All About Braces
Why Choose Braces?
Braces are custom to each patient, prescribed and designed by the orthodontist according to the problems being treated. They can also be utilized in conjunction with other orthodontic appliances that address jaw-growth and development problems.
More Comfortable than Ever
In the past, metal braces could be bulky, awkward, and obvious, but orthodontic treatment has made great technological strides recently. Metal braces are smaller, less noticeable and more comfortable than ever before. This makes braces look better and feel better, with the sleeker brackets and wires minimizing mouth irritation.
Express Yourself
Traditional braces allow you to express your unique style with colors. The elastics that fit around the brackets come in a variety of different colors and enable you to alter the look of the braces whenever you want a change. You can showcase your personality by picking your favorite colors, the colors of your favorite sports team, or even your school colors. Silver, gray, and clear elastics are also available for anyone seeking a more neutral, subtle look.
What to expect with braces
How they work
Braces in Rochester Hills, MI Braces place a constant, gentle force in a carefully controlled direction, and are designed to slowly move teeth through their supporting bone to a new desirable position. Braces can either be removable (invisible aligners) or fixed (brackets bonded on teeth).
Today's braces are generally less noticeable than their predecessors: a metal band with a bracket (the part of the braces that hold the (wire) placed around each tooth. Wires are also less noticeable than their stainless-steel predecessors. Some are made of technologically advanced alloys of nickel, titanium, copper and cobalt. Some are even heat-activated ultimately, reduce the number of appointments needed to adjust.
Care of your braces
Generally, those who wear braces need to practice good oral hygiene in much the same way as those who don't. Of course, wearing braces creates unique problems. For example, avoid hard and sticky foods. Don't chew on pens, pencils or fingernails because chewing on hard things can damage the braces, almost ensuring longer-than-needed treatment times and cost.
After application of braces, your orthodontist will show you how best to care for your teeth, gums and braces. This includes tips on how often to brush, how often to floss, and, if necessary, other cleaning aids that might help you maintain good dental health.
Do braces hurt?
Overall, orthodontic discomfort is short-lived and easily managed. Most people have some discomfort after their braces are first put on or when adjusted during treatment. After the braces are on, teeth may become sore and may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. The lips, cheeks and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. Patients can manage this discomfort with common over the counter pain relievers.
Braces and your active lifestyle
Those who wear braces and play any contact sports should always wear a protective mouth guard. Playing wind or brass instruments, such as the trumpet, will clearly require some adaptation to braces. With practice and a period of adjustment, braces typically do not interfere with the playing of musical instruments.
Retainers
Retainers are needed after orthodontic treatment and removal of braces because the teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.
If you're interested in braces or orthodontics, call Arnold Tracht, Daniel Briskie, & Lisa Goldberg, D.D.S., P.C. at (248) 608-2626 to learn more today!
