Removing fixed braces is a swift, safe, and emotional milestone – the moment you finally see your new, perfectly aligned smile in the mirror. The goal of this appointment at Stojanac Practice is to debond brackets leaving natural enamel 100% intact, giving your smile a final, healthy shine.
What Does the Debonding Procedure Involve?
The process consists of several careful steps led by Dr. Eleonora:
- Safe Bracket Removal: Using specialized instruments, Dr. Eleonora applies gentle pressure to detach brackets. The bonding adhesive is engineered to fracture at a specific interface under this pressure, leaving enamel 100% safe and intact.
- Adhesive Removal & Polishing: Residual adhesive is carefully removed using soft composite-removal burs that do not harm natural enamel. Teeth are then polished to a high shine with specialized pastes.
- Ultrasonic Scaling: Mineral deposits naturally tend to accumulate around bracket elements during treatment. Immediately following polishing, we perform ultrasonic tartar removal, restoring pristine hygiene to teeth and gums.
- Retainer Impression: Once teeth are clean, polished, and healthy, we take final impressions to fabricate your clear retainer tray (retention foil).
Note: Cosmetic reconstructions and bonding additions on worn incisal edges are not included in the orthodontic debonding package and are charged separately according to conservative dentistry pricing.
Retainer Protocol & Stability Rules
Following tooth movement, teeth possess a natural biological tendency to shift back toward their original positions. Retainers hold teeth in place until surrounding bone fully mineralizes.
- First 6 Months: Retainers are worn continuously – day and night (removed only during meals and brushing). After 6 months, daytime wear is gradually phased out to night-only.
- Bring Retainer to Dental Appointments: Whenever you receive a new filling or replace an old one, tooth anatomy changes slightly. Always bring your retainer tray to your appointment so your dentist can confirm the tray fits perfectly without creating unwanted pressure.
- Age Guidelines: For teenage patients, Dr. Eleonora recommends nighttime retainer wear until age 25 due to late mandibular growth and wisdom teeth eruption. For adults, retention is lifelong (a few nights per week) as teeth experience natural micro-shifts over time.