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Getting Braces Early Is a Smart Move

Getting braces sooner rather than later will help in the long run on so many different levels. It’s true that not everyone has straight teeth. There are millions of people in the US who have either misaligned, crooked, crowded or gapped teeth. The sole solution for correcting these issues is braces.

Teeth that are misaligned, crooked, crowded or gapped don’t happen late in life. They grow in this way at a very young age. This is why at Centra Dental, located in south Houston, we suggest getting braces at a young age. Some of our patients get them before hitting their teenage years. Most often, however, braces are worn by teenagers. In fact, approximately 75% of national braces wearers are teenagers.

WHY GET BRACES SO EARLY

As we mentioned, there are countless positives to getting braces early. Let’s go over them:

  • HEALTHY TEETH - When braces are worn early, like in the adolescent years, the teeth begin to straighten earlier, which helps keep cavities from forming in hard to reach places. The problem with misaligned, crooked, crowded or gapped teeth is that food is able to hide from the toothbrush and from floss. When teeth are straight and aligned close together, it makes it much easier to remove these particles and plaque buildup. This, in turn, ensures that cavities become much harder to obtain.
  • BEAUTIFUL SMILE - Braces create straight and beautiful smiles. For many, wearing braces do not take very long before their teeth become straightened. The wait time varies, but when it comes to being able to smile freely, it is definitely worth the wait.
  • CONFIDENCE - There are plenty of people who lack confidence because of their smile. It inhibits their ability to smile freely and can also keep them from being as outgoing as they would like to be. A healthy and beautiful smile often provides patients with an elevated self esteem.

INTERESTED IN BRACES?

There are plenty of reasons you may want braces for yourself or your child. At Centra Dental, we think now is the time to act on that desire and necessity. Contact us today and schedule your affordable braces appointment. Our Houston dentist will conduct a thorough examination of your teeth and walk you through the process of the braces procedure.

Centra Dental: The Home for Affordable Braces

Many people think they can’t afford braces. At Centra Dental, we suggest you think again. Our south Houston dental office offers braces for an incredibly low price. Our braces start as low as $1995.

At our dental clinic, we believe every person in Houston should have the option of choosing affordable braces. We don’t believe in pricing people out of the market of beautiful smiles. Our kids dentists and general dentists work to ensure that every patient seen walks out with a healthy and beautiful smile.

CHOOSING AFFORDABLE BRACES

Affordable braces almost seems like an oxymoron. In fact, people often do not correlate dental work with affordability. But at Centra Dental we know they can easily go hand-in-hand.

If you have crooked, misaligned, or gapped teeth and are not happy with your smile, then come to our dental office for an oral examination. Our Houston dentist will conduct a thorough exam of your teeth to pinpoint precisely what needs to be corrected. There are some patients who do not require a long-term braces solution, but then there are those who do, like those who suffer from malocclusion, which is when teeth are impacted and heavily crowded.

Regardless of the status of your teeth, our dentists are able to correct them. After the examination, you will be informed of approximately how long the braces will take to straighten your teeth.

BRACES ARE COST EFFECTIVE FOR ORAL HEALTH

Having teeth that are straight and aligned together helps keep the mouth healthy. The reason braces promote oral health is because they ensure that food particles no longer get stuck or become hidden between and around teeth. When food isn’t or can’t be properly removed by brushing and flossing, then dental caries infect the teeth, which create cavities. This leads to dental procedures that are typically avoided with straight teeth.

SCHEDULE YOUR HOUSTON DENTAL APPOINTMENT TODAY

There is no reason to wait any longer. Our braces are incredibly affordable and will help ensure that you don’t spend more time and money working on your teeth than what is absolutely necessary. Braces will help ensure that your primary focus will be the daily routine of brushing and flossing and then visiting the dentist every six months for checkups.

Contact us today to schedule your braces appointment. We look forward to providing you and your family with beautiful and healthy smiles.

Providing Braces for Southwest Houston

Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States with nearly 2.4 million people. This doesn’t cover the Greater Houston area, which has nearly 7 million people. Yes, Houston is the largest city in the country’s second largest state, which means there are plenty of people who need braces.

Centra Dental is here to provide as many of our southwest Houston area citizens with straight, beautiful and healthy smiles as possible. This can only be done through braces. Our dental office offers every kind of braces: traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, and clear braces (Invisalign).

Dr. Kathy Nguyen and Dr. Natasha Perschke have been providing orthodontics to kids and adults alike for years. Our dental staff always provides exceptional service to our clients, which explains why so many call Centra Dental their home for dentistry.

BRACES FOR KIDS AND ADULTS

Most patients who choose to receive braces are in their adolescent years. Teenagers are in the process of growing into their bodies and discovering who they are. Ensuring their confidence is high is a big part of that maturing phase.

For many, a straight and beautiful smile plays a major role in their self esteem. Being able to smile freely and confidently helps with school, socializing, and even in the corporate world.

At Centra Dental, we are concerned with how a person’s smile affects them from a health perspective and a confidence perspective. Our dentists will ensure you receive the proper braces and care so that you will have the smile you’ve always dreamed of.

Our goal is to help Houston be known for having the healthiest and most beautiful smiles in Texas.

ARE YOU CONSIDERING BRACES?

If you or one of your family members is in need of braces, be certain to contact our dental office. Our dentist will provide you with a thorough oral examination to ensure you receive the right diagnosis. From there, we will advise you on which type of braces would work best for you.

For straight teeth and a beautiful smile, schedule your orthodontic appointment today.

Early Orthodontics Affected by Lack of Dental Visits

In our previous post, regarding adults and children not visiting the dentist enough, we discussed how a trend takes place when adults do not prioritize dental visits. The statistics presented by the American Dental Association demonstrated how only slightly more than 50% of adults consistently visit the dentist on the recommended basis (every six months) converts into almost the same amount for children.

At Centra Dental, we see that as a problem for the general health of teeth. Our south Houston dentists focus on pediatric dentistry because we understand the value of children’s teeth. We work to prevent or eliminate cavities and periodontal disease in kids. Our goal is not simply to have adults and children visit the dentist for prevention purposes, but to educate our dental patients on how to best take care of their oral health. Many patients grow up not understanding the importance of brushing twice daily, and flossing and rinsing daily.

EDUCATING PARENTS ABOUT EARLY ORTHO

Visiting the dentist as a kid is very important because of what is learned about teeth. It is also important because the pediatric dentist can find potential problems that can be addressed and fixed.

Early ortho is part of the process of addressing problems before they cause real harm. Most people do not develop perfectly straight teeth. There are millions who have crooked, misaligned or gapped teeth. These issues can allow for food particles to become hidden in hard to reach areas of the teeth, which can lead to cavities and gum disease.

At Centra Dental, we believe in the effectiveness of early ortho. Correcting teeth that suffer from these problems will help with the patient’s oral health in the long run. Straight teeth enable patients to keep every area of their teeth protected from plaque, food particles, and other issues.

What needs to take place in order to best protect teeth in our younger patients is that older patients need to understand the importance of visiting the dentist on a regular basis.

PROTECT YOUR CHILD’S ORAL HEALTH

If your child is in need of a pediatric dentist, then contact our south Houston dental office today and schedule an appointment. Early ortho is a major part of what we do at Centra Dental. Allow us to address any orthodontic problems you or your child may have.

Statistics Show: Too Many Not Visiting Dentist

Millions of Americans visit the dentist every day. Millions of Americans do not visit the dentist every day. Either one makes perfect sense. But how do we know if people are going to the dentist consistently? The Health Policy Institute (HPI) of the American Dental Association (ADA) conducts research on dental-related topics, including the consistency of dental visits in the US.

STATISTICS ON ADULT DENTAL VISITS

While there are a higher percentage of people who visit the dentist on a regular basis, there is still a large percentage that do not. The HPI, in a recent study, discovered that only slightly more than 50% (52.3%) of adults consistently visited their dentist on the recommended basis (every six months), while the rest were either inconsistent, or just didn’t go. Here are those statistics:

  • 15.4% indicated they visited their dentist once per year;
  • 11% indicated they visited their dentist only once every two or three years;
  • 21.3% alarmingly indicated they had not visited their dentist in the past few years.

STATISTICS ON CHILD DENTAL VISITS

These statistics show that nearly 50% of adults do not hold their dental visits as high priority. The following statistics show that this mentality is better, but not much better with parents who have children under the age of 18:

  • 64.6% indicated that their children had consistently visited their dentist on the recommended basis (every six months);
  • 20.3% indicated they had visited their dentist only once in the past year;
  • 4.4% indicated they had visited their dentist only once in the past two or three years;
  • 10.7% indicated they had not visited their dentist at all in the past few years.

Ultimately, there is just an approximate 10% difference in adults ensuring they consistently visit their dentist and the children who consistently visit their dentist. This percentage difference is not wide enough to ensure that more people are growing up understanding the importance of going to the dentist.

At Centra Dental in Houston, we educate all of our patients - children and adults - on the importance of consistently visiting the dentist. Be certain to schedule your dental appointment every six months to keep your teeth as healthy as possible. Contact our Houston dental office today and schedule your appointment.

The Worrisome Decline of Children's Oral Health

Children’s teeth are vital to the development of not only their oral health, but their entire physical health and mental health. Parents with children must consider the short-term and long-term benefits of training a child how to best take care of their teeth. It is incredibly important to ensure that children are brushing twice daily, flossing, and rinsing.

Oral health may be common idea that sounds positive, but the sound of it isn’t getting through to a lot of people. According to the American Association of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD), the state of children’s teeth continues to worsen over the years.

A recent study conducted by the AAPD, showed that 5-10% of children have oral health issues by the time they turn three years old. That number leaps dramatically to 60% by the time they reach five. In that number, 40% of those children will have contracted a dental carie when they enter kindergarten.

HOW DO DENTAL CARIES AFFECT CHILDREN?

It isn’t simply about cavities. Oral health issues go much further and deeper than that. According to the AAPD, poor oral health affects the mind and body. Here are some of the issues:

Oral Health

  • Loss of baby teeth
  • Pain
  • Damage to permanent teeth
  • Crooked teeth
  • Vulnerable to caries and gum disease through life

General Health

  • Infections to ears, sinuses, cuts and brain
  • Life-threatening infections
  • Poor sleeping habits
  • Chewing difficulty/Malnutrition/Insufficient Growth
  • Disability

Intellectual Development

  • Poor speech articulation
  • Poor school performance
  • Missed school
  • Inattention in school

Social Development

  • Reluctance to speak, smile, or play
  • Teasing from others
  • Low self-esteem
  • Social ostracism

Yes, taking care of kids teeth extremely important, which is why we are so passionate about kids’ teeth. We want your children to enjoy having a beautiful and healthy smile as they grow up, but it is only possible if they start now and remain consistent.

DOES YOUR CHILD NEED A KIDS DENTIST?

Schedule your child’s dental appointment today for pediatric dentistry. Start your child on the right path and keep them moving forward to pristine oral health. We look forward to helping you child remain strong and avoid any of those issues the AAPD mentioned.

Why You May Need Braces

Not everyone is born with perfect teeth. In fact, it’s a rarity. This is why braces are in such high demand. Straight teeth always provide our south Houston patients with great confidence. They are able to smile more freely and know that they have an attractive smile that benefits their everyday life.

At Centra Dental, we provide patients, kids and adults, with a thorough dental examination to survey the state of the teeth. Not every set of teeth are the same, so not every set of teeth receives the same diagnosis. Depending on the extent of the dental issues, more time may be required, of course, the time requirement also depends on how old the patient is. Younger patients’ teeth are more pliable than older adults. There are various problems which require either less or more work. Here are some of the issues:

  • Gapped Teeth - Plenty of people, young and old, have gapped teeth, even if there are only a few gaps. Some people have straight teeth all around except for in between the two front top teeth. Gaps in the teeth are a relatively simple problem to address. The braces will simply begin to push the teeth closer together until they are completely aligned. The fewer the gaps, the less time required. The younger the patients, the easier the teeth will move. For minimal gaps, patients can use any of three options we provide: traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, or clear plastic trays.
  • Misaligned Teeth - This is a more serious issue as the teeth may be suffering from several problems. Misaligned means they are staggered. Teeth may be further back or upfront, but they are not in line with each other. Along with not being in line, they could also be gapped. This problem takes more time to fix and typically can’t be adjusted with plastic tray braces, or at least that is not our recommendation.
  • Malocclusion - This is a major issue with teeth because it means that they are not only misaligned and gapped, but also are causing problems with chomping down. The alignment from top to bottom is off. This oral issue usually takes the longest to correct with braces, and usually with metal or ceramic braces.

IN NEED OF BRACES?

Are you suffering from any of the following dental issues? If so, you need braces to straighten out the problem. Our south Houston dental office provides various types of braces to help you smile again. Contact our office today. We look forward to helping you and your family.

Houston's Dentist for Affordable Braces

When braces are mentioned, the typical response is that they are too expensive. At Centra Dental, we believe that a beautiful and healthy smile should never be out of the price range. This is why we have options for braces for as low as $1,995.

Our primary objective at our Southwest Houston dental clinic is to provide every patient with a positive experience, and a major part of the experience is ensuring that the dental procedure doesn’t break the bank. We try to meet every patient financially so that they can receive what they need orally at a price they can afford.

We understand how important straight teeth are. They not only increase a person’s confidence because they enrich their smile, but they also enhance a person’s oral health. Braces eliminates alignment problems in teeth, like gapped teeth, crooked teeth, or teeth that suffer from malocclusion. We discussed this in our most recent blog post, if you are searching for more details regarding this.

BRACES FOR EVERYONE

This is our goal, of course. We want everyone (those who need them) to have braces. We want everyone to have a smile they are proud to show off.

When braces are worn, the time commitment required is approximately 12 to 24 months. Considering that once they are off you will have straight teeth for the rest of your life, those one to two years don’t seem so long. The reason this time range exists is because everyone’s teeth are different. Some teeth are more misaligned than others, so they require braces for longer periods.

For those who need braces, we recommend that they receive them sooner rather than later. It is scientific fact that younger teeth belonging to adolescents are more easily moldable than teeth of patients who are older. Our orthodontists believe in the idea of early ortho.

If you are interested in affordable braces, then contact our dental office in Southwest Houston. We accept most dental plans and we make financial planning simple for every patient. We look forward to helping you achieve that bright and beautiful smile you’ve always wanted.