South Houston braces

Every time you go in for an appointment with your Houston dentist, they will tighten your braces to maintain your progress. Metal dental braces put pressure on your teeth in order to make it move. Your dentist positions the brackets and wires in a way that would make you one step closer to your ideal set of teeth. The discomfort is worth it, as braces are effective in correcting a range of dental issues. 

Over-the-Counter Pain Meds

One way to manage the pain is to take drug store medication. Usually, you can take pain relief an hour before your dental appointment. Oral anesthetic gels are also a good option if the pain becomes intolerable.

Ice Pack

Place an ice pack on the outside of your cheek to reduce inflammation. Ideally, you should do this for 20 minutes. The cold provides temporary pain relief by numbing the area involved.

Cold and Soft Foods

After having your South Houston braces tightened, treat yourself to a nice bowl of ice cream. The cold temperature will help numb your gums and teeth. While you have discomfort, stick with soft food, like soup, mashed potatoes, and smoothies.

Ortho Wax

Especially for first-time patients, the wires on your metal braces can cause abrasions to the inside of your cheeks. Orthodontic wax is a great way to prevent sharp ends from irritating your mouth.

How Long Does the Pain Last?

You will feel pressure immediately after getting your South Houston braces tightened. The pain will peak from about 6 hours onwards. It usually lasts for 4 days, with the pain lessening as each day passes. Houston dental braces shouldn’t hurt for more than 7 days after getting an adjustment. If this happens, consult with your Houston family dentist.

Book an Appointment for South Houston Braces

Thinking about getting South Houston braces to achieve a more confident smile? Centra Dental’s top-rated dentists provide personalized care to make the whole experience pleasant for you. At Centra Dental, we embrace your smiles. We offer all vital dental services, including orthodontic treatments. You can feel safe at our clinic with our surgically clean air circulating the entire time. Why else should you choose Centra Dental? We have amenities and entertainment to make sure your visit is as stress-free as possible. Ask us about our dental service specials and insurance! We look forward to your visit.

Your child’s smile has always brought you joy, so you’ve likely done all you can to protect it and keep it healthy. Sometimes, however, regular checkups with our South Houston dentist may not be enough to ensure your child's smile continues to shine. This is especially true in cases of malocclusion, which refers to a bad bite. If you’ve noticed your child’s teeth look crowded or crooked, you might be wondering if it’s time to get South Houston braces treatment. Keep reading to understand when our South Houston family dentist typically recommends beginning braces treatment and what to expect from the process.

Understanding South Houston Braces

When our South Houston dentist recommends dental braces, it’s usually to address malocclusion. That means your child’s bite is not aligned properly, resulting in crooked, poorly-spaced, and/or crowded teeth. The best way to correct these issues is with South Houston braces, which can be composed of metal or ceramic.

South Houston Metal Braces

The most popular and affordable option, South Houston metal braces are what most people think about when they think about dental braces. They are composed of a thin metal wire threaded through metal brackets, which are affixed to the front of each tooth using a special glue. Our South Houston family dentist will adjust this wire’s tension over the course of treatment in order to properly shift your child’s teeth into the proper position. 

South Houston Ceramic Braces

South Houston ceramic braces are similar to South Houston metal braces in terms of form and function. The main difference between the two lies in the material used to make them. South Houston ceramic braces are, as the name implies, made of ceramic brackets that blend better with your child’s natural tooth color. They are as effective as South Houston metal braces, but are more expensive and slightly less durable. Ask our South Houston family dentist if your child is a good candidate for this option.

When Your Child Should Get South Houston Braces

Our South Houston dentist will typically wait until all your child’s baby teeth have fallen out and all adult teeth have erupted before beginning South Houston braces treatment, which is usually between the ages of 10 and 14. At this age, the newly-erupted adult teeth move easier than years later, when they have more firmly set in the jaw. On occasion, our South Houston family dentist will recommend two rounds of braces treatment, the first of which will make room in the jaw for adult teeth to erupt, the second to straighten those adult teeth once they’ve come in. This typically reduces the need for more invasive procedures later.

Centra Dental Is Your Choice for South Houston Braces

If you think it’s time for your child to get South Houston braces, call us today to schedule an appointment. We’re here to answer your questions and provide our best recommendations for you and your family’s dental care. We strive to make the dental experience as pleasant and stress-free as possible with a comfortable setting, surgically-clean air, and access to movies and wi-fi. Give us a chance to embrace your smile and ask us about our dental service specials.

At Centra Dental, your trusted provider of general and family dentistry in Southwest Houston, we understand that navigating orthodontic treatment with South Houston braces can raise numerous questions. One common inquiry that arises is regarding the usage of rubber bands. Let's delve into the details of when South Houston braces patients may need to incorporate rubber bands into their treatment regimen.

Dental braces are effective in correcting crooked teeth to give you a more confident smile. They also address bite issues, overcrowding, and too much space. If you have braces, chances are, you’d need to wear rubber bands at some point in your treatment. Elastics work by applying additional force to your teeth. Here are some reasons why you may need elastics. 

Corrects Too Much Space

South Houston braces can be used to treat spacing problems. If you have too much space in your teeth or wide gaps, your dentist may recommend rubber bands. Your elastics provide extra pressure to make sure unwanted gaps close. They are connected horizontally by hooking them onto your brackets. 

Corrects Overbites and Underbites

Elastics are used to treat both overbites and underbites. An overbite is when the upper teeth protrude too much over the lower teeth. Rubber bands are connected to the upper jaw and lower molars to correct overbites. An underbite is the opposite; it’s when the lower jaw sticks out too much. A South Houston dentist may connect elastics from your lower jaw to the upper molars to treat an underbite.

Corrects Open Bites and Crossbites

Patients who had the habit of thumbsucking may develop an open bite. This is when your upper teeth don’t touch your lower teeth when your mouth is closed. Linking your upper and lower teeth together usually treats open bites. Meanwhile, a crossbite is when a group of upper teeth are positioned behind a group of lower teeth. Your South Houston family dentist may recommend crossing elastics over your front teeth to correct a crossbite.

Types of Rubber Bands for Dental Braces

Elastics come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. They are available in light, medium, and heavy gauges. Your South Houston dentist will tell you which one to use, depending on the severity of your condition. You may be given a mix of sizes, as some elastics need to stretch farther than others. Whichever variety you’re prescribed, make sure to use them exactly as directed for the best results.

What to Expect With Dental Elastics

Rubber bands lose their elasticity throughout the day. You will need to change elastics once or multiple times a day. The duration of use will be determined by your South Houston family dentist. Remember to follow their instructions carefully.

Book a Treatment for South Houston Braces

Achieve the smile you’ve always wanted by booking a treatment with Centra Dental. We offer a pleasant and stress-free dental experience while ensuring you get the best possible treatment. Our top-rated dentist performs all vital services, including South Houston braces with rubber bands. Why choose Centra Dental? We embrace your smiles. We put a premium on the safety of our patients and staff. We have surgically clean air circulating all throughout as well as entertainment for the whole family. Ask us about our dental service specials! We look forward to serving you.

It’s always exciting to get your South Houston braces removed after years of wearing them. The countless trips to your South Houston dentist have finally paid off as you showcase your new and improved smile. However, your treatment isn’t over. Retainers are important to prevent relapse of your old, misaligned teeth. After carefully removing the brackets, wires, and excess cement, your dentist will ask you to wear retainers. So why should you have to endure more months—or even years? Read on to know the importance of dental retainers.

Prevents Shifting of Teeth in Kids and Teens

Many of our patients who come in for South Houston braces are children and teenagers. Compared to adults, their bones have not yet fully set in and they are still developing. This means that their teeth could go back to their original state after getting braces removed. In addition, their wisdom teeth have not yet erupted. Retainers are absolutely necessary so that their teeth do not shift in position. 

Sets in Newly Aligned Teeth

Retainers are especially necessary for patients who had issues with spacing corrected. Overcrowding is when there is not enough space in your mouth to align your teeth. On the other hand, too much space can result in gaps in your teeth. If you had such cases treated with South Houston braces, then retainers are a must to maintain newly aligned teeth.

Keeps Corrected Bite in Place

Dental braces are also an effective treatment for underbites and overbites. Extra appliances are used, such as elastics and springs, to correct bite problems. Because your jaws were forcibly moved, they could go back to their original positioning after the braces were removed. To prevent this and keep your new bite in place, you must wear retainers.

How Long Should You Wear Retainers?

Most patients wear their retainers anywhere from 4 months to 2 years—sometimes even more. Your South Houston family dentist will determine how long you should wear retainers. The duration will depend on your age, number of years with braces, and severity of your condition. 

Keeping Your Retainers Clean

Remember to keep your retainers in a case when you’re not using them, and keep this case accessible to you at all times. You can clean your retainers with a towel or cleaning brush. You may also be directed to soak it in a denture cleaner. Keep your retainers away from extreme heat, pets, and children.

Schedule an Appointment for South Houston Braces Today!

At Centra Dental, we embrace your smiles. We are committed to making your dental experience as stress-free and pleasant as possible. While waiting, you can watch movies and connect to our Wi-Fi while your children play with toys. At our facility, we take hygiene very seriously. We have surgically clean air circulating, and we always sanitize our equipment to ensure the safety of our patients and staff. Ask us about our dental services specials and affordable rates. Visit us today for your concerns with South Houston braces and retainers!

If you’ve been fitted with braces at Centra Dental, you’re already on the path to achieving a beautiful, healthy smile. Houston braces are a powerful tool in correcting alignment issues, but for many patients, elastics (also known as rubber bands) play a critical role in the success of their orthodontic treatment. If you’ve been advised to wear elastics with your braces, it’s essential to follow through—doing so can significantly impact your treatment's outcome and duration. Let’s explore why wearing elastics with your Houston braces is a must.

What Are Elastics and Why Are They Important?

Elastics are small rubber bands that are attached to your Houston braces. They work alongside the brackets and wires to apply additional pressure, helping to align your teeth and correct your bite. Elastics are typically used to address issues such as overbites, underbites, crossbites, and other jaw alignment problems that braces alone can’t fix.

Wearing elastics is crucial because they speed up the movement of your teeth and jaw into the correct position. By applying consistent pressure, elastics help shift the teeth and bones to create a balanced, functional bite. Without wearing them as directed, your treatment could be prolonged, and the desired results may be compromised.

Benefits of Wearing Elastics With Houston Braces

Faster Treatment Time: When you wear your elastics consistently, they help to speed up the correction process. The constant pressure ensures that your teeth are moving as efficiently as possible, potentially reducing the overall time you need to wear Houston braces.

Improved Bite Alignment: Elastics are often used to correct bite issues, such as overbites or underbites, that braces alone cannot fully address. Wearing your elastics as prescribed ensures that your bite is properly aligned, which is essential for a healthy smile and optimal jaw function.

Avoiding Setbacks: If you don’t wear your elastics as instructed by your Houston family dentist, your teeth may move back into their previous positions, undoing some of the progress your braces have already made. This could extend your treatment time and even lead to the need for additional orthodontic work.

Achieving the Best Results: Ultimately, wearing your elastics ensures that you achieve the best possible outcome from your braces. A properly aligned smile not only enhances your appearance but also improves oral health by making it easier to maintain clean teeth and gums.

Centra Dental Embraces Smiles

At Centra Dental, we understand the importance of creating beautiful, healthy smiles. We emphasize the role of elastics in achieving optimal orthodontic results and encourage our patients to follow their treatment plans carefully. Our clean, safe facility ensures that you and your family receive the best dental experience possible in a welcoming environment.

We strive to make every visit comfortable and stress-free, offering top-quality orthodontic care for patients of all ages. By wearing your elastics as directed, you’re partnering with us to achieve the smile you’ve always wanted.

Achieve a More Beautiful Smile With Houston Braces

Wearing elastics with your Houston braces is essential for ensuring a successful and timely orthodontic treatment. Elastics play a vital role in correcting bite issues and improving the overall alignment of your teeth. At Centra Dental, we’re committed to helping you embrace a smile that’s healthy, beautiful, and long-lasting. Follow your Houston dentist’s treatment plan, wear your elastics as prescribed, and look forward to a lifetime of confident smiles! Contact us today to book your appointment.