By: Dr. Argiro Kechagia BDS, MFDS (rcsed), MSc
The
answer is NO.
Within
the first 1-2 days after the braces are fitted, teeth will begin to shift and
feel quite loose. This is the normal pattern of tooth movement and is the
method teeth use to move through braces. Patients may feel as if their teeth are
getting loose and may see opening where no spaces existed before. This is
perfectly normal, although sometimes can cause concern to the patient if not addressed
and explained by the orthodontist prior to the treatment.
Research
has shown that tooth movement causes at least small changes in the shape and
length of the roots in all patients, but these changes are so small that in 98%
of the cases are not visible to the naked eye.
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| Dr. Argiro Kechagia BDS, MFDS (rcsed), MSc |
However,
in less than 2% of patients, some visible root shortening occurs during routine
orthodontic treatment. The exact cause of tooth resorption (shortening) is not
yet known, but it is believed that it’s caused by genetic predisposition, along
with prolonged orthodontic treatment that is more than 3 years in
duration. This generally will not result
in any long-term problems for teeth, since it is generally believed that a
tooth can loosen up to half of each root length and never have a problem.
Overall,
braces will not make the teeth loose. However, in rare cases of root resorption
the orthodontist will monitor the progress and advise the patient accordingly.
Patients
wearing braces should always communicate their thoughts to their orthodontist
to get their concerns addressed right away.
