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A common question that clients ask us is: should they get a dental cleaning with braces? The answer is yes! In fact, it’s even more important to get regular cleanings from a South Houston Dentist if you have braces. Bacteria and dirt can get trapped in the brackets and wires. Our top-rated dentist performs vital dental services, such as teeth cleaning. We embrace your smiles. We love to see happy clients after a good dental cleaning. Read on to know more about what you can expect from the procedure.

The Importance of Getting Your Teeth Cleaned With Braces

Houston braces can last for a while, usually between 6 months to 2 years—or more. During this time, plaque can build up around your brackets. This leaves unsightly white stains. They are also harmful to your overall oral health. Plaque and tartar like to hide near the brace mount and under the wires. If they are not removed, you could end up with cavities. Our helpful and caring staff will make sure that your dental cleaning is as pleasant and stress-free as possible.

How Many Times a Year Should You Get a Cleaning?

As it could get hard to give yourself a thorough cleaning with brushing alone, make sure to visit our clinic regularly. We offer a clean and safe environment to ensure the protection of our patients and staff. We recommend coming in for a cleaning every 6 months if you have Houston braces. Some patients may require more or less, depending on certain factors. Our South Houston dentist will assess your case to advise you on how often you should get a cleaning.

The Difference Between a Regular Cleaning

Our clients ask us if their cleaning with braces will be any different from a regular one. Generally, both involve the same steps. However, it may take longer for our South Houston dentist to clean your teeth if you have braces. They need to make sure that every bracket and wire is free from dirt. Don’t worry though, it will only be a bit longer than the regular procedure.

What to Expect From Dental Cleaning With Braces

When you visit Centra Dental, you will notice that we sanitize all of our equipment. We have strict safety measures, as we put a priority on hygiene. We strive to make the dental experience as stress-free as possible for the entire family. Our amenities and entertainment should make you feel more at ease. During your dental cleaning, our South Houston dentist will remove all the plaque and tartar on your teeth and braces. They will apply a fluoride treatment for maximum protection. This will also help strengthen your enamel. After the procedure, do not eat or drink for at least an hour to achieve the maximum benefits of the fluoride.

Visit Our South Houston Dentist for Cleaning With Braces

Centra Dental provides quality dentistry for clients of all ages, at affordable prices. Make sure to get regular dental cleaning if you have braces. We will strive to give you the best oral care. Contact us today to schedule a visit!

After you’ve finished your treatment with Houston braces or Invisalign, your South Houston dentist will next prescribe the use of retainers to prevent your teeth from shifting back to their previous location. At first, they will likely need to be worn 24/7, but after your teeth have settled, they can be worn only while you sleep. Two of the most common types of retainers used by patients after their dental braces come off are the Hawley retainer and clear retainers. Both are effective designs whose costs are roughly the same, with the final price depending on the specific case. As you will see below, each type of retainer has its pros and cons. It’s best to consult with your South Houston dentist which is best for your specific needs once you’ve completed your Houston braces treatment.

Why A South Houston Dentist Would Recommend a Hawley Retainer

The Hawley retainer, being an older type that has been in common use for a long time, is easily recognizable by the single metal wire that runs across the front of the patient’s teeth when worn. That metal wire is attached to a plastic or acrylic piece that is custom molded to fit either the roof of your mouth or along the bottom of your lower teeth. This design allows your upper and lower teeth to naturally come into contact with one another. You can also ask your South Houston dentist to make slight adjustments to the fit of a Hawley retainer should the need arise. A Hawley retainer can last for years with proper care, and can even be repaired when damaged. 

Cons of Wearing a Hawley Retainer After Houston Braces

The potential disadvantages of the Hawley retainer include an adjustment period with the exposed wire component, as it may irritate your inner cheeks and lips at the beginning. The wire also makes it more noticeable than clear retainers. Lastly, Hawley retainers may affect your ability to speak, especially in the beginning. However, these are all short-term concerns.

Why A South Houston Dentist Would Recommend a Clear Retainer

Clear plastic retainers, in contrast, are almost invisible. They are molded to fit the exact new position of your teeth. Because of their perfect fit, clear retainers are less bulky and therefore less likely to affect how you speak. These two advantages make them more likely to be worn consistently by patients, in turn improving the clear retainer’s overall effectiveness.

Cons of Wearing a Hawley Retainer After Houston Braces

However, clear retainers do come with their own disadvantages. First of all, because they are worn over the teeth, they prevent your top and bottom teeth from having natural contact with one another. Further, should the need arise, your South Houston dentist cannot realign or readjust your clear retainers. They also cannot be repaired. If their fit is uncomfortable or if they become damaged in any way, they will need to be replaced entirely. Another thing to consider is that as you use them, clear retainers may become discolored over time, making them more visible to other people. Another thing to look out for is that their closed design might trap liquids and food particles against your teeth, which increases the risk of forming cavities. However, if you take proper care of your clear retainers, most of these issues can be avoided.

Houston Braces and Retainers From the South Houston Dentist You Can Rely On

At Centra Dental, we’re challenging the idea that visits to your South Houston dentist are something to dread. Our staff is dedicated to making each appointment a relaxing and stress-free occasion. We also accept most PDP, DPPO, and PPO dental insurance plans, as well as CHIP and both Adult and Children's Medicaid, making us your trusted source for affordable dental braces and retainers. Contact us today and let’s book an appointment at your next earliest convenience!

Braces have been around for decades and have helped millions of people achieve better smiles. Not only do they straighten crooked teeth, but they also improve oral health. Houston braces correct overcrowding, gaps, underbites, and overbites. They also promote better digestion and prevent dental caries. Both teens and adults can get Houston dental braces. But many wonder if this orthodontic treatment hurts. Centra Dental is committed to making your dental experience as stress-free and pleasant as possible.

During Your Visit

A week or two before getting braces, our Houston dentist may apply spacers between your molars. You might feel slight pressure and soreness in the first few days. The discomfort will eventually go away. During the actual application of Houston braces, our dentist will clean your teeth with a solution that tastes a bit sour. They will also apply glue to put the brackets in place. These steps do not cause pain. The dentist will then mount brackets onto your teeth and connect them with a wire. You will feel a gentle pressure a few hours after your visit.

2 to 3 Days After Your Visit

Dental braces work by slowly pulling teeth into alignment. As such, you will feel discomfort throughout the week after your visit. This is a sign that your treatment is working. Your gums and teeth will feel sore. You may have difficulty chewing solid food for the first few days. There will also be times when the brackets and wires scrape against the inside of your cheeks. This is normal as long as everything is in place. 

A Week After Your Visit

You will notice the discomfort gradually decreasing as the days pass. After a week, you may not feel any pain at all. Our Houston family dentist may advise you to come in for monthly visits. During your visits, they will tighten the wires and springs, and may put bands to keep the treatment going. Expect tolerable discomfort after your visits. This means that you are achieving progress and well on your way to your treatment goals. 

Tips on Managing Discomfort

Discomfort from dental braces is perfectly normal and manageable. For pain relief, you may take over-the-counter medication, such as ibuprofen. Only take this if you don’t have an allergy. You may also rinse with salt water to lessen the soreness of the gums. If you’re getting cuts from the metal, you can apply dental wax. Place them on the trouble spots to remove the friction. 

Schedule an Appointment for Houston Braces

Centra Dental offers a full range of quality dental services for the whole family. From teeth cleaning to Houston braces, our goal is to provide you with a comfortable visit. We prioritize your safety. As such, we operate in the most hygienic way and sanitize all of our equipment. You don’t have to worry when you visit Centra Dental. We will guide you through the entire process of your orthodontics treatment. Call us today for an appointment!

Dental braces are used by your South Houston Dentist to align and straighten teeth primarily to correct a patient’s bite to treat conditions such as crowded teeth, underbite, overbite, and other jaw and teeth alignment issues. However, Houston braces can also be used to aesthetically improve a patient’s smile. Here in Centra Dental, we take pride in fostering open communication with our patients so we can educate them on how to best take care of their teeth. In this article, our South Houston family dentist will discuss the differences between ceramic braces and metal braces so that our patients can decide for themselves which is best suited for their needs.

Traditional South Houston Metal Braces

Metal dental braces are an effective and affordable way of correcting even the most severe of bite issues. Traditional Houston braces are composed of three parts: metal brackets, metal wire, and elastic ties. Metal brackets are glued by your South Houston Dentist to your front teeth with dental cement. An elastic tie anchors each metal bracket to the arch wire. The constant pressure coming from the interaction of the metal brackets and the arch wire slowly moves the teeth to the desired position.

Ceramic South Houston Braces

Ceramic dental braces function pretty much like a traditional metal brace but have gained some advancements in subtlety. We all know that traditional South Houston metal braces are quite noticeable because of its heft and dark gray metal color. Ceramic braces are recommended by your South Houston family dentist to patients who want a more discreet dental brace. Ceramic dental braces use tooth-colored ceramic brackets that blend with your teeth. These ceramic brackets are also designed to attach with the arch wire directly thus removing the need for elastic ties. Ceramic Houston braces also use an arch wire but it is usually lightly colored (silver or frosted) which further decreases its visibility.

Pros and Cons: Metal Braces vs Ceramic South Houston Dentist

Here in Centra Dental, we believe that everyone deserves to have a smile they are proud to wear. That is why we offer a variety of dental braces that our patients can choose from based on their needs and budget. In the list below, our South Houston Dentist will evaluate both metal and ceramic braces on different categories:

• Cost - Traditional metal braces are more affordable than ceramic South Houston braces.
• Aesthetically pleasing - Ceramic braces are less noticeable than metal dental braces and as such are preferred by patients who put a premium on visual appearance.
• Major bite issues - Traditional metal braces are sturdier than ceramic dental braces and and as such are recommended for correcting major teeth and jaw alignment issues. While ceramic braces are suitable for most patients, extreme cases where major movements of the teeth are involved would require dental braces.

Work with your Trusted South Houston Dentist for a Stress-Free Experience

One of our priorities here in Centra Dental is ensuring a pleasant and stress-free experience for the whole family. The facility has free wi-fi and family-friendly movies are being shown in the lobby and examination rooms so mom and dad can relax while their kids are being treated. We have also implemented measures to surgically clean circulating indoor air for the benefit of our patients and staff. Call us now to schedule an appointment.