What can fixed braces correct? More than most people expect. Crooked teeth and crowding, obviously. Gaps. A good chunk of bite problems too, overbites, underbites and crossbites among them. Whether they’ll fix yours is another question, and honestly it depends on your teeth, your jaw and the state of your gums, so we won’t pretend to know until we’ve had a look.
That’s the short version of what braces fix. The rest of this goes problem by problem, then covers the stuff patients ask us before they commit (time, pain, cost). If you’re already leaning towards treatment, our fixed braces in Droitwich page has the practical side.
What Problems Can Fixed Braces Correct?
So what do braces fix, exactly? Here’s the rundown.
Orthodontics boils down to moving teeth through the jaw until they line up and bite together better. Fixed braces are the workhorse for that. A bracket on every tooth means a lot of control, and control is what you want when teeth need to go somewhere specific.
| Problem | What it looks like | What fixed braces do |
|---|---|---|
| Crooked teeth | Twisted, tilted or out of line | Turn and move each tooth into position |
| Crowded teeth | Overlapping, not enough room | Line them up, sometimes after space is made |
| Gaps | Spaces between teeth | Move teeth together to close the space |
| Overbite | Upper front teeth too far forward over the lower ones | Bring the front teeth back into a better position |
| Underbite | Lower front teeth sitting ahead of the upper ones | Improve how the teeth meet in milder cases |
| Crossbite | Some upper teeth biting inside the lower teeth | Move the teeth involved so they bite properly |
| Protruding teeth | Front teeth that stick out, sometimes called buck teeth | Pull them back into line with the rest |
| Deep bite | Upper teeth covering the lower teeth too much | Reduce the overlap so the bite sits more evenly |
| Open bite | Top and bottom teeth not meeting when you close | Move teeth so they meet properly |
| Uneven centre line | Middle of the top and bottom teeth not matching up | Bring the two centre lines closer together |
Mild cases, nasty cases, everything in between. More on each below.
Can Fixed Braces Straighten Crooked Teeth?
Yes. It’s the job everyone pictures. Because each tooth has its own bracket, a twisted or tilted one can actually be rotated into place, not just shoved roughly in the right direction.
Very crooked teeth? Usually still fine to treat. The tricky bit comes later. Badly twisted teeth have a habit of creeping back once the braces are off (orthodontists call it relapse), so the retainer stage matters a lot for these.
Can Fixed Braces Fix Crowded Teeth?
Crowding just means there isn’t enough room. Teeth overlap, or one gets pushed out of the row entirely. Fixed braces for crowded teeth work well, but now and then space has to be made before anything can line up, and for some people (adults included) that means losing a tooth or two. The gaps get closed as treatment goes on. Worth knowing: the British Orthodontic Society tells patients to be wary of anyone promising extraction-free treatment before they’ve even assessed you.
Can Fixed Braces Close Gaps Between Teeth?
Often, yeah. Teeth either side get pulled together until the space is gone.
Why the gap is there changes things, though. A space from a missing tooth is a whole different job to a gap between two healthy teeth. And gaps are one of the likeliest things to open back up if the retainer ends up in a drawer.
Can Fixed Braces Correct an Overbite or Protruding Teeth?
This is one fixed braces are genuinely good at. When people say overbite they usually mean top front teeth that stick out, or that cover too much of the bottom ones. Protruding teeth (buck teeth, if we’re being blunt) are a classic reason to have treatment, and the NHS points out that pulling them back cuts the risk of them getting knocked and damaged. Clear aligners struggle here, according to the BOS. Braces don’t.
Can Fixed Braces Correct an Underbite?
Underbite’s the reverse. Bottom front teeth sit in front of the top ones. If that’s down to where the teeth are, a milder underbite can often be improved with braces.
If it’s the jaw, it’s harder. Braces move teeth. They don’t move jaws, and the most severe cases sometimes end up needing jaw surgery as well, normally via a hospital referral. You’ll know which you’re dealing with after an assessment.
Can Fixed Braces Fix a Crossbite, Deep Bite or Open Bite?
Usually, to some degree. Quick definitions, because the names are confusing. Crossbite: some of your top teeth bite inside the bottom ones when they should sit outside. Deep bite is when the top teeth come down too far over the bottom ones. And an open bite, roughly the opposite, leaves some top and bottom teeth not touching at all when you close.
Part of the point of treatment is getting top and bottom teeth to meet properly, so braces can work on all of these. Uneven teeth fall in here as well. Lots of people have centre lines that don’t match top to bottom, which gives a slightly lopsided smile, and that can be improved too. Misaligned teeth in general, basically, whether it’s one stray tooth or the lot.
Why Correct Crooked Teeth at All?
Partly looks. Nobody’s pretending otherwise. The less obvious reason is that crowded, crooked teeth are a pain to clean properly, so gum problems and decay find it easier to settle in. Teeth that don’t meet right also take more knocks and wear, and a bad bite can leave your jaw muscles working harder than they should.
How Do Fixed Braces Work?
We glue a small bracket to the front of each tooth (sometimes with metal bands round the back teeth) and run a wire through them all. No injections. That wire keeps up a light, constant pressure, and over time the tissue around the roots adapts and lets the teeth shift. Here, the wire usually gets changed about every eight weeks. Want the nitty-gritty on how it runs with us? Our fixed braces treatment in Droitwich page covers it.
Traditional metal braces or tooth-coloured ceramic brackets? Your call. The ceramic ones are less noticeable but do break a bit more easily. Removable braces exist as well, but they’re really only for minor stuff.
How Long Do Fixed Braces Take to Work?
Anywhere from about 12 months to two and a half years is normal, going by the NHS. The BOS says straightening only the front teeth can sometimes be done in six months or so. Thing is, a quick job like that changes less, and the teeth can slide back fast. Sorting the bite properly more often takes a year or two. If someone quotes you something that sounds very quick, ask them exactly what it’ll fix.
Are Fixed Braces Painful?
Fitting them doesn’t hurt. The next few days, a bit. Teeth ache and feel tender to bite on once they start moving, then it settles. Normal painkillers for a day or two take the edge off. You might get a smaller dose of the same after an adjustment.
Fixed Braces for Adults, Teenagers and Children
Braces for adults are completely normal now. Teeth will move at any age if they’re healthy and so are your gums. Most adults pay privately, because adult orthodontic treatment rarely gets NHS funding.
Kids tend to start around 12 or 13, once the adult teeth have come through. Anyone under 18 can get an NHS assessment, though only the more severe cases get NHS treatment.
How Much Do Fixed Braces Cost?
Depends how complicated your case is and how long it’ll take. We’d rather not stick a made-up figure on here. Come in, we’ll look, and you’ll get an actual price with everything spelled out before you decide.
Looking After Fixed Braces and Keeping Teeth Straight
Here’s one people don’t expect: your teeth are more at risk with braces on, not less. Plaque loves all those little ledges. So brush round every bracket, get interdental brushes in between, ease off the sugar and keep turning up for your dental check-ups.
Then, once the braces come off, the teeth start trying to go home. Long-term retention is the standard advice, and we do both removable and fixed retainers.
Fixed Braces or Invisalign?
Both straighten teeth. For mildly crooked teeth, aligners can be great. Once things get complicated (extractions, front teeth sticking out) fixed braces usually give more control. If you’re torn, read up on Invisalign in Droitwich as well.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fixed Braces
Can fixed braces fix very crooked teeth?
Do you need teeth removed for fixed braces?
Can braces fix teeth that stick out?
Can braces fix an open bite?
Do fixed braces fix jaw problems?
What age can you get fixed braces?
Will my teeth stay straight after braces?
Fixed Braces in Droitwich
Wondering what fixed braces could correct for you? Book an assessment at Droitwich Dental Studio and we’ll look at your teeth and bite, then talk you through what’s realistic and which teeth straightening options suit you. Find out more about fixed braces at our Droitwich practice, or ring us on 01905 797733.
