What To Know Before Getting Full Braces

Posted on December 12, 2025

Nashua, NH – Orthodontic treatment does much more than provide a prettier smile – it works to create a harmonious bite and improve your oral health. And sometimes, the issues that need correcting aren’t readily visible. Some people may think they don’t require treatment, and others may think they only need braces on the top or bottom to correct a visible issue. Dr. Chelian of Chelian Orthodontics explains why braces are typically always placed on both the top and bottom teeth and what you should know.

“It may seem simple and logical to only fix the teeth that other people are actually going to see,” says Dr. Chelian. “But orthodontic treatment isn’t just about aesthetics – it’s about ensuring your mouth can work properly to preserve your oral health.”

Orthodontic treatment looks at straightening teeth, but also at correcting malocclusions to ensure the jaws fit together properly. This protects your smile from future damage. While many people who undergo orthodontic treatment may have a malocclusion that can be seen by others, such as severe crowding, spacing, or a severe overbite, others might be less noticeable.

For instance, a crossbite may only appear in the back of the teeth. A crossbite occurs when the upper teeth fit inside the lower teeth. Crossbites can cause issues with speaking and chewing. Jaw pain can also occur, and the teeth can experience uneven wear that can make them more susceptible to chipping, cracking, or breaking.

Why Braces Are Placed on Both the Top and Bottom Teeth

Having braces placed on both the top and bottom teeth is important for several reasons, including:

• To correct bite issues. Braces placed on both the top and bottom arches ensures a harmonious bite.
• To prevent misalignment from generating future problems. If you only straighten one arch, you could create future problems in the other arch. Additionally, braces on both arches ensures an even bite force distribution.
• To improve oral health. Straighter teeth are healthier teeth because they are easier to brush and floss, which can then help fend off decay and gum disease. Additionally, properly aligned teeth eliminate jaw pain and uneven bite distribution, which over time can lead to chipping, cracking, and breaking.
• To ensure a balanced, stable bite. Your upper and lower teeth have to work together to ensure you are able to bite and chew properly and speak clearly.

It is not uncommon, however, for some patients to receive their top braces first, and then visit the orthodontist a few weeks later to have their top braces placed. This might happen for a few reasons:

1. To create space. For example, if a patient has a severe overbite where the top teeth severely cover the lower teeth, top braces may be placed first to create the clearance space for the bottom braces to be placed. Otherwise, the bottom brackets could risk the chance of breaking due to the severe overbite.
2. Comfort. Some orthodontists like for their patients to get used to braces in phases, so they begin with the top arch. This allows the patient’s mouth to get used to the feeling and pressure before adding the lower arch.
3. Correcting a severe issue. For some patients, the top arch might present a more severe issue that will require longer to correct so they will address this issue first.
4. Improved correction. For some patients, aligning the upper arch first can create a healthier and more stable position that can then provide a better foundation for aligning the lower arch.

“Treating only one arch can have unintended consequences on the other arch,” says Dr. Chelian. “Your orthodontist has to consider the bite and smile as a whole when creating a treatment plan that will provide you with your ideal smile.”

The goal of orthodontic treatment is to create a beautiful smile in which the teeth and jaws are properly aligned to ensure ideal oral function and oral health. Orthodontic treatment not only corrects visible issues but also enhances the ability to speak and chew properly, maintain oral hygiene, and reduce the risk of future oral health concerns. By addressing both functional and aesthetic issues, orthodontic treatment can improve a patient’s oral health and confidence.