The Head of the Tema General Hospital’s Dental Department, Dr Ann Boateng, has cautioned that the rising use of fashion braces, an unregulated cosmetic trend, poses serious oral health risks, especially among young people.

Dr Boateng noted that the application of braces by unqualified individuals could lead to complications such as tooth misalignment, gum infections, and long-term damage to the jaw structure

She made this known during the World Oral Health Day celebration at the hospital on the theme “A Happy Mouth is a Happy Life,” saying oral health plays a critical role in the life of every human being, hence the need to seek professional treatment

She revealed that many of these unauthorised practitioners operate without basic medical training, often failing to follow laid-down procedures such as wearing gloves or sterilising their instruments, explaining that the lack of infection control leads to the spread of bacteria, causing oral health issues

Dr Boateng further noted that fashion braces could loosen the teeth, revealing that her outfit had encountered some patients losing their teeth to unregulated fashion braces

She emphasised that orthodontic treatment is a specialised field that practitioners work with adequate knowledge and experience, and therefore, cautioned the youth against being lured by the low-cost services and jeopardising their long-term health for a temporary trend.