Do braces hurt?
Generally, braces do not “hurt.” After certain visits, teeth may be sore for a few days. In these situations, pain medications such as Advil or Tylenol will ease the discomfort. However, after most visits, patients do not feel any soreness at all! We often remind our patients, It does not have to hurt to work!
Braces have been progressively improved over the last 20 years. They are more comfortable now than they have ever been. Our initial arch wires are space-age, very resilient nickel titanium and are only .014 mm in diameter. These wires deliver very light forces. Research on tooth movement has proven that light forces move teeth more efficiently and effectively than heavy forces. There may be slight discomfort a few hours after the initial placement of the braces and when new vectors of force are applied to the teeth. This discomfort seldom requires more than over-the-counter Tylenol or baby aspirin and soon subsides. Moreover, modern cast, low profile brackets are designed to minimize your children’s discomfort between visits to the orthodontist. Though most patients experience some tenderness of the teeth during their first week in braces, the presence of the braces goes largely unnoticed after the first week.
Braces have been progressively improved over the last 20 years. They are more comfortable now than they have ever been. Our initial arch wires are space-age, very resilient nickel titanium and are only .013 mm in diameter. These wires deliver very light forces. Research on tooth movement has proven that light forces move teeth more efficiently and effectively than heavy forces. There may be slight discomfort a few hours after the initial placement of the braces and when new vectors of force are applied to the teeth. This discomfort seldom requires more than over-the-counter Tylenol and soon subsides. Though most patients experience some tenderness of the teeth during their first week in braces, the presence of the braces goes largely unnoticed after the first week.
