Treatment
Braces, aligners and orthodontic treatment
Orthodontic treatment moves teeth into position over months using braces or clear aligners, correcting crowding, gaps and bite problems. A bad bite is a functional issue and not only a cosmetic one: teeth that meet unevenly wear each other down, strain the jaw joint, and create contacts that cannot be cleaned properly, which produces decay and gum disease in the same spots year after year. Fixed braces suit almost every case and do not depend on the patient remembering anything. Clear aligners are removable and far less visible, but they only work while they are actually in the mouth, which realistically means twenty to twenty-two hours a day. Two MDS orthodontists practise at this clinic, and adults are treated as routinely as children, because teeth move at any age given healthy gums and bone.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Binaya Bhandari, Owner and Dental Surgeon, NMC 20701. Last updated .
When do you need this treatment?
- Crowded, overlapping or visibly rotated teeth
- Gaps you are self-conscious about
- Upper and lower teeth do not meet properly when you bite
- A child's adult teeth are coming in out of line
What happens during your visit?
- 1Consultation with the orthodontist, with X-rays and impressions
- 2A treatment plan: braces or aligners, expected duration, and cost
- 3Fitting, then adjustment visits every few weeks
- 4Retainers afterwards, because without them teeth drift back
What happens if you leave it untreated?
Crooked teeth do not straighten with age, and crowding tends to worsen slowly through adulthood. The functional consequences accumulate: uneven wear on specific teeth, recurring decay in the crowded contacts that floss cannot reach, and in some bites, strain on the jaw joint.
What is recovery like?
There is no recovery period, but expect three to five days of soreness after fitting and after each adjustment, when soft food is easier. Aligners feel tight for a day after each new tray. Cleaning takes longer throughout treatment, and that effort is what protects the teeth being moved.
General guidance only. Your own recovery depends on your case, and the dentist treating you will tell you what to expect.
Questions you might have
Braces, Aligners & Orthodontic Treatment
How long does orthodontic treatment take?
Commonly eighteen months to three years for a full case, and considerably less for minor alignment. The honest answer depends on how far the teeth have to move and how the bone responds, so the orthodontist gives an estimated range at the consultation rather than a fixed date.
Am I too old for braces?
No. Teeth move at any age provided the gums and supporting bone are healthy, and adults make up a large share of orthodontic patients. Existing gum disease has to be treated and stabilised first, because moving teeth through inflamed gums accelerates bone loss.
Braces or clear aligners, which is better?
Braces handle a wider range of cases and work regardless of compliance. Aligners are removable and less visible, but only work while worn, realistically twenty to twenty-two hours a day. The orthodontist will tell you whether your case can be treated either way.
How much do braces or aligners cost?
It depends on how crowded or out of line your teeth are and whether you choose braces or aligners. The treatment plan you are given at your consultation includes the cost for your specific case, so ask directly rather than going by what a friend paid.
Who does this
The 2 dentists who handle this treatment
All Nepal Medical Council registered. Call ahead to confirm which of them is in on the day you want to come.
Dr. Anuha Gautam
Orthodontist
BDS, MDS
NMC 22244
Dr. Bishow Prasad Thakur
Orthodontist
BDS, MDS
NMC 13379
Thinking about Braces, Aligners & Orthodontic Treatment?
Send us a message describing the problem. We will tell you whether this is the right treatment for it.
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