Frequently asked questions

Brace treatment usually lasts between 6-18 months but will vary based on each patient’s unique smile, appointment attendance and oral hygiene.

Initially you may feel some pressure and discomfort with braces, but it should pass after a few days. This is normal and a sign that your teeth are being shifted into their desired position.

Make sure you pick up your starter pack from our Customer Care Team at reception which contains some essentials to ensure your brace journey goes smoothly.

Once you begin your treatment, you will typically need to visit the orthodontist for adjustments every 6-8 weeks.

If the breakage is causing pain or discomfort, please call our Customer Care Managers who will be able to advise you. If not, it is fine to leave it until your next appointment.

Please note that several breakages can result in your brace treatment being prolonged. For this reason, it is important to avoid foods that may damage the brace.

All our patients will be given information about what foods to avoid during their oral hygiene chat. After your initial brace fitting it is best to stick to soft foods like soup and pasta, but after that you can eat most foods.

We encourage you to cut up hard foods, like apples, into smaller pieces so you won’t need to bite into them as this can damage the wire on the brace. Also, avoid sticky and sugary foods which can become lodged in the brace and damage your teeth.

It is really important to maintain good oral hygiene during brace treatment. After your braces are fitted, one of our Dental Nurses will go through our oral hygiene education program with you to set you up for success during treatment.

Yes! However, if you play a contact sport such as rugby, boxing or hockey, we recommend you wear a mouth guard to protect your teeth and braces. We have mouth guards available at Zen, as well as tailor-made gum shields to protect your teeth after treatment.

Once your braces are removed you will be given a retainer to help maintain the position of your teeth. It is really important that you follow your Specialist Orthodontist’s advice on wearing your retainer to ensure you retain your ideal smile for life!

Because each child’s smile is unique, every child will be on their own timeline. Your dentist will be able to guide you on when the time is right for your child. However, if you feel your child is ready or have a query, please feel free to contact us.

All patients receiving NHS treatment must be referred by their general dentist. However, you as a patient can contact us directly and we will endeavor to help you in whatever way we can.

We are happy to provide NHS treatment for patients that meet the qualifying criteria. However, If you find your child is not eligible for NHS funding, Zen Orthodontics offers discounted payment plans in order to make treatment more accessible.

Yes, we work closely with the HSE for this program. If you are on a HSE waiting list, the Cross Border Directive scheme will reimburse your orthodontic treatment at Zen. Please contact our Treatment Coordinator for more information.