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Most two-year-old toddlers have never visited a dentist. In fact, only 25% of children have seen a kids dentist by the age of five. This fact is both surprising and disturbing, and it’s no wonder that the most common chronic childhood disease in the country is tooth decay.

We here at Centra Dental in southwest Houston strongly urge parents to stay on top of their child’s oral health. Pediatric dentistry is an important aspect of your child's health, as it has been proven that better oral health contributes to better overall health in a child.

Why Your Child Needs To See Our Kids Dentists ASAP

Beginning from when your child is just a baby, they are often exposed to food and liquids that can damage their oral health. Baby formula, certain foods, milk, and juice are all full of sugars that can promote tooth decay.

In addition, when young kids drink from baby bottles and sippy cups, chances of decay are increased, as drinking from these containers constantly expose sugar to the child’s teeth, especially the front teeth.

Tooth decay can lead to severe pain and even infection when left untreated. In fact, the decay can become so severe that the only treatment option is tooth extraction.

At our southwest Houston dental clinic, our dentists recommend that you reduce your kid’s exposure to sugary liquids, while keeping up with their dental maintenance. Bringing them into our dental office for regular checkups and cleanings will ensure that they have a healthy mouth and better overall health.

When to Bring Your Child to See Our Kids Dentists

Our Houston dentists recommend that you bring your child in for their first dental visit as soon as their first tooth begins to show, or no later than their first birthday.

When you bring your child into our Houston dental office, we will thoroughly examine your child’s mouth and look for any issues that may cause problems with their dental development. Our dental experts will also advise you on tooth decay protection and prepare a regular dental maintenance program.

Centra Dental is committed to giving your child a healthy mouth, as we understand a healthy mouth = a healthier child. Therefore, if you live in southwest Houston or the surrounding areas, contact our dental office today to set up an appointment for your kid.

Approximately 4 million Americans wear dental braces, with children making up roughly 80 percent of wearers. For many American children, getting dental braces is more a question of “when” rather than “if”, as getting one’s teeth straightened is just another common part of growing up.

Health Benefits of Braces

Straightening one’s teeth is not just a cosmetic issue. Misaligned or crooked teeth can lead to significant medical issues such as: chronic headaches, bad digestion, gum disease, and tooth loss. Failure to invest a relatively small amount of money in braces can easily lead to exponentially larger medical bills in the future.

Despite the many cosmetic and health benefits a child receives from having straight teeth, there are still some parents who hesitate at getting their kid fitted for braces. The following are two of the top reasons for their hesitation, and how we here at Centra Dental address them.

Price of Dental Braces

This is perhaps the most common reason parents hesitate to get their kid fitted for braces. They may feel their kid’s teeth aren’t that bad and can’t seem to justify the cost. They are also not aware of the health issues related to having crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw.

Our Houston dental office always educates parents on the many health benefits of braces. We help the parents understand that by getting their child braces, they are making an investment in their child’s health. In addition, we are constantly offering great deals on dental braces, which also help parents overcome their hesitancy.

Pain From Dental Braces

Many parents are afraid that their child will experience pain from braces. There might be slight pain in the teeth or jaw in the beginning, but this is because the wires and brackets are new to the mouth and actively moving the teeth. An over-the-counter pain reliever such as Ibuprofen will easily relieve such pain symptoms, and soon the child’s mouth will adjust to the braces and no longer feel pain.

Contact Centra Dental For A Dental Braces Consultation

Our Houston dentists understand that for many parents, deciding whether or not to get braces for their kid is a big decision. This is why our dental office in southwest Houston makes a point of helping parents feel comfortable through education and great pricing. We are dedicated to your child’s overall health, so contact us today to set up a braces consultation.

Dental braces are often associated with children or teenagers. But what about adults? Can adults wear braces too? Simply put, of course! Braces are not just for kids, as more adults are choosing to have their teeth straightened than ever before. If you are an adult looking to straighten your teeth, you’ll be happy to know that Centra Dental is ready to meet your needs.

Why Would An Adult Need Dental Braces?

People often think of dental braces as purely a cosmetic dentistry tool. However, the function of braces goes beyond aesthetics. If you did not have orthodontic treatment as a child, you may suffer from an overbite or underbite, crooked or gapped teeth, or a misaligned jaw. As a result, health problems such as headaches, tooth decay, gum disease, or chewing and digestive issues can occur. Dental braces not only alleviate these health issues, but they leave you with a great smile as well.

Adult Dental Braces Options At Our Houston Dental Office

Here at Centra Dental in southwest Houston, we offer traditional braces and Invisalign clear braces.

With traditional braces, our Houston dentists glue 3M metal brackets to your teeth and tie them together with wires and small rubber bands. The braces are permanently attached to your teeth for the duration of your treatment plan and cannot be removed. Metal braces are preferred when complex procedures are required such as: aligning a tooth that is higher than others, rotating teeth, or moving teeth vertically. Because traditional braces are not removeable, you can be sure they are working 24/7 to correct all of your orthodontic issues.

Invisalign braces are clear plastic trays that are specifically fitted for your teeth. Adults are often reluctant to wear metal braces because they “don’t want to look like a kid.”. While it’s practically impossible to hide the sight of metal braces, Invisalign clear plastic trays are virtually unnoticeable, thus allowing adults to smile confidently without looking like a kid. In addition, Invisalign clear plastic trays are removeable, resulting in easier eating, drinking, and teeth cleaning.

If you are an adult looking to straighten their teeth, our Houston dental office is ready help. Our expert dentists and orthodontists will thoroughly discuss a treatment plan with you, while helping you decide whether traditional braces or Invisalign is right for you. Contact us today to schedule a braces consultation.

Orthodontic treatment from Centra Dental not only improves a person’s smile, but also corrects many problems, such as overbite, underbite, or jaw misalignment. Dental braces from our Houston dental office are often the best form of treatment in resolving these issues. However, many children and teenagers are reluctant to get braces because they are self-conscious about how they will look or that they will cause pain. If your kid needs braces but is against getting them, here are some tips to overcoming resistance.

Ask Your Kid Why They Are Against Dental Braces

First and foremost, find out from your child why they are against getting dental braces. The only way you can address your child’s concerns is by directly asking what they are. Listen attentively to your child’s responses without arguing. By creating a non-confrontational environment, this helps make them feel safe and more at ease to open up.

Ask Your Kid Who They Like or Admire That Wears Dental Braces

Children are often worried that they will look funny with braces and be made fun of by their peers. I’m sure we can all remember hearing the term, “Metal Mouth”, used in describing someone with braces at one time or another. As bullying is a serious issue in some schools, it is important to take your child’s concerns seriously. Ask your child if they have any close friends or people they respect who already have braces. Encourage your child to talk to these people about their experiences with braces, and what makes them think wearing braces is worthwhile. An additional tactic that may also help is to make a list of athletes or celebrities your child is a fan of who have worn braces before, and showing them the list.

Assure Your Child That Braces Do Not Cause Much Pain

Many kids are anxious about getting braces because they are afraid they will cause pain. Although there may be some initial discomfort, this can easily be treated with over-the-counter pain medication. In addition, our orthodontic patients here at Centra Dental have found that any feelings of pain or discomfort aren’t really that bad and fade quickly.

Contact Centra Dental For Your Houston Braces

It’s not surprising that getting braces is not something many kids usually look forward to. However, our Houston dentists are here to make the experience worthwhile for your kid, while alleviating any fears they may have. Not only will they end up with a better smile, but better overall oral health as well. Serving the southwest Houston area, we offer some of the best deals on braces in the city. Contact us today to set up a braces consultation.