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Advancements in orthodontics through the years brought with them improvements to the traditional metal Houston braces as well as other dental braces alternatives that are less bulkier and more comfortable to use such as Invisalign clear aligners. Have you heard about Invisalign clear aligners? Are you wondering if your dental issues can be corrected by this type of retainer? As part of our commitment to educate our patients on how to best take care of their teeth, our South Houston Family Dentist will discuss in this article how Houston Dental Braces work and who are the candidates for getting a South Houston Invisalign.

How Traditional Houston Dental Metal Braces Work

Traditional metal dental braces are devices used by your South Houston Dentist to align and straighten teeth to improve a person’s bite. It addresses usual dental problems such as crooked teeth, underbites, overbites, and other bite problems stemming from flaws in the teeth and jaw. Dental braces work by moving teeth as a result of force and pressure. The constant force and pressure over time slowly move the teeth to their desired position. Brackets are installed on each individual tooth that will serve as anchor points. The anchor points are attached to an arch wire using ligature elastics. The force that would eventually move the teeth comes from the interaction of the brackets and the arch wire. As the teeth move toward the desired position, the arch wire is adjusted by your South Houston Family Dentist.

How Invisalign Clear Dental Aligners Work

Invisalign clear retainers also work in the same way as a traditional metal Houston dental brace that slowly coaxes the teeth through a constant application of force. However, the constant force comes from the wearing of a series of custom-fit aligner trays. As the teeth are moved towards the desired position, a new aligner tray is produced by your South Houston Dentist and made to be worn by the patient. The number of aligner trays used would depend on the required treatment time. Most patients receive new aligners roughly every two weeks.

Who Can Use Invisalign Dental Aligners

Invisalign is perfect for patients who have mild to moderate dental issues such as misaligned teeth, large overbite, and those who have gaps in their front teeth. Our South Houston Family Dentist does not recommend Invisalign for individuals with jaw alignment problems and severely crooked or rotated teeth. Part of the Invisalign treatment is wearing the aligners regularly. If a patient has an issue with or has a lifestyle that prevents him from wearing aligners for long periods of time then he should consider other options.

Consult Your South Houston Family Dentist

The points discussed above by our South Houston Dentist are general guidelines regarding dental braces and Invisalign. A consultation in person following a dental checkup would still be best so that a patient can make an informed decision about a treatment plan that is appropriate for him. If you have reservations because of the ongoing pandemic, we have taken extra steps to ensure a clean and safe environment. Aside from the mandatory wearing of masks, shields, and gowns, and the sanitizing of equipment before and after sessions, we have installed a system that surgically cleans circulating indoor air. Call us now and book an appointment with our top-rated dentist!

Once your Houston family dentist has restored your smile to its full potential, the job of maintaining that smile begins. For the first few months after you’ve finished your Houston Invisalign treatment, you will need to wear some clear retainers. This might sound like a bit of a hassle, but it is a minor inconvenience compared to the olden days of living with South Houston braces for years.

Tooth Correction Was Tougher Before Houston Invisalign

For most patients today, South Houston Invisalign treatment is sufficient to correct mild to moderate cases of crowded, crooked, or misaligned teeth. Nowadays, only severe cases require the use of South Houston braces, entailing the installation of brackets and wires. Braces can incur long, painful, and expensive work for your Houston dentist, to say nothing of the aesthetic cost for patients in social situations. Keeping your Houston braces clean also takes a lot more time and effort, with food particles liable to get stuck between the various bits installed in your mouth. Fortunately, a consultation with your South Houston dentist will let you know that a better, less painful, and more convenient option now exists.

Invisalign’s Advantages Over Traditional South Houston Braces

Houston Invisalign treatment involves having a series of transparent plastic custom-fit aligner trays made for your mouth. Mechanically, they work the same way as South Houston braces, applying pressure to gradually push your teeth back into their proper place, but with a lot less hassle and aesthetic penalty. If you are thinking of getting some South Houston Invisalign treatment for yourself, consider scheduling an appointment with a South Houston dentist today!

Retainers Preserve Houston Invisalign Progress

After your Houston Invisalign treatment has concluded, your teeth will want to slip back into their old positions. That’s why your South Houston family dentist will require you to wear a retainer for several months. Research has found that tooth movement is at its most active during the night, which is why retainers must be worn even throughout the night as you sleep. Thankfully, your Houston dentist can fit you for a clear retainer, allowing your new smile to shine through in everyday situations. While they will require some work on your part to keep them clean, it is definitely a much smaller inconvenience than dealing with traditional Houston braces. This shows how advancements such as South Houston Invisalign have made dental work as convenient as they have ever been. Do you think your teeth need some form of correction? If so, a quick diagnosis from your Houston family dentist is only a phone call away!

Some patients think that getting Houston braces installed is the hard part. However, any Houston family dentist will tell you that getting braces means making a few lifestyle changes, especially with regard to oral and dental hygiene. But not to worry, these adjustments are relatively minor, and they include habits that patients would like to keep even after their Houston braces have been taken off.

Oral Hygiene Practices With Houston Braces

While your Houston braces get to work fixing crooked or misaligned teeth, the patient maintains the responsibility of keeping their smile clean and bright. That means following these tips from their South Houston dentist:

Brush Your Teeth and Houston Braces After Every Meal or Snack

This may sound like a hassle, but your teeth will thank you in the long run. South Houston family dentists recommend using a toothbrush with soft and round bristles so that they can reach every crack and crevice in and around your Houston braces. Hold the brush with the bristles pointing towards your gums at an angle of 45 degrees. Aside from brushing your gumline, be sure to pay special attention to the areas above and below the brackets of your braces.

Make Flossing Your Houston Braces a Daily Habit

Unfortunately, brushing your teeth alone won’t clean every nook and cranny of your teeth or your braces. That’s why any Houston dentist will recommend that you learn to floss your teeth. If your traditional dental floss is uncomfortable or inconvenient, consider interdental brushes or even a water flosser to clean the areas between each tooth and the hard-to-reach components of your braces.

Use an Antibacterial Mouthwash to Keep Your Houston Braces Fresh and Clean

To round out your dental hygiene routine, an antimicrobial mouthwash can provide lasting protection between meals. It can also reach areas of your teeth or surfaces of your braces that you might be unable to with either a toothbrush or floss.

Keep Your Houston Braces Tuned With Regular South Houston Family Dentist Appointments

Your Houston braces will need to be adjusted and maintained over time to make sure that they’re doing their job. This is especially true for younger patients, who need a South Houston pediatric dentistry expert to account for a child or teenager’s behaviors and natural growth.

Foods to Avoid While Wearing Houston Braces

As a general rule, your Houston family dentist will tell you that hard and sticky foods are a no-no when wearing Houston braces. Those who defy these restrictions will find themselves paying the price either through the inconvenience of cleaning their teeth and braces, or through discomfort when such foods knock their braces out of alignment, needing a visit to the Houston family dentist to set them right. The most common examples of food to avoid include hard candies, chewing gum, taffy, caramel, jellybeans, nuts, and popcorn.

Get Affordable Braces from a Trustworthy South Houston Family Dentist

At Centra Dental, we believe in making visits to the dentist as stress-free and as pleasant as possible. Our team of highly-skilled and experienced dental professionals believes in being as helpful and caring as they can to each of our patients. Centra Dental accepts most PDP, DPPO, and PPO dental insurance plans, as well as CHIP and both Adult and Children's Medicaid, allowing us to be your trusted source for affordable braces. Call today to set an appointment and experience the Centra Dental difference!

Malocclusion is a term used to refer to an incorrect bite, improper tooth alignment, crowded teeth, and irregular teeth spacing. It’s a very common condition most often treated with dental braces, usually during a patient’s adolescent or teen years. But did you know that our South Houston cosmetic dentist offers braces for adults, too? Keep reading to learn why Houston braces might be recommended for adult patients and what options are best for you and your lifestyle. 

When Our South Houston Dentist May Suggest Adult Dental Braces

Houston braces for adults are becoming more and more popular now that this treatment has become more streamlined, affordable, and varied in its methods. Sometimes adult braces are prescribed to correct malocclusion that wasn’t treated in childhood for any number of reasons. Other times, it’s to correct a minor alignment issue that has recently become more severe. Even recent trauma or injury can lead to a need for Houston adult braces. But no matter the cause, untreated malocclusion is an unsightly and uncomfortable problem that can cause migraines, gum disease, speech impediments, and improper digestion due to difficulties chewing food. Our South Houston cosmetic dentist can explain the best plan of care for you and your needs.

Houston Braces Options for Adults with Our South Houston Dentist

Our South Houston family dentist offers a variety of treatments for adults living with crooked or misaligned teeth. After your initial consultation, we may recommend one of the following types of Houston braces for adults:

Metal Dental Braces 

The most popular and cost-effective option, these Houston braces for adults feature metal brackets that are glued to each tooth’s surface and connected by a metal wire that our South Houston family dentist tightens periodically over the course of treatment to straighten teeth. Metal dental braces have a noticeable appearance, but are effective at correcting nearly all malocclusion issues.

Ceramic Dental Braces

South Houston ceramic dental braces are composed of brackets and wires that are adjusted in order to move crooked teeth into a straighter line over time, just like metal braces. The difference is that they are constructed of clear or tooth-colored ceramic, making them less noticeable. 

Houston Invisalign

An appealing option for adults due to a virtually invisible and noninvasive design is Houston Invisalign. This treatment plan features a series of clear plastic aligners that gradually straighten teeth. They must be worn at least 22 hours each day in order to work effectively, but are removed when eating and drinking. They are more expensive than either of the options above and may not be recommended for those with severe malocclusion. 

Achieve a Winning Smile With Houston Braces For Adults 

Don’t dismiss your chance to have the confident smile you deserve! Instead, schedule an appointment with our South Houston dentist to discuss your braces for adults options and establish the treatment plan that’s right for you. Centra Dental strives to provide the highest quality care for all our patients, so come see why we’re the number one choice in South Houston family dentistry.