Orthodontic treatment is a process that requires regular visits and specialist care. Replacing the wires in your braces is one of the most important elements of this treatment to ensure its effectiveness and progress.

When are the wires replaced?

Orthodontic wires are changed during the course of treatment as the pressure on the teeth needs to be adjusted. This is usually done every 4-6 weeks during follow-up appointments with the orthodontist. 

Replacement of wires in orthodontic appliances may be necessary in the following cases:

• change of treatment stage - different phases require different types of wires with different thickness and flexibility,
• loss of wire flexibility - wires can lose their properties over time, reducing the effectiveness of treatment,
• wire damage - if a wire is damaged, it should be replaced immediately to avoid treatment downtime.

And if you are curious about what orthodontic treatment looks like we recommend our article with a similar title "Orthodontic treatment in the UK"

Replacing wires in braces - what does the procedure look like and how long does it take?

Before we move on to discuss the wire replacement procedure, we will take a moment to say how braces work. Simply put, it exerts pressure on parts of the teeth, thereby causing them to move within the jaw.

In the case of mobile apparatus, the source of force are a screw and springs embedded in a plate. In the case of fixed appliances, the source of force is a wire that is attached to the brackets. This allows movement of the teeth within the bone.

You can read more about how the camera works in the article "How braces work" and about the cameras themselves and their prices in the text "Types of braces in the UK - what to choose".

Moving on to the topic - wire replacement is a quick and routine procedure. The orthodontist removes the ligatures or rubber bands holding the wire, removes the old wire, fits and installs the new wire and then fixes it with new ligatures. 

The whole process takes about 15-30 minutes, depending on the complexity of the case and the type of instrument.

IMPORTANT: Failure to replace the wires regularly can delay or even prevent the progress of treatment. Insufficient pressure on the teeth will result in them not moving as planned. Consequently, this can lead to longer treatment times, the development of new malocclusions and worsening of oral health conditions such as gingivitis.

So how often should the wires be replaced? There is no definite answer here, as it all depends on the individual needs of the patient. In most cases it is the mentioned 4-6 weeks, but the orthodontist adapts the schedule to the patient's needs.

Why is wire replacement and proper orthodontic treatment important?

An abnormal bite can lead to difficulty biting and chewing food, a speech defect, increased susceptibility to tooth decay and periodontal disease, and pain in the temporomandibular joint. 

Omission of orthodontic treatment can result in the need for more complex and costly treatment in the future.

If you want to learn more we recommend our text "Wearing braces - facts and myths". Also remember to take proper care of your oral hygiene throughout your orthodontic treatment. You can read about this topic in our article "How to care for teeth with braces".

Replacement of wires in orthodontic braces - price

This one will depend on the surgery. IMPORTANT: We always care about the health and satisfaction of our patients so we do not undertake the continuation of orthodontic treatment with fixed braces fitted at another practice in the UK or Poland. In these cases, although we can do our best, we have no influence on the final result of the treatment.

From here, we can only offer a free removal of the braces and re-fitting of the new ones in our office.

If this is where you are concerned about costs - peace of mind. At our practice, you can spread the entire orthodontic treatment and the cost of the braces themselves over instalments. Importantly, the first 12 months are zero interest, thus you will pay £50 per month for metal braces and £75 per month for ceramic braces.

If you want to learn more we recommend our article "Bracesntical instalments in the UK" or you are welcome to contact. 

And how much does it cost to replace the wires in braces? At our practice it's £60 for one arch.