Braces consist of brackets (mini-handles) that are bonded (glued on) to the teeth and a wire that the doctor fastens to the brackets to make the teeth move.  He also attaches mini-elastics (rubber bands) which can push or pull the misplaced teeth into their appropriate positions.

        If the brackets break (which can happen when you eat crispy, crunchy or crusty foods (like fried chicken), the brackets can shift and slide into the gums causing them to become inflamed and bleed.  Broken brackets can also lead to the wire poking into the gums and cheeks.

        Other parts of the braces can irritate you and feel sharp.  The orthodontist provides you with wax to cover over the offending part of the brace and that is why he or she will want to see you the same day if you report that you are having pain. It may be comforting to know that once the problems are corrected the gums usually heal in 1-3 days.

        If the teeth are improperly or infrequently brushed over a long period of time, this causes the surface of the teeth to develop white spots which may eventually need to have fillings.  The orthodontist provides patients with a complete list of all possibilities for harm that braces can cause.  Fortunately, it is uncommon for harm to come when treatment is rendered by a specialist in orthodontics.
 

        Yes it is true, but only when you neglect to wear the retainers the orthodontist provides you with.  Retainers are simple removable devices that hold teeth in their straightened position after the braces have been removed.  It is necessary to wear retainers at nights only, six nights a week for three years.  It takes that long for the bone to correctly reform around the newly positioned teeth (like newly-poured cement sets around a sign post).

        After that period of time Dr. Rothstein recommends wearing the retainer for as long as you want the teeth to remain as straight as they were the day the braces were removed.  When you stop wearing your retainers, genetic forces and forces from the lips and tongue, and natural tooth wear, and the loss of bone that sometimes comes with increasing age begins to dictate how the teeth will move, and in most cases the teeth will shift slightly over the years.

     Dr. Rothstein uses "Invisible" retainers which are made of a durable, clear-transparent plastic material which covers the teeth like a protective shell.  They are all but totally invisible even when worn in broad daylight.  They are really user-friendly.

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