What Are Metal Braces?
Traditional metal braces are a proven, effective method for improving the long-term health of your smile. Our dentist at Made Ya Smile uses metal braces as an orthodontic solution to straighten your teeth, creating a more aligned and aesthetic smile. Perfect for children, teenagers, and adults, metal braces are now lighter and more comfortable than ever thanks to modern dental technology. At our clinic in Missouri City, TX, our staff provides full-service orthodontics at every stage for better positioning and function.
Metal braces are ideal for patients who want a convenient tooth straightening option or may not be a good candidate for clear aligners. To customize your orthodontic experience, Made Ya Smile offers a range of colors for your elastic bands to show school spirit or support your favorite sports team. To learn if you or your child could benefit from traditional braces, contact our practice to schedule an appointment with our dentist.
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Who Is a Candidate for Traditional Metal Braces?
Traditional metal braces are an orthodontic appliance that effectively shifts the teeth with the use of brackets, wires, and bands. They work by applying a gentle force to move the teeth into the right positions in the jaw. At Made Ya Smile, our dentist and experienced team use high-quality materials and plan each treatment to meet your specific dental needs and goals while making your smile straighter and more aesthetic. Braces can be ideal for patients of every age, including younger children who need more phased orthodontic care. They correct issues such as underbite, overbite, crossbite, and overbite. If you have crooked, crowded, rotated, protruding, tipped, or gapped teeth, these can also be remedied using metal braces. Whatever your needs, our skilled staff can bring smiles back into the perfect alignment.
How Are Braces Applied?
When you schedule an orthodontic consultation with Made Ya Smile, our staff will first take digital x-rays and advanced 3D images of your head, teeth, and jawbone along with impressions of your mouth. This information is useful for understanding how your upper and lower teeth fit together. Our dentist and team will determine the best method of treatment to shift your teeth into the proper position and achieve optimal orthodontic outcomes. After cleaning your teeth, we will attach the brackets using a clear or tooth-colored bonding agent. We will thread the wire through the brackets around the arches, which are held by elastic ties. After placement, our team will schedule regular appointments to monitor your progress and change the wires as needed.
What Can I Expect During the Braces Treatment Process?
When your wires are changed, you may have a mild sore feeling in the teeth and jaw for a few days, which can be relieved with over-the-counter pain medication and a soft food diet. Keep up your oral health with a twice-yearly cleaning and yearly examination with Made Ya Smile to keep your teeth and gums healthy during orthodontic treatment, especially since plaque and food particles get caught up in the metal wires and brackets. Our team can show you how to brush and floss around the appliance using a toothbrush or special tools.
Every smile is unique, which means your overall treatment time may vary. On average, patients wear traditional metal braces from 1 – 3 years. We will evaluate your progress during each appointment and keep you updated on the timeframe. Once the teeth have been guided into their correct position, we will remove the appliance and take impressions of your arches to make your custom retainer. Wearing a retainer is highly recommended to keep your teeth in their new position so you can enjoy a beautiful, healthy smile for years to come.
Emergencies
When undergoing orthodontic treatment, it's common for patients to have a dental accident or emergency. For instance, your wires, brackets, or elastic ties may become loose or unattached from your teeth. As experts in dental care, Made Ya Smile helps you reduce your chances of an accident by providing you with helpful information, such as avoiding hard, sticky, or crunchy foods. Contact our clinic right away if you experience any of the following dental emergencies and we will schedule an appointment to see you as soon as possible. Here's how to handle these situations in the meantime:
Loose Band or Bracket: If bands or brackets are loose but still attached to the wire, you can leave them in place until your appointment. Patients can apply orthodontic wax or sugar-free gum if it causes some pain or discomfort.
Loose Wire: Simply use a Q-tip, pencil eraser, or pair of tweezers to guide the wire back into place. If this does not work, cover the tip of the wire with orthodontic wax or sugar-free gum. If possible, try to use sterilized wire cutters or nail clippers to clip it behind the tooth.
Loose Appliance: Orthodontic appliances such as space maintainers or palatal expanders need to be reattached quickly so the teeth do not shift back to their original positions. They can be held in place using orthodontic wax until you can schedule a visit with our dentist.
Sharp or Poking Archwire: At times, loose or broken wires can irritate the tongue, cheeks, gums, or lips. Orthodontic wax or sugar-free gum can easily cover the sharp end so you can feel more comfortable. Try to can also use sterilized nail clippers or wire cutters to cut the wire behind the tooth.
Jaw or Tooth Discomfort: It's typical for a patient to experience some a sore feeling in the teeth or jaw following an appointment. This can be relieved with over-the-counter pain medication and warm saltwater rinses to prevent inflammation.
Are Traditional Braces Covered by Insurance?
Most PPO dental insurance plans can offer coverage toward metal braces, and our administrative team at Made Ya Smile can reach out to your provider to learn more about your benefits. At our facility, we believe that orthodontic care should be affordable for every patient, which is why we offer a number of convenient options for payment, including low-interest financing with CareCredit®. Together we can find a solution that matches your needs and budget.
Traditional Metal Braces FAQ
How long will I have to wear braces?
The amount of time you may need to wear your braces depends on your specific needs and smile goals. Generally, patients will have to wear braces for 1 – 2 years. The recommendations that our orthodontists make will help to provide you with the most optimal results. If you are interested in learning more about traditional metal braces, contact our Missouri City, TX office to schedule a consultation.
What foods should I avoid when wearing braces?
Certain foods could damage the wires and brackets that make up your metal braces. We recommend avoiding sticky and chewy foods like gum and caramel, along with hard foods like pretzels, popcorn, nuts, carrots, and hard candies. Once your braces have been applied to your teeth, our team will review the foods you should avoid.
Do traditional braces work the same as clear aligners?
Like traditional metal braces, clear aligners place light, consistent pressure on your teeth to guide them into ideal positions. In most instances, patients will be able to choose between braces or clear aligners; however, there are times when one orthodontic treatment option may be recommended over the other. At your consultation, our team will thoroughly explain your options so that you can make the best decision for your oral health and your lifestyle.
Traditional Orthodontic Care
A straighter, healthier smile can be achieved at any age. Today, modern advancements in dental technology allow traditional metal braces to be smaller, lighter, and more comfortable than ever. If you have orthodontic concerns, contact Made Ya Smile in Missouri City, TX for a custom consultation. If we decide braces are the right choice for you, our dentist can help you improve your overall tooth alignment and function as soon as possible.
