“Do braces self tighten?”

No, braces do not self tighten.

No

Do braces self tighten? The answer is NO. If you're thinking of having orthodontic treatment using braces, your doctor will place brackets on your teeth and place a wire which will be held in place by them. The wire moves your teeth and the brackets direct them. Every so often, you will return and see your doctor who will place a larger diameter wire in your brackets after removing the ones you're wearing. As the wire is bigger and slightly less flexible, you will feel some pressure until your teeth start to move. That's what tightening really is. So, if you want straight teeth and an attractive smile, visiting your orthodontist or dentist every 4-8 weeks (depending) is part of the process.

No, they do not. The braces will move your teeth to a certain point, then they will need to be “re-tightened”. If the current wire in your mouth has done its maximum movement, your orthodontist will change to a stronger wire. To keep your treatment on track, t is important to see your orthodontist at your regularly scheduled intervals.



Take care,

Glenn P. Frial, DDS, MS, APC