Welcome to UK Adult Braces
A blog for adults considering or undergoing orthodontic treatment
The orthodontic patients blog
If you are thinking about getting braces, have just started wearing them, have had them for some time or are just interested in orthodontics, this site will be of interest to you. It contains articles on everything from traditional metal braces to the latest lingual braces, Invisalign, invisible braces, clear brackets, retainers, how to get by with braces, the latest advances in orthodontics, new products and services, dental news and exhibitions. There are also links to some great adult braces blogs and video’s, articles written by orthodontists, orthodontic staff and patients, orthodontic academic research and opinion as well as plenty of general information about what it is like to undertake adult orthodontics and how to survive wearing braces.
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What’s on the blog
Wearing braces
Find out what it is really like to have braces as an adult
Information
You will find a large number of posts about braces helping you to make an informed decision about treatment
Interviews
You can get a fascinating insight into the people who work in orthodontics
Braces
Find out about the different types of braces from people who have already undertaken orthodontic treatment
Aligners
Are aligners an alternative to traditional braces, find out more
Bloggers
Read some great posts from other bloggers who have written about their braces experiences
Retainers
Learn about the different types of retainers and what your options might be
News and Research
Articles about orthodontics, services, practices, evidence based orthodontics and treatments
Options and choices
Discover all the options for orthodontic treatment to help you make the right decision
Latest blog posts
Whose responsibility is retention?
At the Scottish Dental show, I attended a lecture on orthodontics delivered by Robbie Lawson, a specialist orthodontist from Edinburgh Orthodontics. Towards the end of his presentation, he asked the question 'who's responsibility is retention?' and this is a very good...
An Invisalign update from Anna
Anna, who writes the 'a whole lot of chitty chat' blog has recently updated on her progress with Invisalign. She is now on tray 15 out of 17 and her post gives an honest reflection on what she has learnt so far with Invisalign. Here is an extract from the post:...
Dental Show Goodie Bags
On Friday I attended the Scottish Dental Show in Glasgow. This was my first visit to a dental show so I didn't really know what to expect but had an idea about what I might find from reading the exhibitor list and seeing reviews on the previous shows. I will be...
BOS warning on DIY braces
The British Orthodontic Society has issued a warning to members of the public about the dangers of DIY braces and given the recent publicity this has received and the potential rapid growth of these services, I thought I would write a short piece on this. A few weeks...
Do braces hurt?
On the rare occasions that people notice you have braces and are willing to talk to you about them, one of the top three questions that get's asked is "do your braces hurt?" This is a very subjective question as, if you were to ask ten people undertaking exactly the...
Watercress and braces
In a previous post I wrote about difficulty eating rocket leaves whilst wearing braces. I didn't take long to discover a solution, watercress! As well as being good for you and tasty, I found watercress didn't get tangled in my arch wires or brackets and very rarely...
Archwires
During my orthodontic treatment, and when I remembered, I asked to keep the arch wires when they were replaced with new ones. I was fascinated by how they were working between appointments to move my teeth and now that I have had a chance to look at the collection...
How to make an Essix retainer
Essix retainers seem to be the retainer of choice for many patients (and orthodontists) and this clip shows how one is made. It seems a simple process that both relies on the accuracy of the impressions taken at the surgery and the skill of the technician making the...
Philips Sonicare Diamond Electric Toothbrush – update
Following my previous post about this great electric toothbrush, I contacted the Philips aftercare team to ask about the short battery life. After taking some basic details from me and verifying my serial number they sent me an email asking me to return the brush to...
What I’m looking forward to after my braces come off
In just a few days time, my braces will be coming off so I have been giving some thought as to what I'm looking forward to. Here is my list. What I'm looking forward to after my braces come off curry, tomato based pasta sauces, salted nuts, crusty bread, red wine,...
Do adults wear headgear?
I have recently come across an interesting channel on YouTube from a UK based adult brace wearer who has headgear to keep her extraction gaps open whilst her bite is aligned. I will be asking Danni if she would be willing to write a post for this site to explain a...
3 Wishes Invisalign Blog
Carrie, a London based lifestyle blogger has posted a great series of posts about her time with Invisalign braces and the fantastic results she has received by having her teeth straightened this way. She writes a blog 'wish wish wish' which has some really lovely...
Why I chose metal brackets
When thinking about getting your teeth straightened, there are so many choices available to patients from invisible lingual braces, aligners, clear braces, removable appliances and traditional braces. I chose to have traditional metal brackets and I thought I would...
How to help your orthodontist
It is easy to think that our orthodontists are the ones who are putting in all the work to give us straight teeth and that as a patient we have a passive role to play in the process. This isn't strictly true as any orthodontic treatment is a partnership between the...
How to make a fixed retainer
Have you ever wondered how a bonded fixed wire retainer is made? This YouTube video will show you how it is done. https://youtu.be/e4i9QOkEg74
Inside I’m Smiling
'Inside I'm Smiling' is a great blog created by a lingual (behind the teeth) brace wearer who undertook her treatment at the well respected London Lingual Orthodontic Clinic. The blog contains a lot of detail about the process of getting lingual braces, wearing...
Fixed retainers
At the end of your orthodontic treatment, you are going to want to ensure all the hard work and effort remains visible for a long time and for this, you will need to wear retainers. There are several different types of retainers and this article looks at fixed...
New Year Resolutions
I wonder how many people will add ‘getting braces’ to their list of things to achieve in 2016? I suspect quite a few given the growing demand for adult orthodontics in the UK over recent years. But how many of these people will actually fulfil their wish and start...
Rocket and braces
Wikipedia defines rocket leaves as an edible annual plant. But for those of us with braces, we would probably redefine this humble salad as a plant that becomes impossibly entwined in our braces. I don't know what it is with Rocket leaves but they are so incredibly...
Gum Shield Frying Pan
I have just come across another Invisalign blog that takes a light hearted look at the process of getting and having Invisalign. For a peek of what you might expect from this blog, I have copied a great description of the process of getting impressions below: The...
Braces and curry
There is nothing like the smell of spices roasting in a pan ready for the fresh ingredients to be added to make a delicious curry. It's one of those meals that is terrific all year round either cooked at home or eating out with friends. Unfortunately it is also not...