Do you need to do anything to prepare for having braces put on?
If you are thinking about getting braces put on, there's really nothing you can do to better prepare your teeth. They will be examined, professionally cleaned and prepared by the dentist. However, there are some other ways that you can go about being prepared for once you have braces. You should purchase soft foods like yogurt, pudding and mashed potatoes right before you go in to have them put on. This way, you won't have to worry about going shopping for foods to eat right after getting them.
You may have no idea what to expect when it comes to how long you are going to be in the chair for when you are having braces put on. The truth is, the time it takes to have the braces put on depends on many factors including the condition your teeth are in, how long you can sit still without needing breaks and other factors. However, it generally takes a couple of hours from start to finish.
What will you feel like right after the procedure?
During the procedure, you should not feel any pain. However, you do want to be prepared for discomfort after the braces are in place and it can take a few days for this discomfort and sensitivity to subside. You want to have some pain reducers on hand, so you can take them as needed during those first few days. During this time, chewing regular food will also be challenging and this is why you want to have stocked up on foods that don't require much actual chewing. After the initial few days, you should feel fine, but expect the discomfort to return each time you have them tightened.
What exactly do the braces do?
The braces will pull your teeth constantly in a way that makes them slowly move. Once they have moved as far as they can with the current bands, it will be time for them to be tightened. Once the braces have done all they can then you will move on to wearing a retainer. One mistake many people make is not wearing the retainer as directed and this can cause your teeth to shift back some.