The Lowdown on Braces
Orthodontic braces gently and steadily apply pressure to shift your teeth into the correct alignment for an improved smile and bite. Braces are an effective way to treat crowding, spacing, overjet teeth, an underbite or a crossbite. Treatment not only offers cosmetic benefits – hello, stunning smile! – but can also ward off tooth decay, gum disease, issues with speaking and chewing, headaches and more.
The term braces tends to bring to mind images of large metal brackets and wires. While metal braces are still an excellent option, these days they’re smaller and more comfortable. Thanks to technological advances, there are also several alternatives including clear ceramic braces, self-ligating braces and lingual braces. Every patient is different and what works for one person may not work as well for another. After a thorough consultation, Dr. Lee can present you with the types of braces that will get you the best results.
Have no fear! The braces procedure is actually painless and straightforward. Once it’s underway, you’ll be on the path to a healthy smile.
Consultation
You’ll meet with the friendly and knowledgeable Dr. Lee. She’ll examine your mouth, take x-rays and photos if needed and address your questions, concerns and treatment goals. She’ll determine the best course of action and present you with the treatment options that meet your needs. After the consultation, you’ll feel confident knowing what to expect.
Get Started
The big day has arrived! Dr. Lee will adorn your teeth with brackets, arch wire and elastics. The whole process typically lasts between 45 minutes to an hour and we promise, it’s painless. We actually encourage patients to get started on the same day as their consultation, so if you want, we can jump right in.
Adjustments
You’ll visit the office periodically to have your braces adjusted to keep the progress going. We’ll make sure your treatment is on track and, of course, address any of your questions or concerns.
Removal
You made it! Dr. Lee will remove your braces, which also happens to be a pain-free process, to reveal your brand new smile.
Post-Care
We know you’ll love your straight teeth and you’ll want to keep them that way, which requires the use of retainers. Your retainer will be custom-made to fit your mouth and may need to be adjusted occasionally to maintain your great smile!
Metal Braces
These aren’t the metal braces of the past thanks to advancements in design (think smaller and more comfortable). Metal braces consist of stainless steel brackets and wire that is held in place with elastics. The fun part? You can choose the color of your rubber bands to inject a little of your personal style into the process.
Clear Ceramic Braces
Much like traditional metal braces, clear ceramic braces involve brackets, arch wire and elastics. However, they’re much less noticeable as they’re made with a translucent material to blend into your tooth color. Clear braces tend to be a good option for older teens and adults.
Self-Ligating Braces (Damon)
Self-ligating braces rely on a slide to attach the wire to the brackets so no elastics are necessary. These tie-less braces require fewer adjustments and teeth shift into place more quickly and comfortably with memory wires.
Lingual Braces (Incognito)
With lingual braces, the brackets, wires and elastics are placed behind the teeth on the tongue side so they’re practically invisible. Lingual braces are becoming more popular with teens and adults and they’re a great option for anyone in search of a truly discreet treatment option.
You successfully completed your braces treatment and you probably can’t get enough of that fantastic new smile. However, you still have one more step to achieve permanent results: a retainer.
What is a Retainer?
Retainers are orthodontic appliances that gently hold your teeth in their new place and maintain the progress you made with your orthodontic treatment. They’re key to keeping your teeth straight forever.
What Types of Retainers do You Offer?
At Fleetwood Orthodontics we offer several types of orthodontic retainers, including fixed retainers and removable retainers, and a comprehensive retention program to retain your beautiful new smile for a lifetime. A fixed retainer is a thin metal wire that is bonded to the back of the teeth. We also use two types of removable retainers: Hawley retainers and Essix-type clear retainers. Hawley retainers consist of a plastic piece with wire attached. The thin wire wraps around the front of your teeth. An Essix-type clear retainer is made of transparent plastic and fully covers the teeth. They’re very similar to the aligners used in Invisalign treatment, however, you won’t be changing it every week or two.
Sometimes braces alone won’t do the trick. We offer orthodontic appliances as well to give you the best functional bite.
An Extra Boost
In some cases, an extra step before or after braces may be necessary to fully correct bite issues. Fleetwood Orthodontics is well versed in the most cutting edge appliances to achieve superior results.
We offer:
- Palatal Expander
- Reverse-pull Headgear (Face frame)
- Headgear
- Twin Block
- Forsus Appliances
- MARA Appliances
- TADs (Temporary Anchorage Devices)
- M.S.E. appliance (Maxillary Skeletal Expander)