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Approximately 4 million Americans wear braces at any given time due to malocclusions. A malocclusion is what we refer to as a “bad bite” or an “unideal bite”. Although we offer ceramic dental braces and even Invisalign in addition to metal Houston braces, we like to recommend metal dental braces for a variety of cases, simply because they are the strongest and are effective on virtually all malocclusions. In this article, our South Houston dentist will explain how metal dental braces work to correct malocclusions. 

What Are Metal Braces Made Of

In order to understand how metal dental braces work, we first have to explain how they are designed. At their most basic level, metal Houston braces are made up of 3 components.

• Metal brackets, which are glued to the front of the teeth utilizing dental cement.
• Archwire, which is laid across the brackets.
• O-rings, which help attach the archwire to the brackets and keep everything in place.

How Metal Houston Braces Straighten Your Teeth

Whether you’re an adult in need of dental braces or are doing some research because your child may need braces soon, metal braces are a great method to correct a bad bite that any of our South Houston family dentist patients may have, regardless of their age. Today, metal braces are thinner and lighter in weight, which creates a far more pleasant experience.

The way metal dental braces correct the alignment of your teeth lies in how all three components work together. With the o-rings connecting both the metal brackets and the archwire, our South Houston braces dentist will tighten the archwire in different ways that will place specific amounts of pressure on your teeth and jaw at any given time. This guides your teeth to the proper alignment, thanks to the help of our 3D modeling software. Every so often, you will come back to our Houston dentist office so we can re-tighten the archwire, continuously guiding your teeth until we have helped you achieve a straight smile.

Ready For Metal Houston Braces? Visit Our South Houston Dentist Office

Now that you know more about metal dental braces, if you think they’re suitable for you please book an appointment so we can begin with our braces consultation.

When any of our South Houston family dentist patients have a malocclusion, which is an improper bite that leads to other health concerns, we will recommend either Invisalign Clear Aligners, metal dental braces, or ceramic dental braces. In this blog post, we will discuss the difference between ceramic dental braces and metal Houston braces, which will give you a good idea of what you can expect with either treatment.

Ceramic Houston Braces

Ceramic dental braces are less common than metal dental braces, but they remain highly effective. When it comes to ceramic braces, they are made up of the following components, which make them blend into the teeth to create a subtler Houston braces treatment:

• Tooth-colored brackets, or, in some cases, clear brackets. Both of these options are placed on the face of your teeth.
• The archwire, which is placed over the brackets and ranges in color from silver, white, or frosted.

When Are Ceramic Houston Braces Recommended To Our South Houston Dentist Patients?

Because the ceramic material itself is strong, dental braces work wonders on patients with mild to moderate malocclusions, though how long treatment lasts will also depend on the severity of each individual case.

Metal Houston Braces

Metal dental braces are the most common type of Houston braces treatment we offer. These braces are similar to ceramic braces and contain the following:

• Metal brackets placed on the front of your teeth
• Metal, dark gray archwire, which is also placed along the front of the brackets

When Does Our South Houston Family Dentist Recommend Metal Dental Braces?

Metal dental braces are the most common type of Houston braces treatment because they are versatile, meaning they work for virtually all cases–from extremely mild to highly complex. Depending on our patients’ different cases, treatment may also last longer because metal brackets are stronger than ceramic brackets and will, therefore, be a quicker way to straighten your teeth.

Affordable Ceramic And Metal Dental Braces At Our South Houston Family Dentist

Whether you are considering Houston braces for yourself or for your child, Centra Dental in South Houston is the best place to get affordable braces, starting as low as $99 a month. If you would like to determine which method is best for you, then please book an appointment with us so we can begin with your Houston braces evaluation!

Invisalign Clear Aligners are an increasingly popular method for correcting any misalignment in your teenager’s teeth. At our South Houston family dentist office, we offer Invisalign in addition to ceramic dental braces and metal Houston braces to our pediatric dental patients. In this blog, we will explain why Invisalign may be a great option for your teenager.

South Houston Invisalign Is A Subtle And More Comfortable Option For Teenagers

Unlike metal or ceramic Houston braces, Invisalign doesn’t require brackets, wires, or rubber brands. In fact, Clear Aligners are much like clear plastic retainers that are made by first completing a 3D scan of your teen’s mouth. Once we complete the scans and study them, we will design custom plastic Invisalign trays that will be made in our dental lab. These plastic trays will put gentle pressure on your teenager’s teeth so that they gradually shift until they are straight.

Because there are no wires involved and, as their name implies, Invisalign Clear Aligners are nearly transparent when placed on the teeth. This is ideal for your child if they tend to feel self-conscious in their smile and would prefer not to draw attention to their teeth

South Houston Invisalign Is Flexible 

If your teenager is very responsible and well-disciplined, they will greatly benefit from the greater flexibility that Invisalign offers. Invisalign is removable, unlike our other Houston braces treatments, so our patients should remove them at mealtimes. Additionally, if worn as directed by our South Houston family dentist, which is for 20-22 hours a day without being misplaced or lost, then your teenager may be able to skip the Invisalign for a special occasion, such as prom.

Are There Any Downsides To Invisalign Clear Aligners?

Invisalign seems like the perfect solution to fix a bad bite, but there are some limitations. For example, if your teenager has a severe malocclusion, Invisalign may not be as effective or as efficient at straightening the teeth compared to metal dental braces. Further, their flexibility will require your teenager to be very mindful of perfectly following our instructions in order to get the most out of Invisalign.

Visit Our South Houston Braces Dentist to See if Invisalign is the Best Treatment for Your Teen

If you think Invisalign might be a good option for your teen, then please book an appointment with our South Houston family dentist. We will determine what treatment method works best for your child's smile.

Are you at increased risk of tooth decay if you undergo Houston braces treatment? This is a common worry that many of our South Houston dentists patients experience when they are determining whether they should undergo dental braces treatment, and rightfully so. If you think about it, your dental braces are on the face of your tooth, so won’t you only brush a portion of each tooth? Although we can see why our patients worry about this, there are things you can do to remain free of cavities while wearing metal or ceramic Houston braces. Here are our South Houston family dentist’s tips for maintaining adequate dental hygiene while wearing Houston braces.

Brush Your Teeth After Every Meal And Snack

Brushing your teeth twice a day is good hygiene and the minimum we recommend. However, because metal braces and ceramic dental braces do tend to cover the teeth, this can make it a bit harder to get your teeth perfectly clean. To mitigate this, we recommend that you brush your teeth after every meal and snack, as this will discourage food particles from sticking around. By brushing with fluoride, non-whitening toothpaste, this will strengthen your enamel and serve as additional protection against tooth decay.

Keep Flossing Your Teeth Before Bed Every Night

For our South Houston braces patients and non-orthodontic patients alike, flossing is critical to maintaining a cavity-free smile. This is especially true for our Houston braces patients because food tends to get stuck between the teeth and the brackets. Flossing may seem hard at first, but our South Houston family dentists will be glad to teach you how to properly floss. In addition, brush picks also help in reducing food particles stuck between your teeth.

Get A Teeth Cleaning At Our South Houston Dentist Office

By visiting us for your teeth cleaning every 6 months, we can give you a deeper clean than you would get at home because no matter how diligent you are with your at-home hygiene routine, it is impossible to keep your teeth pristine without visiting your dentist. Please book an appointment for your next cleaning so we can polish the teeth, check your dental braces progress, and offer more tips on how to care for your teeth.