FIBEROTOMY

Teeth are held in the mouth by little fibers that run between the teeth, gums and supporting bone. When teeth are straightened; these fibers (which are like little rubber bands) are stretched and have the potential to cause the teeth to become crooked again when the braces come off.

In order to help maintain longterm correction of crooked teeth, it is sometimes necessary to have these fibers treated by a periodontist.

Basically, the periodontist very carefully cuts these fibers around the necks of the teeth. There is generally no pain and no bleeding and no untoward effects on the teeth or gums.