Posted on September 24, 2020
You schedule regular appointments to see the dentist. You’ve had your teeth cleaned, cavities are taken care of, and now the focus is on your “orofacial” appearance. When your dentist recommends braces, it’s time to see an orthodontist who can take care of your oral health. Braces tend to be recommended if you have crowded or crooked teeth, an underbite or overbite, disorders of jaw joints that need to be corrected, or an incorrect jaw position. If any of those problems are left untreated, you could have future problems that include gum disease, tooth decay, earaches, headaches, problems speaking, biting, and even problems with chewing.
If you have orthodontic complications or your child does, you need to see the best orthodontist in the Abilene, Texas area. They will need to examine your teeth in order to advise more about available choices when it comes to braces. Patients can benefit from treatments at almost any age. However, the absolute ideal time is between the ages of 10 to 14. The mouth and head are still growing so teeth tend to be more accessible when it comes to aligning them. It is always advisable to discuss getting braces for children before they are applied due to facial appearance adjustments being traumatic to children during their sensitive years. Braces are not just for children, either. Many adults wear braces to correct minor orthodontic problems to improve their smile.
Are you wondering what type of braces are best for you. Ultimately, metal braces do a better job fixing serious orofacial problems. There are generally three different types of braces. The most popular are brackets of either metal, plastic, or ceramic directly bonded to teeth. Ceramic brackets blend into your mouth better and tend to be less noticeable than metal. You also have the option to have lingual or concealed brackets applied, that are perfectly hidden from view. Each type of braces requires wires to connect them and move teeth into the desired alignment.
One of the most popular questions concerning braces is how long you have to wear them. Typically, the average time required to wear braces is around two years. However, how long you need to wear braces is strictly dependent upon the treatment plan recommended by your orthodontist. If you have a rather complicated problem concerning your bite or teeth spacing or you are older, the treatment time may be longer. After the braces have done an outstanding job straightening your teeth, you will need to wear retainers to align and set the tissues around your newly straightened teeth.
People tend to be worried about comfort while wearing braces. Wires connect brackets to straighten teeth and they do need to be tightened during visits to your orthodontist. You will feel a mild pressure on the bands or brackets to shift your jaws or teeth gradually. This can make your jaws and teeth slightly sore. However, any discomfort is rather brief. There may be cases where teeth need to be pulled in order to make more room for shifting teeth and for the correct jaw alignment.
There are personal habits you will need to adopt and certain foods you should avoid while wearing braces. For example, you should eat fewer sweets and chips and drink less soda. Starchy and sugary foods generate plaque and acids that could cause tooth decay and encourage gum disease. When eating hard foods, cut it into smaller pieces. Chewy and sticky foods will cause damage to wires and even loosens brackets. Avoid crunchy hard snacks like nuts, hard candy, and popcorn that can also break braces.
Visit with your general dentist to coordinate a dental treatment plan for braces. Dentists can refer you to an excellent orthodontist that is trained in orthodontics to prevent and correct dental irregularities for teeth, jaws, bites, and any other type of facial abnormalities.