If you’re looking for a family orthodontist, you’ll be happy to know that we offer services for adults and children in our practice. Dr. Raviteja has all the speciality training in orthodontic techniques in order to offer these options and make your care more convenient.
Traditional Metal Braces
Conventional metal braces are usually preferred for children and teens but some adults choose them as well. They aren’t just the most common choice of braces (particularly among teenagers), but they’re also often the most affordable. The straightforward orthodontic method makes it possible to address bite concerns in patients as young as seven years old. Correcting tooth misalignment while your child’s orofacial anatomy is still developing can help them to avoid more complex orofacial corrective needs in the future.
Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces are very similar to metal braces, with the most notable difference being that the brackets are made from a transparent ceramic material. This makes them less noticeable. Despite their more expensive cost when compared to conventional metal braces, ceramic braces have become a popular choice among adults who wish to be more discreet about their teeth-straightening treatment.
Self-ligating Braces
Self-ligating braces are placed much like conventional braces, with the exception of ligature. Special clips or brackets are used to help the archwire move your teeth into place. The clips allow greater freedom of tooth movement; thereby they might reduce the discomfort that is sometimes associated with traditional ligature. A simple adjustment is made to the brackets or clips, which saves time and causes less discomfort during routine visits.
Lingual Braces
When it comes to being completely unnoticeable, however, lingual braces take the cake. While this treatment still uses metal brackets, they are placed on the inside of the teeth, making them 100% invisible when the patient smiles.
Because of their location, lingual braces are essentially the truest form of invisible orthodontics available for our patients.
Clear, Removable Aligner (Invisalign®) Systems
Adults and older teens love the benefits of Invisalign clear braces. Invisalign are custom made clear plastic aligners similar to mouth guards that are almost invisible. These translucent aligners can be removed for easy care and maintenance.
Invisalign works by placing slight amounts of pressure on your teeth. Every 2-3 weeks the aligners are changed out to further progress your tooth movement. These need to be removed and replaced as per treatment protocol.
Caring for Your Braces During Treatment
There are a few things you should keep in mind to ensure that your time spent in braces is effective and beneficial to your overall smile
Floss daily, using appropriate threaders or a water flosser to clean between teeth.
Brush thoroughly around each bracket and along the gumline to prevent gingivitis and new cavity formation.
Avoid sticky or hard, crunchy foods as these may damage your orthodontic appliances.
Keep your regularly scheduled appointments, so that treatment can progress in a timely manner.
Benefits of a Straighter Smile
Besides the cosmetic advantages of having straighter teeth, a properly aligned bite is less prone to complications like
- Gum disease (periodontitis)
- TMJ disorder
- Headaches, migraines
- Tooth decay
- Premature tooth wear
- Fractured dental work
