Braces can be a fundamental step in your orthodontic journey. Braces straighten and move your teeth to improve their function and appearance. How do they work? Braces slowly move the placement of your teeth and roots, using pressure, to the correct position. 

Why do I need braces? 

Dental braces treatment is used for a variety of reasons. Several main reasons for treatment are for jaw positioning/correction, teeth positioning/correction, orthodontic problems, and pain relating to positioning of the jaw and/or teeth. The overall goal of orthodontic treatment and braces is to improve function, aid speech, protect teeth from trauma, improve appearance, and conserve overall oral health. 

What is the benefit of early treatment?

Getting treatment earlier can help with smiles throughout all stages of growth. While your child’s smile may look perfect, Dr. Fulcher will be able to notice and correct all jaw alignment issues, crowding of baby teeth, facial symmetry for your growing child’s jaw, and any potential future trauma related incidences. All of these can benefit from braces treatment at an earlier stage. While braces look like they just aid the smile, they can help fix any assortment of oral related issues that can occur later on. 

At what age should my child see an orthodontist?

Typically, a child should go to see an orthodontist around their seventh birthday. This age is perfect to establish a treatment plan and properly diagnose further steps needed to correct any current or future oral related health issues. 

Braces for Adults

Braces in adulthood are very common, with millions of adults using this orthodontic treatment yearly. Braces in adulthood can help with teeth shifting from previous treatments, health conditions, price and affordability, no previous treatment, personal preference, and many other treatments. We offer braces treatment as well as Invisalign for teeth and jaw corrections. Braces can help fix any issues or imperfections that you would like to be fixed. Invisalign is a series of clear trays that gradually shift your bite and teeth over a series of time. They are not as obvious as braces but provide the same, great results of a beautiful smile. 

Do braces require special care?

Now that you have braces, there are a few changes to take in order to keep your teeth happy and healthy throughout the process. Make sure to be extra careful when eating specific foods, especially ones that are chewy, crunchy, sticky or hard. They can damage your braces and slow down your treatment time. Try and refrain from biting into any food, such as an apple or corn on the cob, as they can loosen your brackets. 

Make sure to brush your teeth and floss on a daily basis to eliminate any food that could be stuck and to keep them clean and healthy from plaque build up. 

Other symptoms that accompany braces are loose teeth, a bit of soreness, and mouth irritation. Do not worry as they are very common and easily treated with wax, time, and over-the-counter pain relievers. 

Retainers

After braces, to maintain that new, perfect smile, retainers are used to retain the new positioning of your teeth after the braces are removed. It is important to wear your retainers as instructed by Dr. Fulcher so that your smile stays just as nice for years to come. To care for your retainer, make sure to keep it clean, keep it in its case when not in use, and remove it when eating. If you have any questions about retainer maintenance or replacement, call our office with any questions or to set up an appointment. 

Braces are an important step in creating the perfect smile for you and your family. We offer financing and family discounts to make braces treatment more affordable and carefree for everyone!