News
Most two-year-old toddlers have never visited a dentist. In fact, only 25% of children have seen a kids dentist by the age of five. This fact is both surprising and disturbing, and it’s no wonder that the most common chronic childhood disease in the country is tooth decay.
We here at Centra Dental in southwest Houston strongly urge parents to stay on top of their child’s oral health. Pediatric dentistry is an important aspect of your child's health, as it has been proven that better oral health contributes to better overall health in a child.
Why Your Child Needs To See Our Kids Dentists ASAP
Beginning from when your child is just a baby, they are often exposed to food and liquids that can damage their oral health. Baby formula, certain foods, milk, and juice are all full of sugars that can promote tooth decay.
In addition, when young kids drink from baby bottles and sippy cups, chances of decay are increased, as drinking from these containers constantly expose sugar to the child’s teeth, especially the front teeth.
Tooth decay can lead to severe pain and even infection when left untreated. In fact, the decay can become so severe that the only treatment option is tooth extraction.
At our southwest Houston dental clinic, our dentists recommend that you reduce your kid’s exposure to sugary liquids, while keeping up with their dental maintenance. Bringing them into our dental office for regular checkups and cleanings will ensure that they have a healthy mouth and better overall health.
When to Bring Your Child to See Our Kids Dentists
Our Houston dentists recommend that you bring your child in for their first dental visit as soon as their first tooth begins to show, or no later than their first birthday.
When you bring your child into our Houston dental office, we will thoroughly examine your child’s mouth and look for any issues that may cause problems with their dental development. Our dental experts will also advise you on tooth decay protection and prepare a regular dental maintenance program.
Centra Dental is committed to giving your child a healthy mouth, as we understand a healthy mouth = a healthier child. Therefore, if you live in southwest Houston or the surrounding areas, contact our dental office today to set up an appointment for your kid.
Dental braces are often associated with children or teenagers. But what about adults? Can adults wear braces too? Simply put, of course! Braces are not just for kids, as more adults are choosing to have their teeth straightened than ever before. If you are an adult looking to straighten your teeth, you’ll be happy to know that Centra Dental is ready to meet your needs.
Why Would An Adult Need Dental Braces?
People often think of dental braces as purely a cosmetic dentistry tool. However, the function of braces goes beyond aesthetics. If you did not have orthodontic treatment as a child, you may suffer from an overbite or underbite, crooked or gapped teeth, or a misaligned jaw. As a result, health problems such as headaches, tooth decay, gum disease, or chewing and digestive issues can occur. Dental braces not only alleviate these health issues, but they leave you with a great smile as well.
Adult Dental Braces Options At Our Houston Dental Office
Here at Centra Dental in southwest Houston, we offer traditional braces and Invisalign clear braces.
With traditional braces, our Houston dentists glue 3M metal brackets to your teeth and tie them together with wires and small rubber bands. The braces are permanently attached to your teeth for the duration of your treatment plan and cannot be removed. Metal braces are preferred when complex procedures are required such as: aligning a tooth that is higher than others, rotating teeth, or moving teeth vertically. Because traditional braces are not removeable, you can be sure they are working 24/7 to correct all of your orthodontic issues.
Invisalign braces are clear plastic trays that are specifically fitted for your teeth. Adults are often reluctant to wear metal braces because they “don’t want to look like a kid.”. While it’s practically impossible to hide the sight of metal braces, Invisalign clear plastic trays are virtually unnoticeable, thus allowing adults to smile confidently without looking like a kid. In addition, Invisalign clear plastic trays are removeable, resulting in easier eating, drinking, and teeth cleaning.
If you are an adult looking to straighten their teeth, our Houston dental office is ready help. Our expert dentists and orthodontists will thoroughly discuss a treatment plan with you, while helping you decide whether traditional braces or Invisalign is right for you. Contact us today to schedule a braces consultation.
Approximately 4 million Americans wear dental braces, with children making up roughly 80 percent of wearers. For many American children, getting dental braces is more a question of “when” rather than “if”, as getting one’s teeth straightened is just another common part of growing up.
Health Benefits of Braces
Straightening one’s teeth is not just a cosmetic issue. Misaligned or crooked teeth can lead to significant medical issues such as: chronic headaches, bad digestion, gum disease, and tooth loss. Failure to invest a relatively small amount of money in braces can easily lead to exponentially larger medical bills in the future.
Despite the many cosmetic and health benefits a child receives from having straight teeth, there are still some parents who hesitate at getting their kid fitted for braces. The following are two of the top reasons for their hesitation, and how we here at Centra Dental address them.
Price of Dental Braces
This is perhaps the most common reason parents hesitate to get their kid fitted for braces. They may feel their kid’s teeth aren’t that bad and can’t seem to justify the cost. They are also not aware of the health issues related to having crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw.
Our Houston dental office always educates parents on the many health benefits of braces. We help the parents understand that by getting their child braces, they are making an investment in their child’s health. In addition, we are constantly offering great deals on dental braces, which also help parents overcome their hesitancy.
Pain From Dental Braces
Many parents are afraid that their child will experience pain from braces. There might be slight pain in the teeth or jaw in the beginning, but this is because the wires and brackets are new to the mouth and actively moving the teeth. An over-the-counter pain reliever such as Ibuprofen will easily relieve such pain symptoms, and soon the child’s mouth will adjust to the braces and no longer feel pain.
Contact Centra Dental For A Dental Braces Consultation
Our Houston dentists understand that for many parents, deciding whether or not to get braces for their kid is a big decision. This is why our dental office in southwest Houston makes a point of helping parents feel comfortable through education and great pricing. We are dedicated to your child’s overall health, so contact us today to set up a braces consultation.
Orthodontic treatment from Centra Dental not only improves a person’s smile, but also corrects many problems, such as overbite, underbite, or jaw misalignment. Dental braces from our Houston dental office are often the best form of treatment in resolving these issues. However, many children and teenagers are reluctant to get braces because they are self-conscious about how they will look or that they will cause pain. If your kid needs braces but is against getting them, here are some tips to overcoming resistance.
Ask Your Kid Why They Are Against Dental Braces
First and foremost, find out from your child why they are against getting dental braces. The only way you can address your child’s concerns is by directly asking what they are. Listen attentively to your child’s responses without arguing. By creating a non-confrontational environment, this helps make them feel safe and more at ease to open up.
Ask Your Kid Who They Like or Admire That Wears Dental Braces
Children are often worried that they will look funny with braces and be made fun of by their peers. I’m sure we can all remember hearing the term, “Metal Mouth”, used in describing someone with braces at one time or another. As bullying is a serious issue in some schools, it is important to take your child’s concerns seriously. Ask your child if they have any close friends or people they respect who already have braces. Encourage your child to talk to these people about their experiences with braces, and what makes them think wearing braces is worthwhile. An additional tactic that may also help is to make a list of athletes or celebrities your child is a fan of who have worn braces before, and showing them the list.
Assure Your Child That Braces Do Not Cause Much Pain
Many kids are anxious about getting braces because they are afraid they will cause pain. Although there may be some initial discomfort, this can easily be treated with over-the-counter pain medication. In addition, our orthodontic patients here at Centra Dental have found that any feelings of pain or discomfort aren’t really that bad and fade quickly.
Contact Centra Dental For Your Houston Braces
It’s not surprising that getting braces is not something many kids usually look forward to. However, our Houston dentists are here to make the experience worthwhile for your kid, while alleviating any fears they may have. Not only will they end up with a better smile, but better overall oral health as well. Serving the southwest Houston area, we offer some of the best deals on braces in the city. Contact us today to set up a braces consultation.
Having straight teeth is a highly valued esthetic in American culture. So much so that for many kids, wearing dental braces is a question of “when” rather than “if. Still, there are also many adults who may not have worn braces when they were younger that now wish to straighten their teeth. However, many adults often do not want to have to deal with the permanence of metal braces, or are afraid braces will make them look like a kid. Thankfully, Centra Dental in southwest Houston offers Invisalign clear braces as a great alternative to metal braces.
Invisalign clear braces are practically unnoticeable, thus allowing patients to straighten their teeth without feeling self-conscious about looking like a child. In addition, as opposed to metal braces, Invisalign clear plastic trays are removable, thus allowing patients a greater degree of freedom when eating, drinking, or having romantic encounters. Such benefits have caused a boom in the Invisalign market in recent years. In fact, the number of Invisalign treatments has tripled over the last five years, with an expectation that the number of treatments will only continue to increase.
HOW INVISALIGN CLEAR PLASTIC TRAYS WORK
The process of getting fitted for Invisalign at our dental clinic begins with a consultation with one of our Houston dentists. Here, the dentist will learn about your needs, while answering any questions you may have regarding the process. Our dentist will then conduct a thorough examination of your teeth to determine the severity of misalignment or crookedness. If the dentist concludes Invisalign would be a good option for you, we will then take X-rays of your dental structure. This allows us to make custom braces that fit your teeth perfectly. After each session, you will be provided new clear plastic trays that will continue to adjust your teeth until they are completely straightened.
Book Your Invisalign Consultation with Centra Dental
It used to be that the only option to straighten your teeth was traditional dental braces. This deterred many adults and teens from getting their teeth straightened because they did not want to deal with the look and hassle of traditional braces. Now, with Invisalign, these are no longer issues. Therefore, if you or your loved one is looking to straighten their teeth sans metal braces, contact our southwest Houston dental office today.
Here in Houston, your child most likely is currently on spring break or about to start it. If you suspect your child may need braces, contact our southwest Houston dental office to schedule an appointment for a dental braces consultation. Our Houston dentists are ready to examine your child’s teeth and determine if braces are needed, and to prepare a comprehensive treatment plan.
Spring break is a great time to bring your child into our dental office because it provides an entire week they are not in school. This leaves more options available when it comes to setting an appointment. However, this is also one of our busiest times of the year thus, you should make the appointment as soon as possible.
SIGNS YOUR CHILD NEEDS BRACES
If your child has crooked, gapped, or misaligned teeth, chances are they need braces. Our Houston dental office offers 3M metal braces to our kid patients. These braces are not only high quality, but affordable as well. Therefore, you can be sure your kid is getting great orthodontic treatment without hurting your wallet.
Another great thing about getting braces at Centra Dental is that dental insurance will often pay for the braces. This is due to the fact that dental insurance benefits will pay when it is shown that the benefits your child receives from braces go beyond cosmetic. For instance, if your child suffers from malocclusion – severely crooked teeth, they can also suffer from poor digestion because the crooked teeth prevent food from being properly chewed. In addition, severely crooked teeth can lead to poor oral health because food particles often get stuck in the crevices of crooked teeth, thus leading to plaque buildup, cavities, gum disease, and other issues.
CALL TO SCHEDULE YOUR CHILD’S SPRING BREAK BRACES APPOINTMENT TODAY
Serving southwest Houston, Centra Dental is committed to your child’s oral health. This includes providing straight teeth at an affordable price. Take the first step to improving your child’s overall health by contacting our dental office today.
Determining when their child should be checked for braces is a dilemma parents often face. Some parents take their kids as early as 6, while others wait until their kids are in their pre-teen or teen years. Also, with the exploding popularity of Invisalign clear braces, there are even those whose parents never took them to get checked for braces, who are now opting to straighten their teeth in their adult years.
Although there is no set age for when a parent needs to take their kids to see the orthodontist for the first time to check for braces, at Centra Dental, our Houston dentists recommend bringing your child in around the age of 7, as this is typically when a child’s permanent teeth start coming in. When their permanent teeth start coming in, issues such as an uneven bite and overcrowding become visible. Bringing your child in at 7 does not mean he or she will be getting braces right away. This just allows us to discover any issues and determine the best time to start a comprehensive treatment plan.
Come To Our Southwest Houston Dental Office To Get Your Kid Checked for Braces
At Centra Dental, our dental experts often use dental braces to resolve your child’s crooked or misaligned teeth. It is important to address these issues, as straight teeth are easier to clean and enable better digestion, thus leading to better overall health. When you bring your child to our Houston dental office for a cleaning, our dental experts will also check for any orthodontic issues your child may have, and determine whether or not dental braces are needed.
Centra Dental is committed to your child’s overall health. A big part of this includes determining whether dental braces will be necessary in the future. As providers of great dental and orthodontic services, you can be sure your child is in great hands. Contact our southwest Houston dental office today to book an appointment.
In a world where social media reigns supreme, a selfie phenomenon has occurred, where people of all ages are constantly taking selfies to post onto their numerous social media accounts in search of likes and comments. Smartphones have long catered to this phenomenon by providing reversible camera lenses on their phones.
Straight Teeth: More Important Than Ever
With the selfie revolution, having straight teeth has become more important than ever. People are looking to achieve a great smile because they understand the attractiveness and pulling power of a warm, endearing smile. In addition, they understand that a great smile is great bait when it comes to fishing for comments and likes.
Centra Dental in southwest Houston is committed to giving you a perfect selfie smile. We understand that there is no greater antagonist to a great smile than crooked teeth, as they can be unsightly and distracting. We also understand that without a perfect smile, there is no perfect selfie. Thankfully, our Houston dental office can easily rectify this issue. We offer two options to straighten your teeth: traditional metal braces or Invisalign clear plastic trays.
Traditional Metal Braces
Centra Dental offers 3M metal braces that permanently fix to your teeth for the entire duration of your treatment plan. While some may find this cumbersome, the advantage of traditional metal braces is that they work round the clock at straightening your teeth. Therefore, as you wear the braces, you can be sure that they are working 24/7.
Invisalign Clear Braces
Invisalign clear braces is another option offered at our southwest Houston dental office. Invisalign clear braces are clear plastic tray aligners specifically molded to fit your teeth. These clear plastic trays are virtually unnoticeable, thus allowing wearers to smile more confidently. In addition, the clear plastic tray aligners are removable, thus making teeth easier to clean.
Whichever teeth straightening option you choose, Centra Dental is your source for Houston braces. As we are in the midst of a selfie revolution, our Houston dental office understands the power of social media, and how important having a great smile is. Contct our southwest Houston office today, and let use get you on your way to that perfect selfie smile!
Metal braces or Invisalign? This is one of the most frequently asked questions by those looking to straighten their teeth. Both have their benefits, but deciding which one is right for you depends on several factors. To help you decide, let’s take a look at the case for each.
Advantages of Braces
Unlike Invisalign, braces are permanent for the entire duration of your treatment plan. That means they are working 24/7 at getting you a perfect smile. With Invisalign, on the other hand, there is always the temptation to remove the clear plastic trays. If removed too frequently, you may negate any improvements made to your teeth, thereby increasing the duration of your treatment plan. Also, having to remove Invisalign trays every time you eat, drink (except water), and clean your teeth can be seen as a hassle to some.
Advantages of Invisalign
Invisalign braces are clear plastic tray aligners that are specifically designed and fitted for your teeth. Invisalign clear braces are virtually unnoticeable, thus allowing wearers to smile more confidently than they might when wearing traditional braces.
Invisalign feels more comfortable than braces. Braces can irritate or scratch the inside of your mouth. In addition, chunks of food oftentimes get stuck in between the wires and brackets, making eating difficult and uncomfortable. This is avoided with Invisalign because one just needs to remove the clear plastic trays before eating.
Because the plastic tray aligners are removable, teeth are easier to clean. With metal braces, you need to take extra care to gently brush above and below each bracket. In addition, flossing can be a challenge because of the metal wires. One needs to carefully weave between the wires in order to get in between teeth or use a floss leader.
Choosing between Invisalign clear braces or metal braces can often be a difficult, time-consuming decision. However, Centra Dental can make the decision process easier for you. Our Houston dentists and orthodontists are experts at helping patients figure out what is best for them. So contact our southwest Houston office today, and we’ll get you on your way to a perfect smile!
Kids can need braces for a variety of reasons. These often include: crooked teeth, overlapping or overcrowded teeth, or a "bad bite" (malocclusion). Malocclusion refers to when the top and bottom jaws are different sizes, resulting in uneven contact between the upper and lower teeth. As a result, overbites and underbites occur. An overbite is when the upper jaw is larger than the lower jaw, while an underbite is when the lower jaw is larger than the upper jaw.
Sometimes losing baby teeth too soon or practicing bad habits like thumb sucking can also lead to tooth and jaw problems. However, tooth and jaw problems are also often inherited. If you or someone in your family have tooth or jaw issues, it is likely that your kid will as well. When left untreated, issues such as low self-esteem, periodontal disease, and improper digestion can occur.
When to Check If Your Kid Needs Braces
There is no exact age for when a child should see an orthodontist for the first time. Some kids go as early as 6, while some go when they are teens. With the popularity of Invisalign clear braces, even adults are now seeing an orthodontist more than ever.
Many orthodontists believe a good time to start seeing an orthodontist is around the age of 7, as this is normally when their permanent teeth start coming in. Once your child’s permanent teeth start coming in, issues such as uneven bite and overcrowding will become apparent. Starting the process early doesn't mean a child will get braces right away. It just means the orthodontist will be able to find problems and decide the best time to start treatment.
Get Your Kid Checked for Braces at Our Southwest Houston Dental Office
Centra Dental is ready to resolve your child’s tooth and jaw issues through the use of 3M metal braces. When you bring your child to our southwest Houston office for a regular visit, our dentists will often be the first to notice any orthodontic issues your child may have. If the dentist feels there are issues that need to be addressed, your child will then see one of our expert orthodontists. The orthodontist will carefully examine your child’s teeth and determine whether or not kids braces are needed.
Centra Dental is committed to giving your child a healthy mouth and great smile. As providers of great dental and orthodontic services, our Houston dentists are ready to help. So contact our southwest Houston office today to book an appointment.
More...
Braces are often solely viewed as a cosmetic dentistry method to improve one’s appearance. A great smile leads to feeling good about your appearance and greater self-confidence. As important as appearance may be, however, what is often overlooked are the many health benefits of braces. Let’s take a look at a few of them:
Braces Lead to a Healthy Mouth
In addition to the obvious cosmetic improvement of your teeth and smile, straighter teeth are easier to clean, hence better periodontal health. Crooked or gapped teeth make properly brushing and cleaning more difficult, resulting in cavities and tooth loss. In addition, misaligned or crowded teeth make flossing difficult. When teeth are not properly flossed, periodontal disease is likely to manifest.
Braces from Centra Dental in southwest Houston resolves these issues by aligning and spacing teeth out properly. Dental maintenance is greatly improved because brushing, cleaning, and flossing become easier. The result is a clean, healthy mouth.
Braces Correct Jaw Issues
Misaligned teeth cause an improper bite that can lead to jaw issues such as temporomandibular (TMJ) disorders. TMJ disorders affect the muscles and joints surrounding the jaw, often causing headaches and pain around the face and ears. People suffering from TMJ disorders may also experience dizziness and a ringing in their ears.
TMJ disorders often make biting and chewing difficult. This can lead to improper digestion and increasing the chance of large chunks of food getting caught in the teeth and gums, thus leading to bad breath and gum disease.
Braces from our Houston dentists will move your teeth back into their correct position. Once this happens, the TMJ will shift back to its proper alignment, thus relieving you of your symptoms. In addition, you will be able to bite, chew, and even speak better.
Contact Centra Dental for Your Braces Consultation
Our greatest concern at Centra Dental is your overall health. Obviously, a great smile is an added bonus. Straight teeth greatly contribute to both of these things, so contact our office in southwest Houston today for a braces consultation. Let us help give you a great smile and better oral health!
One of the greatest factors in determining a person’s perception of you is your smile. Smiling not only makes you look more attractive, but it also has many social and health benefits. With so many benefits, smiling more greatly contributes to a happy, healthy lifestyle.
People often cite feeling self-conscious or ashamed about their smile because of crooked or misaligned teeth as reasons for not smiling more. Through the use of Invisalign clear braces, Centra Dental in southwest Houston resolves these issues and will get you smiling more in no time. Here are a few things an Invisalign smile will do for you:
An Invisalign Smile Will Make You More Approachable
Upon meeting people for the first time, a warm, genuine smile makes others feel at ease. A strong, confident smile radiates warmth and opens the door to engagement, while making a great first impression. There is a real physical attraction factor linked to the act of smiling that draws others towards you, while negative expressions such as frowns and glares push people away.
Invisalign gives patients a smile they can be proud of showing. In addition, Invisalign plastic tray aligners are barely noticeable. Therefore, even while wearing the plastic trays, patients will feel more confident in smiling more, because they know their teeth are getting straighter each day.
An Invisalign Smile Will Help Elevate Mood
When we feel great, a smile should come naturally. It's a physical sign of joy, happiness, amusement, or contentment. Although it's not natural to smile when we're sad or upset, research has shown that smiling, even fake smiling, can be the best thing to do when you're looking to brighten up your mood. The old adage of “fake it ‘til you make it” holds validity, as scientists have found that smiling on purpose changes brain chemistry.
Unfortunately, feeling self-conscious about one’s smile gets in the way of smiling more, thus creating an obstacle to feeling the positive emotions associated with smiling. Thankfully, clear braces from Centra Dental removes this obstacle. Invisalign patients will feel free to smile naturally and as often as they want, thus allowing them to experience the positive emotions associated with smiling.
Contact Centra Dental for Your Invisalign Consultation
Centra Dental is committed to giving you a smile you can be proud of. If you live in or around the southwest Houston area, contact our office today for an Invisalign consultation. We look forward to helping you achieve an amazing smile that elevates not just your own mood, but the mood of those around you as well!
School is only about a month away, which means the kids will be back to getting up early, studying, playing sports, and dealing with everything else school. With such a hectic schedule awaiting, now would be a good time to schedule their braces appointment before the school year starts back up.
If your child has gapped, crooked or misaligned teeth, we have the braces just for them and the price range just for you. Our metal braces begin at $1995, which makes getting braces affordable.
At our dental clinic in the southwest Houston area, we aim to make dentistry affordable. Since braces are such a big part of people’s lives, we wanted to make braces affordable. School typically requires the purchase of supplies, clothes, shoes, and other items, which can add up pretty quickly. Making certain that braces are affordable is important to us.
MAKING AFFORDABLE BRACES EVEN MORE AFFORDABLE
If your child’s teeth are severely crooked, gapped or misaligned, then there is a good chance that your dental insurance will cover some, most or all of the cost of braces. Our Houston dental clinic accepts more major dental insurance plans. This can greatly assist you and your family in affording braces.
Our dental staff will help you find out if your dental insurance will cover some or all of the cost of braces. Simply contact our dental clinic and ask your orthodontics-related questions.
GETTING YOUR BRACES RIGHT
Each patient meets with one of our dentists who will conduct the orthodontics treatment. During this consultation, the dentist will conduct a thorough evaluation of the patient’s teeth and make recommendations on the type of braces (metal or Invisalign), how long the treatments will take, and how often the patient should return to our clinic for tightening sessions.
At Centra Dental, we make certain that our patients - children and adults - receive the very best treatment for all of their dental needs.
SCHEDULE YOUR CHILD’S ORTHO APPOINTMENT TODAY
If your child needs braces before the school year starts, then contact us today and schedule their appointment. We look forward to providing them with beautiful and healthy teeth for the rest of their lives.
Braces have become a very common aspect in American life. Patients of all ages want to have straight and perfectly aligned teeth. There are also a lot of patients who don’t want to have to deal with braces that are extremely noticeable. That’s why Centra Dental in southwest Houston offers Invisalign braces. Invisalign braces have become a huge part of dentistry because they enable patients to have their teeth straightened practically unnoticeably. These plastic tray aligners are custom-made to perfectly fit your teeth.
HOW INVISALIGN BRACES WORK
If you have crooked, misaligned or gapped teeth, and want straight and aligned teeth, then you should consider coming to Centra Dental to receive braces. Braces can adjust your teeth in approximately 12 to 24 months. At our dental clinic in southwest Houston, our dentists sit down with each patient to discuss what they hope to receive from their orthodontics treatments. Our dentists conduct thorough examinations of the mouth and teeth of the patient. This allows us to check the severity of the crookedness or misalignment so that we can properly diagnose the issue. If Invisalign braces are found to be the best fit for you, then we will conduct X-rays of the dental structure. This ensures we are able to manufacture custom-fitted braces. Invisalign braces will fit tightly against the teeth to begin straightening them. You will be provided new clear braces after each session that will continue to adjust the teeth till they are completely straightened. The sessions will vary according to patient. Be sure to ask all the questions you may have during your ortho consultation. We offer Invisalign for adults and teenagers.
SCHEDULE YOUR INVISALIGN APPOINTMENT
Interested in getting Invisalign clear braces? Contact Centra Dental today and schedule your consultation with our dentist. We look forward to providing you with the smile you’ve been hoping for.