Orthodontic treatment in Dhahran

Fixed metal or ceramic braces, removable clear aligners, and early treatment for children — the dentist decides which suits the case after an examination and X-ray.

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In short

Orthodontic treatment moves teeth slowly into better positions with light, continuous force, correcting crowding, gaps and the way the jaws meet. Dr. Binyahya Dental Clinic in Hajer District, Dhahran, provides it in four forms: fixed metal braces, fixed ceramic braces, removable clear aligners, and early treatment for children. The dentist decides which suits the case after an examination and an X-ray.

Crowded or widely spaced teeth affect more than the look of a smile. A tooth standing out of line is harder to clean along its sides, so tartar builds up on it and decay and gum inflammation become more likely. If the two jaws do not meet properly, the force of chewing may fall on particular teeth, wearing their edges before the others, and the patient may complain of the jaw joint. Orthodontic treatment is therefore a treatment of how the bite works, not a cosmetic procedure alone.

Whatever appliance is used, the principle is the same: light, continuous force is applied to a tooth, and over months the bone around its root responds and rebuilds itself in the direction the tooth is moving. Because that response is slow by nature, treatment is measured in months rather than weeks, and the length differs from case to case according to the degree of crowding, the age of the patient and how the bone responds.

The clinic offers four options: fixed metal braces with metal brackets; fixed ceramic braces with tooth-coloured brackets that show less; removable clear aligners, taken out to eat and to clean the teeth; and early treatment for children, which guides the growth of the jaws at an age when that is still possible. Each has what it suits and what it does not. Clear aligners, for instance, suit mild to moderate crowding and depend on the patient wearing them for most of the day, while severe cases, or those needing substantial movement, remain closer to fixed braces. The dentist decides which option suits the case after the examination and the panoramic X-ray.

The clinic's imaging room with a panoramic dental X-ray unit

Orthodontics

Treatment at the clinic

A panoramic X-ray before the plan is made

Digital panoramic X-rays are taken at the clinic itself, so the dentist can assess the roots, the bone of both jaws and any teeth that have not yet come through — facts that cannot be known by looking alone and that change the plan.

Four options presented with their limits, not only their merits

The dentist sets out metal braces, ceramic braces, clear aligners and early treatment for children, which of them suits the case and which does not, with the expected length of each and the number of follow-up visits.

Decay and gum treatment before the appliance is fitted

Decay and gum inflammation are treated before braces are fitted, because bonding brackets onto a decayed tooth or inflamed gums makes the problem worse and harder to treat later. This is carried out at the same clinic, within one plan.

A dedicated sterilization room

Orthodontic instruments go through the sterilization steps in a dedicated room before every use — which, in a treatment lasting months, means repeated visits with sterilized instruments each time.

Evening appointments for a follow-up that runs for months

Orthodontic treatment needs a review visit roughly every four to eight weeks. The clinic receives patients Saturday to Thursday, from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM, so those visits fall after work and school.

Retention is part of the plan, not an addition to it

Teeth tend to drift back towards their first positions once the appliance is removed, so a retainer is fitted and the patient is told how long to wear it and when to return. That stage and its length are stated in the plan before treatment begins, not after the movement has finished.

When is this treatment advised?

Crowded or overlapping teeth, where brushing and flossing between them is difficult.
Spaces between the teeth, whether present from the start or left by a lost tooth.
Upper or lower front teeth that protrude, or jaws that do not meet properly.
Neighbouring teeth tilting into the gap of a missing tooth, before it is replaced with a bridge or an implant.
A deep, open or crossed bite noticed by the dentist when the bite is examined.
A child at an age when jaw growth can still be guided, where early treatment may avoid longer treatment later.
Teeth that have crowded again after earlier orthodontic treatment in which the retainer was not worn as advised.
Treatment is not advised before decay and gum inflammation have been treated, because an appliance makes cleaning harder and speeds the decline of a tooth or gum that is not sound.

Treatment steps

1
Examination and X-ray
The dentist examines the teeth, gums and bite, and uses the clinic’s own digital panoramic X-ray to assess the roots, the bone of both jaws and any unerupted teeth. Photographs and impressions of the jaws may also be taken to study the case.
2
Treatment that comes before the appliance
Decay and gum inflammation are treated and tartar removed, and some cases need a tooth extracted to make room for movement. This comes before the appliance is fitted, because bonding brackets onto an unsound tooth doubles the harm.
3
Choosing the appliance and agreeing the plan
The dentist explains the options that suit the case — metal, ceramic, clear aligners, or early treatment for a child — the limits of each, the expected length, the number of visits and the cost. The plan is agreed before treatment begins.
4
Fitting, or handing over the aligners
With fixed braces the brackets are bonded to the teeth and the wire is threaded between them. With clear aligners the patient is given a series of trays, with an explanation of the order in which they are used and when to move from one to the next.
5
Adjustment and review visits
The patient returns roughly every four to eight weeks, and the dentist changes the wire or adjusts its tension and follows the movement of the teeth and the health of the gums. Keeping these visits regular is what holds the treatment to its estimated length.
6
Removal and the retention stage
The brackets are removed and the tooth surfaces cleaned, then a retainer is fitted. The patient is told how many hours a day to wear it and for how long, because neglecting the retainer is the commonest reason crowding returns after successful treatment.

Aftercare instructions

Clean your teeth after every meal where you can, because food collects around brackets and wires far more than it clings to a tooth without them.
Use an orthodontic brush and the floss made for braces, or a water flosser if you have one, because a brush alone does not reach under the wire.
Avoid hard foods such as nuts and ice, and sticky ones such as chewing gum and caramel, because they can loosen a bracket or bend a wire, adding a visit and delaying treatment.
Cut firm foods such as apples and carrots into small pieces rather than biting into them, because biting directly puts force on the front brackets.
Expect a feeling of pressure or mild soreness in the first days after fitting and after each adjustment; it usually eases within a few days. See the dentist if it continues or grows worse.
Wear clear aligners for the number of hours the dentist set, and take them out to eat and to drink anything but water, because fewer hours of wear slows the movement and lengthens the treatment.
Return to the clinic if a bracket comes loose or the end of a wire stands out and cuts the cheek or tongue, and do not try to cut the wire yourself.
Keep the review visits at their appointed times, because a late visit leaves the wire at a tension that no longer suits where the teeth have moved to.
Wear the retainer after the appliance is removed exactly as described to you; it is what preserves the result of months of treatment.

Frequently asked questions

How long does orthodontic treatment take?

The length is measured in months and differs from case to case according to the degree of crowding, the kind of appliance, the age of the patient and how the bone responds; the dentist estimates it after the examination and X-ray. The time spent wearing a retainer afterwards is added to that, and it is part of the plan stated before treatment begins.

What is the difference between metal braces, ceramic braces and clear aligners?

Metal braces are fixed, with metal brackets. Ceramic braces are also fixed, but their brackets are tooth-coloured and show less. Clear aligners are removable and are taken out to eat and clean the teeth. Aligners depend on the patient keeping to the hours of wear and usually suit mild to moderate crowding, while cases needing greater movement remain closer to fixed braces. The dentist decides which suits after the examination.

What age is right to start orthodontic treatment?

Both children and adults are treated. In children, early treatment can help guide the growth of the jaws at an age when that is still possible, and may avoid longer treatment later. For adults there is no upper age limit as long as the gums and bone are sound, which the dentist assesses by examination and X-ray.

Is orthodontic treatment painful?

A feeling of pressure, or mild soreness on chewing, is common in the first days after fitting and after each adjustment, and usually eases within a few days. Soft foods are advised during those days. If the pain continues or grows worse, the patient should return to the clinic so the cause can be assessed.

Do the teeth move back after treatment ends?

Teeth tend to drift back towards their first positions once the appliance is removed, which is why a retention stage is built into the plan. Wearing the retainer for the period the dentist sets is what preserves the result, and neglecting it is the commonest reason crowding returns.

Can braces be fitted when there is decay or gum inflammation?

That is not advised. Decay and gum inflammation are treated and tartar removed first, because an appliance makes cleaning harder and speeds the decline of a tooth or gum that is not sound. This treatment is carried out at the same clinic as part of the plan.

How much does orthodontic treatment cost?

The cost is set after the examination, because it varies with the kind of appliance, the degree of the case, the number of visits and any treatment needed beforehand. The plan and its cost are made clear before treatment begins. The clinic does not deal with medical insurance.