Written by Dr. Chaw Su Kyi on September 9, 2014
There are a number of reasons why you may have sensitive teeth, and it’s important to find out the reason why the teeth are sensitive. Before having brace treatment, it is vital to be assessed by your dentist to find the cause of the sensitivity and have the appropriate dental treatment completed.
If there is some gum recession this can result in an area of the tooth being exposed which has less enamel on the surface and even a small amount of root area may now be exposed. Enamel is the protective layer on your teeth and when there is less enamel you are able to ‘feel’ sensitivity. This is often a common cause of sensitive teeth and sometimes only affects a few teeth.
Gum recession on the canine tooth
You can still have orthodontic treatment with gum recession as long as the gums are healthy and there is good bone support. Also, there must be no on-going or active periodontal (gum) disease.
Gentle forces are always needed with brace treatment as too much pressure on the teeth can risk damaging the teeth. During brace treatment, the teeth will be moved a small amount and then need time to ‘settle’ into their new positions before further movement. This is the reason you are seen at regular intervals during your treatment (often every 6-8 weeks).
When there is gum recession, there is reduced support for the teeth and the degree of force from the braces has to be even less than average to allow extra time for healing and settling. If fixed braces are needed Damon braces can offer very light forces which are gentle to the teeth and the roots. The wires are light and flexible and the system allows gentle movement. In addition, with Damon braces, this is a self-ligating brace. Being self-ligating means there is no need for any ‘elastic’ to hold the wire in place. The ‘elastics’ can trap plaque and make it more difficult to keep the teeth clean.
‘Elastics’ to hold the wire in place
Damon braces hold the wire in place by the brace itself without the need for ‘elastics’.
When there is gum recession or if you’ve had periodontal problems in the past it is vital you are able to clean the teeth very well. The best brace for allowing your routine oral hygiene is Invisalign. With Invisalign braces, you can remove them for tooth-brushing and maintain excellent hygiene.
