Traditional Braces
Improving Smiles with Braces
Dental braces not only improve your appearance by creating a beautiful smile, but they can also improve your overall oral and systemic health. For our patients waiting straighter teeth, we offer both traditional braces, and Invisalign.
Advantages to traditional braces include:
LOVE YOUR SMILE
We believe that all patients should have a smile that makes them feel confident and beautiful. We treat all ages from 6 years old to over 80 years old. If you are considering traditional braces for yourself or your child, schedule an appointment with our San Antonio dentists.
Traditional Braces FAQs
It is actually healthy to have a mild overbite—the upper arch overlaps the lower arch 1-2 millimeters. If there is no overbite, teeth will wear down abnormally. But if your overbite is greater than this, or you have an underbite, crossbite, crowded teeth, or excessive spacing, you may need them.
The Procedure
At the consultation in our San Antonio office, the dentist determines if traditional braces are needed. The dentist will then inspect the teeth, and set up another appointment to take X-rays, molds and impressions. Through this data, the dentist determines the plan of treatment.
Teeth to be braced will have an adhesive applied to help fix the bond to the teeth. Usually teeth will be banded and then brackets added with dental cement, which is hardened by a special light.
An archwire will be threaded between the brackets and affixed with elastic or metal. These archwires are bent, shaped and tightened frequently to achieve results.
Straight teeth help patients bite, chew and speak more effectively. They also contribute to healthier gums and teeth, and ease some physical health problems. Also straight teeth offer a more attractive smile that boosts self-confidence.
The most common way to straighten teeth without traditional braces is using Invisalign, which is a simple, easy method we also offer in our San Antonio office. It might work for you, but sometimes it does have limitations.
Smile and bite can be improved at any age, but crowding and overbites sometimes are more easily corrected at specific ages, such as 10-14.
This varies depending on the patient’s needs. Treatment times can range from 12 months to 36 months depending on the complexity of the case, the patient’s cooperation, age, and jaw growth.
Orthodontic braces can straighten crooked teeth by using brackets and wires to move the teeth into alignment and allow teeth to adjust to their original position over a certain period of time.
The metal will be attached to the teeth throughout treatment and will be removed once the main treatment objective of moving the teeth is achieved. It is important to see your dentist for regular monthly visits to make sure the teeth are moving properly into alignment. After they are removed and treatment is complete you will continue to wear a retainer at night.
