Boca Dental and Braces are made of metal and ceramics that fit on the front of teeth. A wire guides them into position, and a dental adhesive holds brackets in place. Other components include archwires and o-ties or elastic ligatures, which help to keep the archwire in place.
Kids usually wear braces for a year or more, followed by a retainer that keeps their teeth in their new positions. They may feel sore for a few days, but this passes quickly.
The teeth must be well aligned for your digestive system to function properly. Chewing is the first step in digesting food, and misaligned teeth can prevent the body from masticating foods into small particles that the stomach can easily digest. This can cause digestion problems such as indigestion and poor nutrition. Braces can correct overbites, underbites, and other teeth misalignments to improve chewing, ultimately leading to better digestion.
Unsightly crooked teeth are unsightly and can also increase your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. This is because crooked and overcrowded teeth create tight spaces between them, making it hard for toothbrushes and dental floss to reach between each one. These crevices are hiding places for bacteria that can eat away at the enamel and gums. Braces can correct these issues by ensuring the teeth are properly aligned and spaced, reducing your chance of bacteria buildup and tooth erosion.
Misaligned teeth can put extra pressure on the jaw bone while biting or chewing, causing it to erode over time. This can lead to pain, sensitivity, and even headaches. This is because the extra pressure can cause muscles and joints to become inflamed. Braces can straighten the teeth and reduce this stress on the jaw bone, which helps prevent deterioration of the bones in the future.
Badly aligned teeth can affect your ability to pronounce words clearly and may cause a speech impediment like a lisp or stutter. Braces can help rectify this by straightening the teeth and reducing speech impediments.
Many people believe braces are only necessary for teenagers and young adults, but this treatment benefits everyone. It helps to prevent serious oral health problems and boosts self-esteem and overall oral health. It also helps to avoid damage to the teeth and gums from accidents such as chipping a tooth while playing sports or falling and hitting your head. It also helps to prevent recurring jaw pain caused by TMJ or TMD or chronic headaches and earaches by correcting misaligned teeth.
When teeth are crooked, food gets trapped in them, which can lead to tooth decay. The misalignment can also make it difficult to brush and floss the teeth properly. This leads to bacteria and plaque buildup, which eats away at the tooth enamel. Braces correct crooked teeth and help prevent tooth erosion by straightening them.
A braces treatment typically involves metal brackets that constantly pressure the teeth to move them in the right position. They can be shaped to be clear, tooth-colored, or made of gold, stainless steel, or other materials. They can be applied to the front or back teeth, where they are harder to see. Some patients also have headgear or rubber elastics that can shift the teeth and jaw bones in the desired direction.
To prepare for applying the metal brackets, your orthodontist will take X-rays and molds of your mouth and teeth to determine the position of the permanent teeth that have not yet come in. They may also use a tray of gooey material to make an impression on your teeth and gums. The resulting model helps plan the most effective treatment for your child.
During the actual application of braces, the orthodontist will glue the brackets to each tooth with a special orthodontic adhesive. Some patients may experience pain or swollen gums after this step. The irritation of the tissue causes this and can be prevented with over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
After the brackets are glued, a thin stainless wire is passed through the center of each tooth and connected to other elements of the braces system. Arch wires, usually made of nickel-titanium, can pressure the teeth to help them shift. Ligature elastics, often made of a color-selectable material, keep the archwire close to the teeth and can be replaced by the orthodontist as they lose elasticity over time.
The elastics are also used to control the speed at which the teeth move and to close gaps. Power chains, which are many elastics connected in a chain or C-chain, can increase the force being applied to the teeth and can be used to achieve quicker results, especially when closing gaps between teeth.
A healthy smile can positively impact your mental health and self-esteem. Straight teeth are not only healthier, but they also boost a person’s confidence. For children and teenagers, braces can help them feel more confident when speaking in public or even socially interacting with their peers. Braces can help adults with crooked or misaligned teeth as well. Getting a straighter smile with traditional or clear braces will positively impact a person’s appearance and overall quality of life.
Those who have crooked teeth or a bad bite may not only feel embarrassed about their appearance, but they can also experience a lack of self-confidence when trying to speak or eat. When people are confident in their appearance, they tend to be more assertive when communicating with others, and they are more likely to go after the goals of their dreams. A great way to boost self-esteem and increase confidence is by receiving orthodontic work with braces from the experts at Molen Orthodontics.
Wearing a brace can be uncomfortable, especially during the early stages of treatment. However, this can be overcome by embracing a positive attitude and focusing on the benefits of the orthodontic process. It is also important to surround yourself with uplifting friends who will support you through the early stages of your journey with braces. Practicing good oral hygiene habits during this time will help you temporarily shift attention away from your crooked teeth.
When a person can reduce inflammation, muscle spasms, and pain, it helps to accelerate the healing process. This means it will take less time to get back to the level of function and comfort a patient was at before an injury or accident occurred.
Getting braces can be stressful because it takes time to get used to them, especially the initial discomfort. During treatment, it is important to maintain a positive attitude to help avoid discouragement.
Surrounding yourself with supportive people during your orthodontic journey is also helpful. This can include family, friends, and healthcare professionals who encourage. Additionally, setting small goals for yourself while you are in braces is important. For example, you may choose to start by eating a healthier diet. A healthy diet will improve your smile and lower the risk of cavities and tooth loss once you complete your orthodontic treatment.
Many patients are worried about how their appearance will change with braces, but the good news is that it does not have to be a big adjustment. Today, there are multiple color options for braces and other orthodontic devices, so you can express your personality while getting the straight smile you want. In addition, some braces allow you to speak clearly and reduce lisps and other impediments. This can boost self-esteem as it will enable you to communicate with others clearly and understandably.
The most common braces are made from stainless steel and use an archwire to apply pressure to the teeth and guide them into place. Depending on your treatment needs, the orthodontist might use elastic bands to help move specific teeth. Coil springs can be placed on the archwire to add pressure between two teeth or to open the space of a tooth that is too narrow. Additionally, a-chains are connected strings of elastic that can be fitted between the brackets to apply more force and reduce your treatment time.
Some patients require more specialized devices to move their teeth faster, such as face bows (metal arch tubes attached to the back of the upper and lower rear molars) or headgear. Usually, these devices require more maintenance and can be damaged easily. If any components break, the orthodontist must replace them immediately to prevent an increase in your treatment time.