Braces
Are you exploring options that are available for bite problems or crooked teeth? Braces are the traditional way to address these issues due to their effectiveness for treating all kinds of cases, from mild to severe.
Our orthodontist in Chelmsford, MA, at Orthodontic Solutions for Children and Adults offers different types of braces, providing adult and pediatric patients with options to choose from based on orthodontic needs, budget, and other factors.
What Are Braces?
These orthodontic appliances are designed to guide teeth into proper alignment via constantly applied pressure. It’s a gradual process, rather than a quick one. But it’s an effective one for improving oral health and functionality.
What Problems Do Braces Correct?
Our orthodontist at Orthodontic Solutions for Children and Adults might recommend them for any of the following issues:
- Crooked teeth
- Gaps between teeth or other spacing issues
- Crowding that causes teeth to overlap
- Underbite, overbite, open bite, or crossbite
- Other problems with jaw alignment
What Are the Benefits of Getting Braces?
They do more than improve smiles. They’re also helpful for making oral hygiene better, allowing you to brush your teeth more easily and lowering the risk of decay. Braces also help you chew properly and reduce the risk of developing more complex misalignment issues later on.
Different Types of Braces
These oral appliances are available in a few materials and designs to fit various orthodontic needs and budgets.
Metal
This is the traditional type used due to its durability. Metal braces include brackets that are placed on teeth with wires joining them together. They’re a great option for treating complex or severe cases, though they’re highly visible.
Ceramic
This type offers a more subtle way to correct bite or alignment problems, using clear or tooth-colored material that’s not as easy to see. They’re ideal if you want more discreet treatment — but they aren’t as strong as metal.
Self-Ligating
Traditional braces secure wires using elastic bands. But self-ligating braces use clips or gates instead. This design can result in faster treatment and greater comfort, while also needing fewer visits for adjustments.
Lingual
This type attaches to the back of your teeth rather than the front. It’s another option for making braces less visible, though lingual braces may be more difficult to get used to and harder to keep clean.
What to Expect
When you or your child get braces in Chelmsford, MA, the general process includes all of these steps.
Initial Consultation
We’ll need to do a full evaluation to determine which type of braces would work best and create a customized treatment plan. That involves examining your teeth and taking images and impressions of them.
Placement
This visit is when we attach your braces to your teeth, bonding them to each surface with brackets and using wires to connect them. Depending on type, we use place elastic bands or a built-in structure, like clips, to keep the wires firmly in place.
Adjustments and Monitoring
You can expect to come in for several visits during treatment. We may want to see you every four to eight weeks to check your braces and make adjustments, such as tightening wires or giving you new bands.
Treatment Duration
Braces aren’t a short or quick orthodontic approach. Treatment may last from a year to a few years based on how severe each case is and other factors, such as a patient’s age. Note that you’ll need to wear retainers for awhile after we remove your braces.
Living With Braces
Daily Care
You’ll need to take good care of these appliances to lower your risk of gum disease and decay. That means carefully brushing with special tools to make sure you’re cleaning around wires and brackets.
Eating With Braces
We’ll ask you to avoid having some types of foods that can damage your braces, such as sticky or hard foods. That means staying away from things like popcorn and caramel during treatment.
Comfort Concerns
It’s going to take time to get used to having braces on your teeth. Using orthodontic wax may help ease discomfort.
Who Is a Suitable Candidate for Braces?
Almost anyone can benefit from this kind of orthodontic treatment at any age. But it works best in younger patients with jaws that aren’t fully developed yet.
Are There Risks With Getting Braces?
They’re incredibly safe overall, though a few risks may include:
- Discomfort or soreness that’s temporary
- Gum irritation
- Increased risk of tooth decay and gum disease without good oral care
FAQS on Braces
Do braces hurt?
They may cause soreness at first until you’re more used to having them. That’s normal and shouldn’t last long.
How long do you wear braces?
You may need them for a year or more, depending on how well you follow instructions for caring for them and how complex your case is.
Will you need a retainer after?
Yes, everyone needs to do this to help maintain the results of wearing braces and keep teeth in their new positions.
Can adults wear braces?
Yes, braces can correct orthodontic problems that adults have, especially if these issues weren’t addressed during childhood.
Do braces affect talking or eating?
You’ll need to avoid certain foods. You may have slight changes with your ability to chew or talk before you adjust to braces.
Visit Our Orthodontist for Braces!
Do you or your child need to have teeth straightened? At Orthodontic Solutions for Children and Adults, our orthodontist offers braces in Chelmsford, MA, for patients of all ages who have misaligned jaw or tooth problems.
