News

Achieve a brighter, more confident smile with Houston braces. This dental treatment is an effective way to correct crooked teeth and even bite problems. Not only do they boost your self-esteem, but dental braces also improve your oral health. Now the question remains: which type of braces should you get? Our Houston dentist will perform a full examination to determine the best one for you. To give you an idea, here are the different types of braces available.

Metal Braces

Also known as traditional braces, metal braces have been around for decades. They are made from high-quality stainless steel brackets that are linked together by a thin wire. Because they put strong pressure on the teeth, they are usually recommended for more extreme cases. They are also more visible and cannot be removed. You can choose from different colored bands to go with your Houston braces. An advantage of metal braces is that it is cheaper. Metal braces can also correct oral issues that ceramic or Invisalign braces are not able to treat.

Ceramic Braces

Many adult patients choose ceramic braces because they are less visible. They resemble the natural color of teeth, so they give off a more subtle look. Some patients are able to take pictures or attend events without their braces being too noticeable. Another pro is that ceramic braces move teeth faster than Invisalign. However, take note that ceramic braces are more expensive. They also move teeth more slowly than metal braces. They’re not recommended for young patients because they are less durable, and kids may easily damage them. 

Invisalign Braces

A third type of Houston braces that are also very popular is Invisalign. This is a type of clear aligner that you can remove and put back in place. Invisalign resembles mouth guards and are custom-made for you. The biggest advantage of Invisalign is you can remove it when eating, taking pictures, attending events, etc. The downside is they are less effective when treating more complex dental issues. You also need to have new Invisalign braces fit every two weeks. So if you have a busy schedule, you may want to consider other options.

Schedule a Consultation for Houston Braces Today!

Now that you have an idea of the different types of Houston braces, it’s time to consult with a Houston family dentist. Our top-rated Houston dentist at Centra Dental will take X-rays and molds to determine the right Houston dental braces for you. At our clinic, we strive to give you a pleasant and stress-free dental experience. We have surgically clean air running the whole day to ensure the safety of our patients and staff. We embrace your smiles. As such, we offer a variety of amenities and entertainment to keep you happy during your entire visit. You may also ask us about our dental service specials and insurance we accept. Contact us today to book an appointment!

Good oral health is essential for optimum well-being. Aside from practicing dental hygiene at home, regular trips to a Houston dentist is a must. Getting a dental cleaning every 6 months has many benefits. You can prevent cavities and tooth decay instead of going through the stress of treating them. If you’re thinking of booking your last cleaning of the year, turn to the experts at Centra Dental. We embrace your smiles as we keep your teeth and gums healthy. Here’s more information on our dental services.

Should I Book Before the Year Ends?

If you have outstanding appointments to a Houston dentist, it’s a good idea to book them before the year ends. Most insurance plans don’t roll over to the new year. You wouldn’t want your hard-earned dollars to go to waste. Another reason to book now is for a post-holiday cleaning. After all the delicious food you ate in the last few weeks, it’s time to get your teeth cleaned. Preventive oral care can even save you money in the long run. Instead of waiting for plaque to build up, you and your family can get dental cleanings. 

What to Expect During a Dental Cleaning

Some plaque cannot be removed through brushing alone. Dental cleanings are needed to prevent root canals and dental fillings, especially if you have Houston braces. Here are some of the steps you can expect from your Houston family dentist.

• Physical checkup - Before anything else, your Houston dentist will examine your teeth and gums. If there are any causes of concern, your dentist will detect them. They will make sure that everything looks good before proceeding with cleaning.
• Plaque removal - Your dentist will use a scaler to remove all tartar and plaque around your teeth and gums. Sometimes, plaque gets so hard that it takes longer to remove. The dentist may need to scrape a particular spot longer than others.
• Toothpaste cleaning - Once all the plaque and tartar have been removed, your dentist will apply a special toothpaste. They will then use an electric brush to make sure all of your teeth are treated. This is an effective way of getting a deep clean.
• Professional flossing - Your dentist will get in between hard-to-reach places in your teeth. These are areas you normally can’t get through regular flossing alone.
• Fluoride treatment - After rinsing off the debris, your dentist will apply fluoride. This protects your teeth from potential cavities for several months.

Book a Cleaning With a Houston Dentist

Visit our top-rated South Houston dentist at Centra Dental for a range of services. We offer Houston dental braces, teeth whitening, dental crowns, bridges, and more. What sets us apart is our commitment to keeping our clients and staff safe. We have surgically clean air circulating the entire time. We strive to make the dental experience as pleasant and stress-free as possible. Your kids can watch movies, play with toys, or use the WiFi while waiting. Ask us about our dental service specials. We also accept dental insurance!

With the start of a new year, it’s common to make resolutions designed to improve ourselves and our lives. As we usher in 2023, don’t forget the importance of regular dental cleanings with our top-rated South Houston dentist. These visits ensure your teeth and gums are healthy by removing plaque and tartar and catching any issues like cavities early. If you or your child have South Houston braces, regular dental cleanings are especially vital for successful treatment. Keep reading to see how a dental cleaning with our South Houston family dentist is the best way to start your year and embrace your smile.

The Importance of Regular Dental Cleanings with Our South Houston Dentist 

Even those with meticulous dental hygiene need to schedule regular dental cleanings to maintain their overall health. When you visit our South Houston family dentist for a dental cleaning, it gives us a chance to thoroughly polish and floss your teeth, remove plaque and tartar build-up and identify any signs of decay. For those with South Houston braces, regular dental cleanings are imperative to remove food particles and build-up that can get stuck under wires and between brackets. Our South Houston dentist can also offer techniques to improve dental hygiene routines, if necessary.

Clean, strong teeth and gums aren’t only important for your oral health, but your overall health as well. Signs of certain illnesses like gum disease, some cancers, and heart disease first appear in the mouth. 

What to Expect During a Dental Cleaning 

Some plaque cannot be removed through brushing alone. Dental cleanings are needed to prevent root canals and dental fillings, especially if you have Houston braces. Here are some of the steps you can expect from your Houston family dentist.

Physical Checkup

To begin, our South Houston family dentist will examine your teeth and gums and identify any causes for concern before proceeding with the dental cleaning.

Plaque Removal

Our South Houston dentist will use a small tool called a scaler to remove all tartar and plaque around your teeth and gums. Sometimes, plaque gets so hard that it takes longer to remove, which requires more scraping in a particular spot and should serve as a sign that you may need to see our South Houston family dentist more often.

Toothpaste Polishing

Once all the plaque and tartar have been removed, our South Houston dentist will apply a special, gritty toothpaste and an electric brush to clean and polish your teeth. The unique rounded head of this toothbrush cleans more thoroughly than you can at home.

Professional Flossing

Next, we’ll floss in between each tooth to remove plaque from the hard-to-reach places. We can also clean areas you normally can’t get through regular flossing at home.

Fluoride Treatment

After rinsing off the debris, a fluoride treatment will be applied, much like a mouthwash. This protects your teeth from potential cavities for several months.

Book a Cleaning With Our South Houston Dentist

At Centra Dental, our top-rated South Houston dentist provides a range of services, such as South Houston braces, teeth whitening, dental crowns, bridges, and more. We are committed to your safety and comfort, which is why we continuously circulate surgically clean air. We strive to make the dental experience as pleasant and stress-free as possible. Patients have access to movies and wi-fi in order to make your experience as comfortable and stress-free as possible. Give us a chance to embrace your smile and ask us about our dental service specials.

The holidays are upon us, as are the sticky, sugary treats common to the season. While these indulgences are typically fine in moderation, if you or your child is undergoing South Houston braces treatment, some items are best left alone. That’s because certain foods and drinks can damage or break both South Houston metal braces and South Houston ceramic braces. Keep reading to learn some of the ways you can protect your braces this holiday season, thanks to helpful tips from our South Houston dentist. 

How Do South Houston Braces Work? 

South Houston dental braces are made up of brackets, which are cemented to each tooth and connected by a wire. Our South Houston dentist adjusts this wire periodically to slowly shift your teeth and jaw into the proper position. If your treatment plan calls for it, your South Houston dental braces may also include coils, hooks, and/or ligatures to improve effectiveness. Because these different parts of your South Houston metal braces all work together to create a straighter smile, damage to any one of these parts may delay treatment and must be fixed by our South Houston family dentist immediately. 

How Do South Houston Braces Break?

While our South Houston metal braces and South Houston ceramic braces are sturdy and often resistant to the kind of wear and tear that can cause them to break, they are not immune to damage. While this damage can occur with any one of the many small parts that comprise your South Houston braces, the most common is to the brackets. Our South Houston dentist uses an adhesive to affix the brackets to each tooth, and sometimes they can be jarred loose. Broken brackets are most often caused by patients eating sticky and/or hard foods–like those found during the holidays—that stick the bracket and pull it from the tooth. Our South Houston family dentist advises that it’s best for you or your teen to avoid these items for now.

Protect your South Houston Braces by Avoiding These Foods

Our South Houston family dentist recommends you or your teen avoid these items in order to protect your teeth and keep your orthodontic treatment on schedule. Whether you’re wearing South Houston metal braces or South Houston ceramic braces, steer clear of these items from the holiday party snack table:

• Hard candy, lollipops, and candy canes
• Hard or crunchy foods like carrot sticks, nuts, or pretzels
• Sticky foods like toffee, taffy, and caramel

Centra Dental Can Protect Your South Houston Braces 

Even the best intentions can sometimes lead to damaged South Houston braces. If that’s the case, let our top rated South Houston dentist correct the problem in our clean and safe office. Since all Houston braces components work together to shift teeth to the proper position, damage to one part could place undue stress on the surrounding components and delay treatment. Call our office to schedule an appointment with our South Houston family dentist before the holiday season gets even busier. At Centra Dental, we work hard to embrace your smiles!