Allergies and contraindications
1. Can allergies to braces happen?
Yes, there are allergies to metal braces. We have not encountered any allergies to ceramic and gold brackets in the practice of Konfidencia Clinic. The most common allergies in orthodontics are to metal alloys and nickel, which is also included in the orthodontic arches.
2. How do I know if a patient is allergic to braces?
The first and easiest thing to do is to find out if the patient has a contact allergy to metal products. For example, jewelry in women or a belt buckle in men.
- If the patient says they have no such allergic reaction, there are usually no additional interventions. We fix the braces and usually have no problems with orthodontic treatment.
- If the patient warns of an allergy to metal products, it does not always mean that there will be a reaction in the oral cavity to the bracket system. In this situation, an allergy test is performed.
The first option for a braces allergy test. First of all, we use a bandage to tie the bracket and a piece of each arch of the alloy we use (there are titanium, molybdenum, etc.) to the wrist and let the patient go for 2-3 days. When he comes back, we look to see if there is a skin reaction where the brace came in contact with the skin. If it is an allergy, there will be redness not only in the place of contact, but also around it. If the reaction is directly under the brace, it may be due to mechanical stress and not an allergy at all.
The second option for a braces allergy test. The patient is sent to a laboratory with the materials used in orthodontic treatment. There, blood is drawn and analyzed to which specific material the patient is allergic.
But even the presence of a confirmed allergic reaction to the material of the bracket is not an absolute contraindication to the start of orthodontic treatment – it is enough to choose the type of brackets and arch materials to which there will be no allergy.
