Limited Braces

Targeted corrections for healthy teeth.

What are limited braces?

Limited braces are a form of orthodontic treatment where we place braces on a specific set of teeth, instead of an entire arch or both the upper and lower teeth. A great option for children who don’t need full braces, limited braces help to move a small set of teeth quickly, treating minor issues like gaps, mild misalignment and crookedness.

How do limited braces work?

Limited braces work the same way as full braces, with brackets attached to the teeth and connected with an archwire that progressively moves the teeth to the correct position. Unlike full braces, limited braces only place brackets on a few teeth, applying gentle pressure to a specific area of the mouth instead of an entire arch.

Our treatment process

1. Placement. If deemed a good candidate, we bond brackets onto the teeth that need moving and connect them with an archwire.

2. Movement. The archwire exerts gentle pressure on the bracketed teeth, encouraging them to move into a better position. We see you for regular visits to ensure your teeth are moving correctly, and make any adjustments when necessary.

3. Retention. Once your teeth have straightened, we remove the brackets and provide you with a retainer to wear, which ensures your teeth will stay in their new positions.

The benefits of early treatment

We recommend having an initial orthodontic assessment by age 7. At this stage, we can identify how well teeth and jaws are developing and diagnose any potential issues. This helps us use preventive health care measures to direct teeth placement as early as possible, while also improving overall oral health, lowering the risk of tooth decay and correcting harmful oral habits.

Early orthodontic treatment may not wholly prevent the need for orthodontics later in life, but it should make future treatments shorter and easier. Some signs your child may require early interceptive orthodontics include:

Mouth breathing
Noticeably crowded, crooked or protruding teeth
Thumb sucking after 6 years old
Difficulty chewing
Speech impediments caused by a lack of space for the tongue

Small adjustments for big results

Get in touch to learn more about limited braces and how early orthodontics could help your child.
Above all, we love helping families smile.