ll thoroughly examine your teeth and gums to make sure you’re ready for treatment. A healthy mouth is essential, so if we spot any tooth decay or gum disease, we’ll need to tackle this before we can get started.

Very occasionally orthodontic treatment can shorten the roots of your teeth, so we’ll take X-rays to make sure there are no underlying issues.

If everything’s in tip-top condition, there’s nothing to stop you from wearing braces two or even three times. Although done properly, once should be enough!

Keeping your smile straight

This time, you probably won’t need any convincing to wear your retainers. They’ll keep your teeth straight for as long as you keep wearing them. There are two types of retainers: removable retainers and fixed retainers.

Removable retainers fit over your teeth like a gumshield to stop them from straying. They’re very discreet and you’ll only need to wear them at night after 6–12 months of full-time wear.

Fixed retainers consist of a thin wire, which is attached behind your front teeth. You won’t forget to wear them, and they won’t go missing!

You’ll need to look after your retainers, keep them clean and replace them periodically. You can have a spare set of removable retainers made for extra peace of mind. To stop them going missing, keep them safe in their protective box when you’re not wearing them.

If anything happens to your retainers, contact us straight away. You might not notice that your teeth are moving until it’s too late.

To find out more about braces (again), get in touch to organise a free consultation* with our toothsome team.