More than 10 million people worldwide have braces on right now! There are patterns of errors and issues that affect patients in braces, and this is certainly something we see in Auckland.
Getting braces in Auckland means making smart choices. Your orthodontist selection matters. Proximity to school and work matter. Your aftercare habits count. Getting braces locally can protect your dental health when you maintain them properly and have regular orthodontic visits with a trained specialist. Braces aren’t just for teenagers anymore as 25-30% of our new orthodontic patients are adults over 18.
Patients can compromise their treatment outcomes and results in many ways. Playing contact sports without mouthguards; eating hard or sticky foods that can break brackets and braces components; skipping appointments; poor brushing and lack of flossing create complications that can include gum infections and decay (permanent staining of teeth).
This article looks at some of the biggest braces mistakes and discusses exactly how to avoid them.
Key Takeaways
- Understanding these common orthodontic mistakes can help you achieve better results and avoid costly delays during your braces treatment and poor results.
- Choose an Auckland based specialist orthodontist registered with the Dental Council of New Zealand. Specialists have 5,000+ hours of specialised training. Our specialists have experience in thousands of cases and 30+ years of combined dental experience.
- Follow your orthodontist’s instructions religiously: attend all appointments, wear rubber bands as prescribed, and use retainers properly.
- Maintain excellent oral hygiene by brushing three times daily at 45-degree angles and flossing around brackets to prevent treatment delays. Use a mouthwash and specialised toothpastes and creams to keep the teeth conditioned and strong.
- Avoid hard, sticky, and chewy foods that can damage brackets and extend your treatment timeline significantly.
- Don’t believe the common myths. Braces aren’t constantly painful, they correct functional issues beyond cosmetics, and success requires your active participation.
Poor compliance with any of these areas can extend treatment time, increase costs, and compromise the final orthodontic results. Remember that orthodontic treatment is a partnership between you and the clinic staff and your specialist orthodontist, where your commitment directly impacts the quality and speed of attaining a great result.
Picking The Right Orthodontic Provider Or Treatment
The best orthodontic treatment outcomes are achieved when the right orthodontic specialist is chosen, along with the right treatment, clinical facilities, and friendly, professional staff, that fulfil the expectations of the patient.
Why Not All Providers Are Equal
Specialist orthodontists spend three extra years at university after their dental degree. At the University of Otago, there is a pre-requisite of a further 2 years of clinical experience prior to applying for the speciality training. This training teaches orthodontists to handle complex orthodontic cases properly. The numbers tell the story.
Orthodontists training at the University of Otago in Dunedin have roughly 5,000 hours of hands-on experience moving teeth and fixing bite problems. They work exclusively on diagnosing, prevention, and treating dental and facial problems. That focus makes them expert teeth movers!
Benefits Of Getting Braces From A Specialist In Auckland
Specialist orthodontists in Auckland know exactly how teeth and jaws move. They use advanced techniques to align them correctly. Their focus means they create treatment plans that work for complex cases.
Specialists offer more treatment options too. Metal braces, clear aligners, modern alternatives. They spot problems early and adjust your care to prevent complications. Your treatment runs smoother.
Understanding The Cost Of Braces In Auckland
Braces costs in Auckland vary based on complexity and treatment type. At Shakespeare Orthodontics, the average case is around $9,800, with treatment ranging from $4,500 for simple cases to $12,800+ for complex cases requiring extensive corrections.
The process includes an initial consultation, a customised treatment plan, orthodontic adjustments, an allowance for emergency visits (if required), communication with other providers and specialists and a follow-up retainer check visit.
It is important to highlight that the question of costs can be truly tricky to answer precisely without full measurements, X-rays and scans as no two people’s teeth are identical. The complexity and duration of your treatment, as well as additional dental work required, and the types of retainers all impact the final cost.
When comparing prices, patients are encouraged to ask specific questions of their provider such as:
- Are there separate charges per visit?
- Which retainers are included and what is their separate cost, or will this fee be included?
- Will there be a follow-up appointment once the treatment is completed?
- What are the costs incurred when emergency appointments occur?
There are many different types of braces available: Traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, and self-ligating braces. Shakespeare Orthodontics offers flexible payment plans, including 12-monthly interest-free options to make treatment affordable.
Don’t make price your only consideration when choosing an orthodontist. Quality care from specialist orthodontists protects your dental health for life when done properly. It’s worth the investment. Consider a local orthodontist to ensure the routine appointments required to adjust the braces, plates or aligners do not become a burden.
Patients Who Don’t Listen to Their Orthodontist
You’ve picked your Auckland orthodontist. Now comes the hard part: Actually following their advice. Small choices create big problems during treatment.
Missing Appointments Slows Everything Down
Your orthodontist schedules appointments for specific reasons. We have treatment efficiency in mind, and each visit at Shakespeare Orthodontics serves a specific purpose: wire adjustments, reviews, band replacements, progress checks, updated records, and retention checks, to name a few. Miss one appointment and your whole timeline can shift.
At Shakespeare Orthodontics, patient outcomes are carefully tracked, and the treatment progress is reviewed at every appointment. Patients who show up on time finish treatment as planned. Patients who reschedule constantly end up wearing braces longer. Life happens, sure. But chronic appointment skipping costs you time and money.
Rubber Bands That Patients Ignore
Elastic bands fix bite problems and jaw misalignment. Some patients treat them like optional extras. Your orthodontist will provide specific instructions about elastic bands: when to wear them, how long for, which configuration, and when they plan to review the anticipated changes.
Patients who follow rubber band instructions get great results. Patients who wear them inconsistently face unpredictable tooth movement and extended treatment. The bands are a requirement for successful treatment.
Retainer Problems After Braces Come Off
The biggest mistake happens after braces removal. Retainers keep your teeth in their new positions. Generally, we find that patients start strong, then gradually stop wearing them.
At Shakespeare Orthodontics, we give clear retainer instructions and stress this information for long-term maintenance of your brand-new smile: full-time wear initially, then nights only for the removable retainers. Skip this step and your teeth drift back to their original positions. Years of orthodontic work can disappear in days or weeks.
Braces in Auckland cost more than money. They require commitment to appointments, elastics, and retainers. Follow your orthodontist’s guidance completely as your investment and your smile depend on it.
Poor Daily Care Ruins Treatment
Successful braces treatment demands serious oral hygiene standards. Most patients underestimate how different their cleaning routine becomes when wearing braces.
Proper Brushing And Flossing Techniques
Brush twice daily for two-three minutes minimum. Better yet, brush after every meal. Angle your toothbrush at 45 degrees toward your gums. Focus on cleaning around brackets and under wires where food gets stuck.
Flossing stays essential even with braces. Your toothbrush only reaches three sides of each tooth. Floss threaders or water flossers help you reach difficult spots.
Foods That Break Brackets
Certain foods will damage your braces:
- Hard foods (nuts, hard candy, pizza and bread crust, ice)
- Sticky foods (caramel, toffee, gum)
- Crunchy items (popcorn, hard taco shells, fresh fruit and vegetables)
- Chewy foods (bagels, tough meats)
These foods break brackets and bend wires. Repairs extend your treatment time. Sugary foods create extra plaque around braces. Avoid them completely.
How Poor Cleaning Affects Your Timeline
Bad oral hygiene delays treatment completion. Plaque build-up causes demineralisation (damage to the teeth), which creates white marks that can become permanent if not addressed promptly.
Studies show that 50-70% of braces patients develop enamel damage and gum inflammation. These problems require extra appointments and longer treatment. The final results suffer too. Clean teeth move faster and look better when braces come off.
Braces Myths That Hurt Your Treatment
Myths about orthodontic treatment stop patients from getting proper results. Our specialist orthodontists spend quite a bit of time correcting these misconceptions about braces and happily answer patient questions.
Braces Hurt Constantly
Fear of endless pain keeps people from getting braces. This isn’t true. Discomfort happens during the first adjustment period and after tightening appointments. Today’s orthodontic technology uses gentler forces to move teeth gradually, making treatment much more comfortable. Any soreness fades within a few days and responds well to over-the-counter pain relief.
Braces Only Fix Appearance
Some people think orthodontic treatment just makes teeth look better. Braces do much more than improve appearance. They fix bite alignment, reduce pain, help with sleep apnoea, and stop uneven tooth wear. Specialist orthodontists work on both how your smile looks and how it functions.
Some people also believe that starting treatment as early as possible always leads to better results. In reality, certain orthodontic treatments are more effective when delayed until the right stage of growth and development, as explained in our article on why some orthodontic treatments are better delayed.
Braces Work Automatically
Patients sometimes think braces guarantee results no matter what they do. Treatment success depends heavily on following instructions. Missing appointments or ignoring guidelines prolongs treatment and reduces effectiveness.
Braces Ruin Eating And Speaking
Yes, you need to adjust your diet to protect your braces, but most foods are still fine with small changes. Speech problems are temporary as your mouth adapts to the new appliances. Most patients speak normally again within about two weeks.
Take Control of Your Orthodontic Journey
Orthodontic treatment is a significant investment. Your decisions during treatment determine whether that money pays off. Specialist orthodontists have 5,000+ hours of training specifically in moving teeth, not to mention numerous years of clinical experience. Follow their instructions exactly: appointments, elastic bands, retainers.
Shakespeare Orthodontics treats braces patients across Auckland. They offer payment plans to make treatment affordable. Your active participation determines everything. Follow advice, maintain oral hygiene, attend appointments, and wear your elastic bands and retainers!
Retainers matter after your braces come off. Teeth shift back without proper retainer use. Years of orthodontic work can get undone. Orthodontic treatment demands commitment. The results last a lifetime when you do it right.
Shakespeare Orthodontics: Shaping a Smile You Will Love
Four Auckland Locations: Takapuna (North Shore), Epsom, Warkworth, Howick
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Our team of specialist orthodontists at Shakespeare Orthodontics includes:
- Dr Mo Al‑Dujaili, BDS, DClinDent, MRACDS‑Orth, MOrthRCSEd
- Dr Azza Al‑Ani, BDS, DClinDent, MRACDS‑Orth, MOrthRCSEd
- Dr Adriana Perez, BDS (Ven/Esp), MDS‑Orth (Arg)
Our specialist orthodontists provide expert care across our Auckland clinics in Takapuna, Epsom, Warkworth, and Howick, offering tailored treatment based on your individual needs.
PLEASE NOTE: This article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical or orthodontic advice. Each patient’s dental and orthodontic needs are unique and require personalised assessment. For accurate diagnosis and treatment planning, please consult a registered specialist orthodontist.
