Frequently asked questions — orthodontics, endodontics and dental emergencies.

The aim is not only aesthetic. Aligning the teeth improves chewing, makes brushing and access between the teeth easier, and helps preserve the health of the teeth and gums over the long term. A well-aligned dentition is easier to look after and wears more evenly. The aesthetic benefit is real, but it comes on top of a functional one.

Yes. Teeth that overlap, or that meet badly, are harder to clean: the brush and the floss do not reach certain areas. That encourages tooth decay and inflammation of the gums. The way such teeth meet also causes abnormal wear of the enamel and, in some cases, muscle or joint pain in the jaw.

Yes, and it is common. The orthodontist may spot a problem while judging that the right moment to act has not yet come: they then propose simple monitoring, with widely spaced check-ups, until the most favourable window. Treating too early lengthens the treatment needlessly; treating too late can make it more complicated.

In most cases, yes. Work, sport, singing, playing a wind instrument, social life: the treatment does not interrupt them. A short period of adjustment is common in the first few days, however, particularly for wind instruments and for speech. Tell us what you do at the assessment stage: it may guide the choice of technique.

A first assessment is recommended at around 7, even where nothing appears to be wrong. At that age the first permanent molars and incisors are in place and make it possible to spot a jaw discrepancy before it becomes established. An earlier consultation is justified when the dentist, the school doctor or the parents notice something unusual — a problem with jaw growth sometimes comes before any visible misalignment.

The first appointment is above all about listening: what brings you here, what bothers you, what you expect from treatment. A clinical examination of the teeth, the gums and the jaws follows, together with the way the teeth meet. The orthodontist then decides whether further examinations are needed to reach a full diagnosis.

Depending on the situation: X-rays — a panoramic X-ray and a lateral cephalogram at the very least, sometimes a Cone Beam 3D scan —, intraoral and extraoral photographs, and impressions or a 3D digital scan. These examinations record the starting point: they are used to draw up the treatment plan, and then as the reference against which its result is measured. They are carried out at Luxembourg-Merl.

Once the assessment has been analysed, the orthodontist sets out the diagnosis, the goals, the technique envisaged and an estimate of how long it will take. The plan is specific to each patient: it depends on age, on the position of the teeth and jaws, on the condition of the gums, but also on your aesthetic expectations and your personal constraints. It is explained to you beforehand, not applied without discussion.

Early treatment may be proposed in childhood, in order to work with jaw growth while it is still active — which is precisely what the assessment at 7 is there to detect. In teenagers, treatment acts on both the jaws and the permanent teeth. In adults, most misalignments can also be corrected: there is no age limit.

Yes. Most misaligned teeth can be corrected in adulthood, mainly with clear aligners or the lingual technique. In some cases involving a significant jaw discrepancy, surgery may however be needed alongside the orthodontics. The initial assessment establishes whether your situation can be dealt with by orthodontic treatment alone.

The choice is made on the clinical case, not on preference. Clear aligners cover most mild to moderate corrections and come out for eating and brushing. Fixed braces, metal or ceramic, remain the reference for significant rotations and complex cases. The lingual technique, bonded behind the teeth, stays invisible from the front. The initial assessment decides.

Three conditions must be met: the written treatment estimate signed, the terms and conditions signed, and — for children covered by the health insurance fund — the fund’s approval received. In addition, any tooth decay must be treated before the appliance is fitted. No treatment starts without these documents having been discussed with you.

Yes, in every case. All tooth decay must be treated by your general dentist before orthodontic treatment begins. A decayed tooth under an appliance becomes far harder to treat, and the appliance sometimes has to be removed to reach it. That is why we ask for an up-to-date dental check-up before fitting.

Five families, according to the clinical case: the conventional fixed appliance with metal brackets; ceramic brackets, tooth-coloured and more discreet; the lingual appliance, bonded behind the teeth; removable clear aligners; and the removable appliance, used in particular in children having interceptive treatment. Several may be combined or follow one another within the same treatment.

The surface of the tooth it is bonded to. The conventional appliance is fitted on the outer surface, visible when you smile. The lingual appliance is fixed on the inner surface, on the tongue side: it stays invisible from outside, even close up. In return, it calls for a more noticeable period of adjustment for speech and for brushing.

No, not in every case. The choice depends first on what has to be corrected: certain rotations and certain large movements are treated better, or only, with fixed brackets. It then depends on what is technically feasible in your case, and on the level of cooperation required — clear aligners only work if they are worn for the number of hours prescribed.

Some difficulty with speech is possible in the first few days, especially with a lingual appliance or an aligner, as the tongue has to get used to a new volume. It usually eases gradually over one to two weeks. Reading aloud for a few minutes a day speeds up the adjustment noticeably. If you sing or play a wind instrument, tell us before the technique is chosen.

Treatment generally has two phases. The active phase, during which the appliance moves the teeth, with regular check-ups to adjust the forces applied. Then the retention phase, which holds the result achieved while the bone consolidates around the teeth. Both phases are part of the treatment: one without the other does not last.

On average 12 to 24 months for the active phase, followed by two years of retention. The length depends on the complexity of the case, on the patient’s growth and on how closely the orthodontist’s instructions are followed. Mild cases can be corrected in 6 to 10 months; complex cases treated with the lingual technique take longer. The initial assessment gives you an estimate.

The frequency depends on the type of treatment, on the appliance used and on your orthodontist’s recommendations: it is set case by case and given to you at the start of treatment. These appointments are not simple checks — it is at these sessions that the appliance is adjusted. A missed session therefore puts back the next adjustment and lengthens the treatment.

Fitting is not painful and needs no anaesthetic. Temporary sensitivity of the teeth or of the soft tissues may appear during the first few days after fitting and after each adjustment: it is the sign that the teeth are moving. It usually fades gradually, and an ordinary painkiller is enough to relieve it. Do tell us about any pain that lasts abnormally long.

Yes. X-ray checks may be taken during treatment in order to follow its progress and to verify the actual movement of the teeth and roots — which clinical examination alone cannot show. These examinations are carried out at the Cabinet d’Imagerie Dentaire, at Luxembourg-Merl, on referral from your orthodontist.

By comparing, at each check-up, the actual position of the teeth and jaws against the goals set at the start of treatment — not against the previous session. Photographs, digital scans and, where necessary, X-rays document that progress. When the gap widens, the plan is adjusted: that is precisely what these appointments are for, beyond adjusting the appliance.

Debonding has several stages: removing the appliance, cleaning off the residual adhesive, then polishing and buffing the teeth to restore smooth enamel. A second appointment is sometimes needed to finish the polishing. Retention is put in place straight afterwards: the result is not stable until it is fitted.

Because an appliance makes brushing considerably harder, and because poor hygiene during treatment leaves permanent damage: irreversible marks on the enamel, tooth decay, inflammation or gum recession. Allow at least two minutes after every meal, above and then below the wire, bracket by bracket, completed with an interdental brush. It is the main avoidable risk of the treatment.

Yes. A check-up with your general dentist remains recommended every six months throughout the orthodontic treatment. We follow the movement of the teeth; your dentist follows their state of health. The two are complementary and neither replaces the other — decay caught early saves having to remove the appliance to treat it.

Yes, whenever the situation calls for it. Orthodontic follow-up is coordinated with your general dentist and, where relevant, with a periodontist, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon or a practitioner specialising in implants. A clinical report is sent to your regular dentist, and any imaging carried out here is sent to them directly. You do not have to pass the documents around yourself.

Yes, two families cause problems. Sticky or soft foods — chewing gum, toffees, nougat, sweets, sugary drinks — pull brackets off, reduce the effect of each adjustment and encourage tooth decay. Foods that are too hard — peanuts, nuts, very hard sweets — break the appliance. Otherwise, cut things into pieces rather than biting straight into an apple or a sandwich.

Thumb sucking, nail biting, tongue thrust against the teeth and mouth breathing can disrupt the treatment or encourage a relapse once it has finished. To these can be added chewing on a pen or an object, which pulls brackets off. Do tell us about these habits: some can be corrected, and that is part of the treatment.

Contact the clinic promptly. The repair should ideally happen within ten days: beyond that, a damaged appliance causes uncontrolled tooth movement and lengthens the overall treatment. If there is no pain, a repair appointment is arranged. If there is pain, bleeding or swelling, we will see you quickly. Never cut a wire yourself.

The treatment slows down, loses effectiveness and takes longer. Clear aligners and elastics only work during the wear time prescribed: a few hours missed each day are enough to put the whole treatment plan back. Where cooperation is insufficient, or where there is a risk to your health, the orthodontist may decide to stop the treatment.

Tell the clinic in advance. A long stay abroad, a temporary move or a period of immobility are all easily managed provided they are anticipated: we adapt the follow-up and, if necessary, the appliance, before you leave. An unannounced interruption, on the other hand, harms the treatment and may mean going back over certain stages.

It is the phase that follows removal of the appliance. It stabilises the teeth in their new position while the bone consolidates around them. Without retention, teeth have a natural tendency to drift back towards their original position, whatever the age and whatever the technique used. Retention is not an optional extra: it is what makes the result last.

Two forms, sometimes combined. A bonded retainer behind the teeth, invisible and permanent, which asks nothing of you day to day. Or a removable retainer, worn at night as prescribed. The choice depends on the initial clinical situation and on the risk of relapse in your particular case; it is explained to you when the appliance is removed.

Two years, with six-monthly check-ups. That is how long the bone needs to reorganise around the teeth in their new position. The first months matter most: that is when the risk of relapse is highest. After those two years, your orthodontist will tell you whether continuing longer is advisable in your case.

Yes. Replacement of the retainer is guaranteed for 24 months, subject to the six-monthly check-up appointments being kept. Those check-ups are not a formality: they make it possible to confirm that the wire is intact and properly bonded, and to repair it before an unnoticed debond has let the teeth move.

Contact the clinic promptly so that a check-up and, if necessary, a repair can be arranged. A wire that has come loose, even on a single tooth, leaves that tooth free to move — and the movement can be visible within a few weeks. Do not wait for the next six-monthly check-up: the sooner it is dealt with, the simpler it is.

It is the treatment that disinfects the inside of the root or roots of a tooth whose pulp — the living tissue at its centre — is infected or irreparably damaged. The practitioner cleans the canals, shapes them, then seals them. The aim is to keep the natural tooth rather than extract it. We carry out these treatments under an operating microscope, at the Hôpital Kirchberg (HRS) and in Luxembourg-Merl.

The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic and is not painful. It often involves bone around the tooth that is already inflamed or infected, however, which explains the sensitivity when chewing in the days that follow. That reaction is normal and temporary. It is relieved with a painkiller or an anti-inflammatory, to be taken if there is pain and not as a matter of routine.

Contact us. Swelling of the gum or the cheek in the days after treatment must be assessed: it may warrant a prescription for an antibiotic. Do also tell us about any known allergy and any medication you are currently taking. If you are in any doubt about a medicine, ask your doctor before taking it for a dental problem.

Because it does not stay sealed over time. A temporary filling that is too thin, or left in place too long, lets saliva and the bacteria it carries recontaminate the inside of the tooth: the result of the treatment is then compromised. The definitive filling is placed by your general dentist. If a temporary crown comes loose, have it re-cemented without delay.

No, and it is important to know that before starting: endodontic treatment is a treatment that carries risk. In some cases, despite everything that is done, the survival of the tooth cannot be guaranteed. That is why an X-ray check-up may be offered to you after treatment, to confirm the bone healing — the disappearance of the “black patch” visible on the X-ray.

Wait until the effect of the anaesthetic has worn down or gone, so as to avoid biting your lip or cheek without feeling it. Once the feeling has returned, favour the opposite side for the first few days and avoid chewing hard on the treated tooth until your general dentist has placed its definitive filling.

Yes. All examinations at the Cabinet d’Imagerie Dentaire are carried out by referral only, from a dentist, an orthodontist or a surgeon. The referral specifies the area to be examined and the clinical indication, which makes it possible to limit the examination to what is strictly necessary. The clinical report is sent to the referring practitioner within 24 to 48 hours of the examination.

The panoramic X-ray gives an overall two-dimensional view of the mouth: hidden decay, wisdom teeth, the condition of the bone. The lateral cephalogram is a side-view X-ray that measures the position of the jaws — the basis of orthodontic diagnosis. The Cone Beam, or CBCT, produces a three-dimensional volume, useful before an implant, a complex extraction or a difficult root canal treatment.

Every radiological examination involves a dose of X-rays. Our equipment is digital and the field of view is limited to the area named on the referral, which reduces the dose delivered compared with a wide-field examination. That is precisely why these examinations are carried out by referral only, with a justified clinical indication. The examination itself is painless and takes a few seconds.

The Caisse nationale de santé (CNS, Luxembourg’s national health fund) covers part of orthodontic treatment for children, subject to conditions and to prior approval. Treatment for adults is generally not reimbursed by the CNS; cover may still be available through private or supplementary insurance, depending on the terms of your policy. The current rules are set out on cns.public.lu.

Yes, for children who are covered. We submit the request for prior approval that allows treatment to begin, the requests to extend reimbursement during treatment, and the reimbursement request for retainers. You do not have to put these files together yourself.

The CNS sends its decision directly to the family, not to the clinic. It is therefore up to you to pass that document on to us promptly: until we have it, treatment cannot start, even if everything else is ready. It is the most frequent reason for a delay at the start of treatment.

No. Reimbursement depends solely on the decision of the CNS, over which we have no influence. We put the file together and submit it; the decision rests with the fund. In the event of a refusal or a dispute, it is for the patient or their parent or legal guardian to contact the CNS directly.

Treatment continues to its conclusion: we do not stop it because an estimated duration has been exceeded. Depending on the situation, an extension of cover may be requested from the CNS, or additional consultations may be charged. The matter is discussed with you beforehand, never discovered on an invoice.

You are treated on the same terms as residents. Cover depends on the scheme you are affiliated to: if you work in Luxembourg, you come under the CNS. For a dependant affiliated abroad, a European form may be required depending on your situation. Our administrative team will tell you which steps apply before treatment begins.

Yes, in every case. The written treatment estimate is given to you at the end of the initial assessment, before any appliance is fitted, and signing it is a condition of starting treatment. It sets out the technique chosen, the estimated duration, the total amount and any part that may be covered. No treatment begins without this document having been discussed with you.

A deposit is requested at the start of treatment: it covers in particular the fitting of the appliance and any laboratory costs, which are incurred from the outset. The balance can then be spread over monthly instalments across the treatment. The arrangements are set out in the written treatment estimate and in the terms and conditions, signed before fitting.

For adults, the price set at the outset still applies even if the goals are reached earlier than expected. It is based on the initial complexity of the case — that is, on the work the treatment requires — and not on the number of sessions actually held. Treatment that goes faster than expected is a good result, not a reduced service.

Any appointment missed without being cancelled at least 24 hours in advance may be charged, on the terms set out in the terms and conditions given to you before treatment begins. Beyond the charge, it is your treatment that falls behind: the planned adjustment did not take place. A cancellation notified in time incurs no charge and is easily rebooked.

You book an appointment slot online through Doctena, or by telephone on (+352) 26 68 11 40 0, and you are seen at a set time: no waiting in a room without an appointment. We offer you the first slot available in the schedule of our clinic within the Hôpital Kirchberg (HRS). The service is open to all, with priority for HRS patients and staff.

No. It is a private dental clinic set up within the Hôpital Kirchberg (HRS): it sees all patients, whether or not they are under the hospital’s care. Priority is given to inpatients and to HRS staff, but online booking through Doctena is open to everyone, 24/7.

For a life-threatening emergency — major facial injury, bleeding that will not stop, difficulty breathing or swallowing —, call 112. For dental pain outside our hours, contact the dental on-call service or your regular dentist, then book a slot with us as soon as we reopen. Online booking of emergency slots stays available at any hour.

Because the site meets two conditions: our clinic is located within the Hôpital Kirchberg (HRS), and it has complete clinical facilities — operating microscope, dental imaging, specialist treatment equipment. Orthodontics, endodontics and emergency consultations are brought together on one site, which makes coordination simpler when an emergency calls for the opinion of a specialist dentist.

French, English, Luxembourgish, German and Portuguese. Our reception teams and our practitioners cover these five languages across all the clinics, but their availability varies from site to site and from day to day. If you would like to be seen in a particular language, say so when you book: we will direct you to the practitioner or dental assistant concerned.

Through Doctena, up to 24 hours before the scheduled time, or by telephone to the clinic concerned. Letting us know in advance frees the slot for another patient. In orthodontics, a missed appointment puts back the next adjustment and lengthens the overall treatment by as much — often by several weeks for a single lost session.

Yes, all five Luxembourg clinics are accessible. The one within the Hôpital Kirchberg (HRS) also benefits from the hospital’s facilities: car park, drop-off point and step-free routes, with a direct tram stop. If you have a particular accessibility need — wheelchair, stretcher, someone accompanying you —, tell us when you book.

No, you can book directly online through Doctena, 24/7. A letter from your regular dentist is still useful in endodontics, and a referral is mandatory for imaging. In every case, a clinical report is always sent to your regular dentist at the end of treatment, to ensure continuity of care.