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Orthodontics – Braces

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Orthodontics aims at diagnostics, prevention, and correction of misplaced teeth and jaws. Teeth malposition is not only unaesthetic, but it may affect your oral health. When teeth are crowded, it becomes more difficult to clean them properly. Over time, the buildup of plaque may cause cavities, decay or gum diseases. Some people have small mouths to house all their teeth properly, others may experience teeth crowding after their wisdom teeth erupt. Regardless of the reason, we are here to help you obtain a smile you have ever dreamt about. There is no more need to feel embarrassed wearing braces: today, you can choose stylish braces of different colors and materials.

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Signs That You Need Braces

The simplest way to determine if you need braces is using a dental floss. If floss slides between teeth with difficulty, you will probably need braces to straighten you crowded teeth. However, crowding isn’t the only situation that can cause problems. Here is the list of possible reasons to consider wearing braces:

Overbite

You need braces if you have a significant overlap of the upper and lower teeth. The degree of overlap can vary, but it is usually noticeable when the front teeth stick out farther than the bottom teeth. Overbite increases the risk of injuring of the front teeth and complications after any dental restorative work.

Underbite

The situation when your lower front teeth protrude over the upper teeth is called underbite. Underbite smile has unnatural appearance and cause many problems such as: eating difficulties, speech challenges, teeth decay because of excessive enamel abrasion, sleep apnea and breathing discomfort.

Crossbite

Crossbite occurs when the upper teeth protrude over the lower opposing teeth. If left untreated, crossbite may cause excessive enamel abrasion, gum recession, asymmetric jaw growth. Most crossbites are genetic condition, however, long-term thumb-sucking or tongue thrusting may exacerbate the problem.

Openbite

Openbite is a type of teeth misalignment when the front teeth don’t touch. This dental problem may cause eating and speech problems (for example, lisping) as well as low self-esteem because of unaesthetic appearance. Some factors that can lead to an openbite include thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, inappropriate facial bone growth.

Common Complications with Braces

There are some common but not severe complications for those who wear braces. They include tooth decay, gingivitis, bad breath, enamel demineralization, and tartar. These complications can be avoided by taking care of your braces teeth, and general dental health. Make sure to brush your teeth after meals and snacks, floss regularly, and use fluoride mouthwash.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Braces are highly effective at straightening teeth. Most patients that wear full braces achieve their flawless smile in one to three years. Your dentist may recommend a retainer after your braces are removed. It’s important to follow your orthodontist’s instructions for your retainer to maintain your smile.

The best way to find out how much your braces would cost is to see an orthodontist. The cost of your braces will depend on the extent of your dental issues. Elite Dentistry offers competitive pricing options and payment plans to choose from. Don’t let the price of braces get in the way of you having the smile you’ve always wanted.

Types of Braces

The following are some of the appliances we use at our dental center:

Metal Braces

Getting traditional metal braces is an effective way to treat extreme teeth crowding and other types of teeth malposition. Metal braces have predictably high success rate and are less expensive than clear braces or Invisalign® straightens. Wearing this type of braces also means not to worry about misplacing your aligners. The only disadvantage of metal braces is their appearance. However, nowadays, traditional braces look more appealing than in past yeas, with the wide range of color options and designs for both brackets and wires.

Caring Your Metal Braces

You will have to wear your metal braces for quite a long period, so it is important to follow the orthodontist’s recommendations and care your teeth properly. After you have the braces fixed, try to avoid chewy, hard and crunchy foods. It is better to cut hard fruits and vegetables to smaller pieces. Brush and floss your teeth carefully, getting into the all crevices of your braces. These precautions are necessary in order to keep your braces in a good condition and prevent cavities. In spite of all the inconveniences, once your treatment is over, you will have a new smile as a reward.

Clear Braces

Clear braces, also known as ceramic braces, are made of translucent alloys. The ceramic brackets can be connected by two possible types of wires: made up of clear elastic ties or white metal ties. Clear and metal braces have the same shape and size and work exactly the same way. The only difference is their cosmetic appearance. Ceramic brackets don’t leave stains, however, the wires keeping the brackets can stain, especially if you smoke or drink a lot of coffee/tea.

Getting Clear Braces

Before braces are bonded, your teeth are polished with a special paste and air-dried. A cheek retractor is used to keep your teeth dry and have better access to the needed area. The bonded glue is placed onto the back side of ceramic brackets which then are fixed to the tooth surface. The cheek retractor is removed and the ties are put into place. The entire bonding process is usually about 20 minutes. After the procedure you may experience soreness: use over-the-counter pain-killers to relieve the pain. Over the time, the wires become weaker and cannot provide enough pressure to correct your bite. That is why, during the treatment period your braces will be adjusted several times, depending on the severity of your problem. Once you have your braces applied, it is essential to keep proper oral hygiene and avoid sticky and hard foods. Besides regular brushing and flossing, you will have to carefully clean the arch wires.

Clear Braces Removal and Aftercare

When the treatment is over, your dentist will remove braces. It is a relatively painless process. After all bonding adhesive and braces are taken off, your gums may be inflamed. About 1-2 weeks after braces removal, you will have the next dental appointment for retainers’ placement.

Invisalign® Straightens

Invisalign® straightens are made of smooth, transparent, BPA-free plastic that you wear over your teeth. They shift your teeth into place more gently and gradually than traditional braces. Because of no wires and invisible nature, Invisalign® straightens won’t make you feel uncomfortable or embarrassing.

Getting Invisalign® Straightens

On your first visit, the dentist will use X-rays and your teeth impressions to create a 3-D image of your teeth. This model will enable to create an individual treatment plan, including the sequence of your teeth movements and approximate treatment time. The dentist can provide you with virtual description of how your teeth will move at the each stage of bite correction.
On the second visit, you will be able to try on your aligners. If everything fits properly, you will be prescribed to wear your straightens during two weeks. You should wear them all day long, removing them when you eat, drink (everything, except water), brush or floss your teeth.
Every two weeks (depending on your treatment plan), you will start to wear a new set of clear straightens. To see how the things are going, you will have regular dental checkups. To obtain quicker and better results, wear your Invisalign® straightens for 20-22 hours per day. With every stage of your treatment, you will see how closer you are to having your smile improved. It usually takes from 6 months to 1 year to restore your bite with the help of Invisalign® straightens.
Once the treatment is over, your dentist will give you retainers to hold your teeth in their new position. The bone and gum tissues need time to get used to the changes, and retainers will prevent your teeth from moving back to their old position.

It is never too late to improve your bite and have a renewed smile. Remember that orthodontic treatment at young age has the highest success rate and can help straighten the teeth and avoid future oral health problems. If you need help, choosing between clear braces or Invisalign® straightens, feel free to consult our professionals.