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Although our dental braces are effective no matter how old you are, there are some benefits to considering Houston braces treatment at a younger age. With that said, you may be wondering if it’s time for your teenager to get Houston braces. In this article, we will offer insight to help you determine whether it might be time, as well as what you and your teen can expect.

Have All Your Teen’s Baby Teeth Fallen Out?

If your teen’s baby teeth have fallen out and all their permanent teeth have emerged, then you will be able to take a quick look to see if they might need braces. Houston braces treat overbites, underbites, open bites, teeth crowding, and more, so if your child is exhibiting (to any degree) any of these in their smile, then this is a good indicator that they might need correction with Houston braces.

See Our Family Dentists In Houston And South Houston For A Houston Braces Consultation

Now, it’s time to come in for a braces consultation, at which point we’ll gather x-rays, photographs, and impressions of your child’s teeth. Our family dentists will review this information and then discuss our evaluation with you and your teen.

We’ll explain how we expect your treatment to go and which of our Houston braces–Invisalign, metal dental braces, or ceramic dental braces–is suitable for your teen’s unique case. This will be a lot of information at once, but we will continue to be communicative and explain how their teeth are moving over the course of treatment.

Getting Fitted For Dental Braces At Our Houston And South Houston Dentist Offices

After the consultation, we’ll schedule another appointment where we will place the braces on their teeth. Here’s what you and your child will expect at this appointment.

• Step 1: Our South Houston family dentist will thoroughly clean and dry your teeth so that the process goes by smoothly.

• Step 2: We will apply orthodontic glue to your teeth and attach the brackets (either metal or ceramic) to the front of your teeth, one tooth at a time. We will follow this by drying the glue before we move onto the next bracket.

• Step 3: Lastly, we will place the archwire across your teeth, which will apply gentle pressure to the brackets. This is how dental braces move your teeth.

This process usually takes about 2 hours and isn't painful, but your teenager’s mouth may feel sore afterward. This is normal and will gradually fade away after a few days. If your teen will undergo Invisalign treatment, this is what you can expect.

In Need of Houston Braces? Visit Our Family Dentists In Houston And South Houston

If you believe that your teenager may need Houston braces, then please book an appointment with us so we can begin with our dental braces consultation and design a treatment plan. We look forward to giving your teen a beautiful smile they are proud to show off!

When most people think of Houston braces–either Invisalign, ceramic dental braces, or metal dental braces–they associate these appliances with kids and teenagers. However, adults are also able to wear Houston braces, and we even encourage it! In this article, we’ll explain why adults should get Houston braces and how our different options can help different cases.

If Children Don’t Get Houston Braces, They Keep Their Malocclusion In Adulthood

A “malocclusion” is the technical term for a bad bite, such as an overbite, underbite, and even crowding teeth. However, just because Houston braces are seen as a cosmetic dental treatment, doesn't mean their purpose is exclusive to cosmetics. Malocclusions are genuine medical conditions that can lead to other problems such as migraines, tooth decay, gum disease, lisp, and difficulty chewing and digesting food. It is imperative that you get the alignment of your teeth corrected if you suffer from the aforementioned conditions. 

Our Houston Braces Can Correct A Bad Bite And Promote Healthy Teeth

Because our Houston family dentist treats families in Houston and South Houston, we offer three different types of dental braces treatments in order to cater to every family member’s needs as best as possible. Our Houston braces options include:

Invisalign Clear Aligners

Invisalign Clear Aligners are clear trays that vary slightly in shape over the course of your treatment in order to guide your teeth to the correct alignment. We favor Invisalign for mild cases, as they would get the job done in a timely manner. Learn more about South Houston Invisalign here.

Metal Houston Braces

Metal Houston braces have been available since the 19th century with significant updates since then. Today, they are far more lightweight and comfortable and continue to be the traditional braces treatment that we recommend, as they are the most versatile. If you would like to learn more about metal Houston braces at our South Houston family dentist office, read this article.

Ceramic Dental Braces

Our ceramic South Houston braces are designed to blend in with the natural color of your teeth. This type of Houston braces treatment is efficient in treating moderate cases. Though ceramic braces are somewhat similar to metal braces, there are a few differences between ceramic and metal braces.

Adult Dental Braces at Centra Dental In Houston And South Houston

If you’re ready for a straighter, healthier smile, then please book an appointment with us at our Houston or South Houston dentist offices so we can evaluate your bite and help you determine which method of dental correction is best for you. We look forward to embracing your smile!

At our family dentist offices in Houston and South Houston, we treat both adults and children with Houston braces in order to correct the alignment of the teeth. Although it’s never too late to undergo Houston braces treatment, there are certainly some benefits to getting dental braces early on. In this article, we will explain why we recommend and encourage treatment while our patients are still children.

If Possible, Don’t Wait Until Adulthood To Get Houston Braces Treatment

Getting braces as an adult, though less common, is completely acceptable, and we don’t want any of our patients to feel insecure while they are undergoing Houston braces treatment. However, keep in mind that adult braces treatment takes longer than braces treatment for children. 

This isn’t to say our Houston braces are ineffective for adults. The reason why adults may wear their dental braces for longer is that children’s jaws are still growing, so their teeth are incredibly easy to shift with metal braces, ceramic braces, or Invisalign. As an adult, your jaw has long settled into its placement and so have your teeth, so it takes more time to ensure that your teeth shift to the right position.

Early Houston Braces Treatment Begins With An Early Dental Braces Evaluation

In many cases, especially if we have been your family’s dentist for years and have been able to see how your child’s teeth develop, we might recommend your child comes in for an orthodontic evaluation when they’re about 7 years old. Even though most of our patients get dental braces between 10-14 years old, our Houston family dentists are able to determine how the teeth and jaw will develop when your child is as young as 7 years old. Your child’s initial Houston braces evaluation will give us insight on whether or not interceptive orthodontic treatment will be necessary, when it will be a good time to begin treatment, and which Houston braces will work best for your child.

Houston Braces For Kids at Centra Dental

Today, dental braces are subtler and more comfortable than they used to be, and although you can get Houston braces at any age, an earlier start makes for a shorter treatment period and more time to enjoy your new smile. If you think it might be time for your child to get Houston braces, then please book an appointment at our Houston or South Houston family dentist offices so we can assess your child’s bite.

Today, more and more dentists are offering Invisalign Clear Aligners in addition to traditional metal braces and ceramic Houston braces. In this article, we will discuss how Invisalign differs from metal dental braces and what to keep in mind if you are considering inquiring about Invisalign treatment.

The Difference Between Invisalign And Metal Houston Braces

Metal braces are the traditional method of straightening the teeth and have been for many decades now. This is precisely why they are still trusted by many of our South Houston dentists’ patients today.

Metal braces are, of course, made of metal, so they are rather prominent. However, the good news is that today’s metal dental braces are much lighter in weight and color, so they are more comfortable to wear. Over the course of metal Houston braces treatment, our South Houston family dentist will regularly tighten the patient's archwire in order to guide the teeth to the correct position. 

Invisalign, on the other hand, involves no wires. As their name implies, they are nearly invisible. Our patients’ custom aligner trays are made by doing a 3D scan of the patient's mouth and sending it, along with impressions, to our dental lab. Instead of tightening the archwire, we simply give patients a new aligner tray each time, which is slightly different in shape in order to move the teeth to the desired alignment.

The Pros Of Houston Invisalign Treatment

There are a number of “pros” that encourage patients to undergo Invisalign treatment, such as the fact that:

• Hardly anyone notices that a patient is undergoing any treatment, thanks to their clear design
• Invisalign Clear Aligners are removable anytime a patient wants to eat
• There are fewer (and shorter) appointments because our patients just need to put on their newest set instead of having to come in to get their wires cut and tightened

The Cons Of South Houston Invisalign Treatment

Along with many benefits, there are some downsides of Invisalign to consider before you decide you would like to undergo this treatment, including that:

• Their clear design means food particles are easily spotted when stuck between the teeth
• Food getting stuck between the teeth impedes the aligners from putting the right amount of pressure on the teeth
• The ability to remove Invisalign Clear Aligners means they can be lost if patients aren’t careful
• Invisalign must be strictly worn for 20-22 hours a day or else the desired alignment will not be achieved without extending the duration of treatment

Our South Houston Family Dentist Will Help You Decide If Invisalign Is Right For You

If you think you or your child may be a great candidate for Invisalign Clear Aligners, then please book an appointment with us so we can begin with an evaluation. At this Houston braces evaluation, we will examine your teeth to determine which is the best treatment plan for your smile.