Q: What age is the most suitable for orthodontics? A: Generally, simple malocclusions such as misalignment of teeth are most suitable to start orthodontic treatment at the age of 10-14 for girls and 11-15 for boys when tooth replacement is completed. If it is a serious skeletal deformity such as “encephaloplasty” or small jaw, it needs to be corrected earlier. Q: Can adults get orthodontic treatment? A: Adults can also undergo orthodontic treatment as long as they are periodontally healthy and do not have severe temporomandibular joint disease (TMD). Q: How long does orthodontics usually take? A: Full mouth fixed orthodontic treatment takes about two years depending on the situation, and requires a follow-up visit once a month to a month and a half, about 20 minutes. Q: Do all teeth need to be extracted for orthodontics? A: Not every patient needs tooth extraction, it depends on the type of malocclusion, if the teeth are crowded or protruding, it is usually necessary to provide a gap to correct the malocclusion through tooth extraction. Q: Does tooth extraction have any effect on the body and will it cause loosening of other teeth? A: Orthodontic extractions do not have any effect on the body and do not cause loosening of other teeth. The purpose of our extractions is to improve the aesthetics while allowing the remaining teeth to be aligned in the most appropriate position for maximum function. Q: How many teeth need to be extracted? A: Teeth are divided into four quadrants in total, and in general we extract four teeth symmetrically from the top, bottom, left and right. The number of extracted teeth may vary in special cases. Q: Do I need veneers after tooth extraction? A: The orthodontic treatment is to use the space between the extracted teeth to relieve the crowding or improve the protrusion of the teeth. Q: What is the general procedure of orthodontics? A: After the doctor examines the suitability for orthodontics, the first step is to conduct the necessary examination and data collection. After the doctor develops an orthodontic plan based on the collected information, the second step is to listen to and select the treatment plan, while patients who need extractions start extractions. The third step is the wearing of the aligners. After the braces are worn, follow-up appointments are held once every four to six weeks. Q: Can I eat normally during the orthodontic procedure? A: Because the aligners are bonded to the teeth, you cannot eat foods that are too hard or sticky during the orthodontic process in order to prevent them from falling out. Q：Does the orthodontic process hurt? A: After wearing aligners for the first time and after each follow-up visit to add force, teeth may experience mild reactive pain or discomfort, which generally lasts for 3-5 days and then reduces and disappears. Q: How do I brush my teeth during orthodontic treatment? A: The requirements for brushing teeth during the orthodontic period are higher. You must brush your teeth effectively after each meal and before the follow-up consultation, otherwise it will easily cause gingivitis, tooth demineralization and tooth decay, which will affect the orthodontic process and oral health. Q: Will the aligners scratch the oral mucosa? A: When you first start to wear braces, you may experience mouth ulcers due to discomfort, which will gradually improve and disappear after about two weeks of adaptation. Q: Are there any braces that are not visible? A: Aligners with little impact on aesthetics are mainly ceramic aligners, invisible aligners and lingual aligners, which are relatively more expensive and have certain indications to choose from, so you can choose the right one for you according to the situation. Q: Orthodontics will cause damage to the teeth? A: There may be a certain degree of loosening of teeth during the orthodontic process, but this is only temporary. Under normal circumstances, orthodontics will not cause damage to teeth, but patients need to brush their teeth carefully and cooperate with the doctor’s treatment. Q: What is the approximate cost of orthodontics? A: The cost of full mouth orthodontics is around$8,000-20,000 depending on the aligner chosen. Q: Can the effect be maintained without relapse after orthodontic treatment? A: After the fixed orthodontic treatment is finished, it is necessary to wear retainers for one to two years to prevent the relapse of the deformity. A few adult patients need to keep it for longer. Q: What is the principle of orthodontics? A: Orthodontic treatment involves the application of gentle, continuous traction to slowly move misaligned teeth to their normal position within the alveolar bone through orthodontic appliances fixed to the teeth.