Area of care 03
Orthodontics in Berkane: straightening teeth
Straightening your teeth to improve both appearance and the way you chew.
Orthodontics moves teeth to correct their alignment and the way the jaws meet. There are two routes: braces bonded to the teeth, in metal or tooth-coloured ceramic; and clear aligners, removable trays changed every one to two weeks. Adult treatment usually runs twelve to twenty-four months.
Orthodontics: our treatments in detail
Why straighten your teeth
Appearance is the most common reason, but it is not the only medical one. Crooked teeth are hard to clean: they trap plaque in places a brush cannot reach, which keeps decay and gum inflammation going.
A poor bite also spreads chewing forces unevenly. That leads to premature wear on some teeth, strain on the jaw joints, and sometimes pain that nobody had connected to the teeth at all.
Clear aligners or braces: how to choose
The choice depends on how complex the movement needs to be, not on preference alone. Some movements — large rotations, moving a root, pulling a tooth down — are better controlled with braces.
- Clear aligners: barely visible, removable for eating and brushing, but effective only if worn twenty to twenty-two hours a day. Wearing them as prescribed is the condition of the result.
- Metal braces: the most versatile option, suitable for every case, fixed in place and therefore independent of the patient’s discipline.
- Tooth-coloured braces: the same principle as metal braces, with ceramic brackets matched to the shade of the tooth.
The initial assessment — X-rays, a digital impression, photographs — is what makes it possible to say which options are genuinely workable in your case, and to compare them before deciding.
The stages of treatment
- Orthodontic assessment: clinical examination, panoramic X-ray, cephalometric X-ray and 3D digital impression
- Presentation of the treatment plan, with a simulation of the planned movement
- Fitting the appliance, or handing over the first set of aligners
- Regular review appointments, usually every four to eight weeks
- Removing the appliance, then retention
Retention: the stage people underestimate
When the appliance comes off, the teeth are not yet settled: the fibres attaching them to the bone hold a memory of the original position and tend to pull them back towards it.
Retention — a wire bonded behind the teeth, a night-time retainer, or both — holds the result through that period. It carries on for several years, and sometimes indefinitely at night. Orthodontic treatment abandoned at the retention stage gives up part of what it achieved.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an age limit for braces?
No. Tooth movement relies on bone remodelling, which remains possible throughout life. Adult treatment is slower than in a teenager and requires healthy gums to begin with: periodontitis has to be treated and stabilised first.
How long does orthodontic treatment take?
Usually twelve to twenty-four months in an adult, depending on how far the teeth have to move. A limited case involving a few front teeth can be settled in six to nine months. You are given an estimate after the assessment, not before.
Are clear aligners noticeable?
Very little at conversational distance. They remain visible close up, and small composite attachments bonded to certain teeth may be needed to control the movement. They are taken out for meals.
Can braces damage teeth?
The risk is not the appliance but hygiene during treatment. Braces trap plaque: without thorough brushing, white demineralisation marks appear around the brackets. Regular reviews and scaling during treatment prevent this.
This page is for information only. It is not a diagnosis, personalised medical advice or a prescription. Only a clinical examination can establish a diagnosis and lead to a treatment plan.
Ready to bring out your best smile?
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