Reach new heights with your new smile
Getting braces is not difficult, and when done right is a very smooth process. It’s nothing to stress about – you can look forward to getting your braces worry-free. Scroll down, or click a button below, to read more about this fabulous way to invest in yourself and in your health and appearance. Also be sure to commit to dental retainers once you complete your orthodontic treatment.
Here at DaBell & Paventy Orthodontics, we offer many options to help you get the smile you’ve always dreamed of! We are here to help you go through the options and find the best type of braces for you.
Read the descriptions below of all the different types of braces and clear aligners and then call us to discuss your options today!
Metal braces are the most common type of braces and are more comfortable and efficient today than ever before. Made of high-grade stainless steel, metal braces straighten your teeth using metal brackets and arch-wires. With metal braces, you have the option of adding colors for a more unique and colorful smile.
Ceramic braces are made of clear materials and are therefore less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, ceramic braces are used mainly on older teenagers and adult patients who have cosmetic concerns. While they are visually less prominent, they do require more attention to oral hygiene as ceramic braces are larger and are more brittle than their metal counterparts.
Clear aligners are a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable trays that straighten your teeth like braces. Not only are the aligners invisible, but they are also removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are less of a hassle. The aligners are comfortable and have no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. Read more about Invisalign here.
Modern technology allows your orthodontist to use a special process and materials to glue the braces right to the surface of the teeth. We don’t have to remove any part of the tooth or drill holes in the tooth to do this – they stick right to the outside of the tooth! This process usually takes about 15-45 minutes depending on how many teeth are receiving braces. It is as easy as 1-2-3!
We have to prepare the surface of the teeth for the glue. Our teeth are covered in enamel. Enamel is typically very smooth, but when you put a type of tooth conditioner on the enamel, we are able to stick stuff to it. Using this tooth conditioner, we prepare each tooth that will have a brace on it for the glue.
Secondly, we have to get the teeth very dry. Braces won’t stick to wet teeth, so after we condition the teeth, we have to get them dry, and they have to stay dry for the rest of the process. Obviously, this means the rest of your mouth gets dry, too, which is kind of annoying, but luckily it doesn’t last too long.
Last, we put on the glue, which comes in two parts – one part goes on the tooth, and one part goes on the braces. Finally, we put the braces on each tooth in a very specific and precise position so that the teeth will move where we want them to. We shine a special light on each tooth that makes the glue hard ... and that’s it!
When we ask our patients what their number one concern is about getting braces, most of them say “The Cost”. Braces are not cheap – but they are one of the best investments you can make in yourself and in your children!
Few things we can spend our money on can make this much impact on the rest of our lives than having a great smile. So, while the cost of braces is not trivial, the value is tremendous, well worth the cost, and there are several ways to make braces affordable for almost any budget.
The cost of braces is depending on the patient’s circumstances. The price depends more on the difficulty of the treatment than on the age of the patient.
You get what you pay for – and you don’t want a cheap smile or a bad experience! Affordability is important, and we work with every patient and family to make braces as affordable as possible.
Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them? It’s important for you to know how to properly take care of your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment. Click on a topic below to learn more.
Chewy foods — bagels, licorice
Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice
Sticky foods — caramel candies, taffy
Hard foods — nuts, hard candies
Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots
Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
Grains — pasta, soft cooked rice
Meats/poultry — soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes
Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
Fruits — applesauce, bananas, fruit juice
Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake
When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore. This is perfectly normal and we promise your mouth will not be sore forever! To relieve the pain, we recommend dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water. Swish and gargle this solution in your mouth for just a couple of minutes (do not swallow the saltwater).
If the pain is more severe and does not go away after rinsing, you can also try taking a pain reliever. It is also not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become used to the braces. We would be happy to give you some wax that you can put over the braces to lessen the tenderness. If you need some wax, please let us know.
If your teeth begin feeling a little loose, don’t worry; this is normal! Your braces must first loosen your teeth to move them into the right position. Once your teeth have been repositioned, they will no longer be loose.
The wires and bands on your braces may come loose. If this happens, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can check and repair your appliance. If any piece of your appliance comes off, be sure to save it and bring it to the office with you.
You can temporarily fix the loose wire by using the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil to carefully and gently push the wire back into place. If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the discomfort.
Damaged braces can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear the rubber bands, retainer, or other appliances prescribed by your doctor.
Game, Set, Match — we have great news for athletes! You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you do play sports, it’s recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your braces. Let your doctor know if you need help finding the right mouthguard for the best protection.
In case of a sports emergency, be sure to immediately check your mouth and braces for damage. If you notice any loose teeth or braces, please contact our office right away. You can temporarily relieve the discomfort by applying wax or rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater.
