How does the orthodontist know where to place brackets? However, orthodontists are aware of this and constantly scan your teeth at each session to see if repositioning is needed. Errors in bonding brackets happen all the time because it’s pretty complicated to manually place all the brackets perfectly where they need to go. It takes some guessing to bond brackets on those particular teeth, and the brackets may not have the desired effects because of the teeth’s shape. Some teeth may be more bulbous, or taller/shorter than average. Swollen gums often have the same effect of masking the tooth’s real size and shape. Some of our younger patients have canines or premolars that haven’t erupted all the way, and it’s quite challenging to estimate where the correct position may be. As the crowded teeth align, your orthodontist will gradually change the bracket position until it sits in the right place. When certain teeth overlap, it’s impossible to get the brackets where they need to go. You’re probably wondering – why reposition brackets at all, why not glue them where they need to go in the first place? Well, that’s not always possible, and here are the most common reasons why: Some orthodontists like to defer all these corrections toward the middle or end of treatment and do a long session where they rebond multiple brackets and make all the necessary adjustments. So what is bracket repositioning and why is it needed in the first place? In orthodontics, bracket repositioning consists of 3 steps: identifying brackets that are bonded slightly off-center, removing them with a bracket removing plier, and bonding a new bracket in an improved position that matches the current treatment needs.īracket repositioning can be a one-time thing, meaning that your orthodontist will spontaneously decide to do this with one bracket during your regular appointments, or a planned repositioning session. And for some, it’s a constant process of fine-tuning and adjusting. And in a nutshell, that’s how braces work.īut it’s these little things, like braces accessories, rubber bands, power chains, ligatures and braces repositioning that inflict more discomfort than some patients expect. Most people get into orthodontic treatment thinking they’re going to receive some braces on their teeth, a wire that gets changed once in a while, and that’s it. Why do orthodontists remove and replace brackets? However, I’m not YOUR doctor, so please check with your orthodontist before doing anything to your braces, and don’t be afraid to ask them any questions you might have. In this article, I’ll explain why orthodontists do this, when they tend to do it, and some specific situations that make properly bonding brackets difficult, to begin with.ĭisclaimer: I’m a licensed orthodontist on a quest to make information on dental braces accessible and easy to understand. This procedure is called “bracket repositioning” and it’s just what it sounds like – we pop brackets off, only to place them in a slightly different position.

As an Amazon Associate earns from qualifying purchases.Īt some point during your braces treatment, you might be surprised to notice your orthodontist removing a bracket and placing a new one for no apparent reason.

Brackets for braces