Do you have bite issues or teeth that are far from straight? Misalignment issues can lead to many negative effects, like low self-esteem, difficulty cleaning, and a higher risk of oral health problems. Fortunately, at McNew Dental, we offer traditional braces to correct misalignment and give you the straighter smile you’ve always dreamed of. To learn more about traditional braces or to schedule a consultation at our Rockwall office, give us a call.
Why Choose McNew Dental for Traditional Braces?
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Flexible Financing Available
How Do Traditional Braces Work?
Traditional braces are made up of small metal brackets that are bonded to the front surfaces of the teeth. A wire is used to connect these brackets using rubber bands. The wires are adjusted in tightness and orientation to move your teeth gradually and gently into their desired positions. Traditional braces are securely fasted to the teeth, but you will still need to be careful to keep them in good shape. This means avoiding certain foods that are particularly hard or sticky in texture. Approximately every six to eight weeks, you will return to the dental office to have adjustments made according to your treatment plan.
What Orthodontic Issues Can Braces Fix?
Traditional braces are very popular because they are able to correct a wide array of orthodontic issues. Here are some of the most common ones we come across:
Bite Misalignment
If your upper jaw and lower jaw don’t come together as they should, there could be issues like over-bites, underbites, crossbites, and other issues. This can take away from your appearance and make it more difficult to speak, eat, and comfortably move your jaw. Traditional braces, sometimes paired with elastics, are able to guide the jaws into alignment for a perfect bite.
Crowded & Crooked Teeth
When teeth are crooked, overlapping, uneven, or crowded, they can easily trap plaque and bacteria. This makes it easier to develop oral health issues, like tooth decay, gum disease, and oral infections. Traditional braces can be used to realign your teeth to be the perfect distance apart.
Gapped Teeth
If you have teeth that are too far apart or there are gaps in your smile, it can be easy for food debris to build up in these areas. Fortunately, traditional braces can help by moving them closer together. This way, they can be adjusted to be the ideal distance apart.
Caring for Your Braces
When you have braces, it is crucial that you take measures throughout the day to ensure that your treatment goes smoothly. Here are some tips that can help:
Brush twice, floss, and rinse with mouthwash every day
Use a threaded flosser or water flosser to clean beneath your wires
Avoid foods that are particularly hard or sticky
Don’t chew on hard objects or use your teeth as tools
See us every six to eight weeks so we can monitor your treatment
Understanding the Cost of Traditional Braces
One of the nice things about orthodontics is that they can be adapted to whatever problem that you may have. That versatility is one of their key merits, but it also means that it can be a little bit difficult to fully know what traditional braces will cost you without knowing more about your particular situation.
However, here are some things you can keep in mind before we give you your estimate that can help you budget for care.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Traditional Braces
While it’s impossible to say for sure what your braces are going to cost you without talking to us first, there are a few things you can keep in mind when trying to budget for orthodontics. For one, the longer your treatment takes, the more tightenings and follow up appointments you’ll need, which will increase the overall cost. There are several factors that can affect how long it takes for care to be completed, including:
How misaligned your teeth are
How old you are, as older people’s teeth take more time to move
How well you comply with our instructions for braces care
Some patients also need more complex oral appliances to address their issues, like elastics, palatial expanders, space maintainers, etc. These can contribute to the cost of care as well.
Professional Braces vs. “DIY” Braces: Which Costs More?
Thanks to the internet, DIY culture has absolutely exploded in recent years. People have increasingly come to believe that professional intervention is largely unnecessary, even for things as complex as orthodontic treatment.
Some people have taken to crafting makeshift braces out of household materials in an attempt to get a straighter smile for cheap. Of course, it’s going to be difficult to make something as strong as actual braces entirely on your own, but even if you do, that isn’t necessarily enough to get professional-level results.
Braces need to be tightened gradually and deliberately in order to produce the expected results, and doing this requires a sophisticated understanding of how the teeth move. If you just slap something like braces on your teeth without this know-how, you may wind up with your teeth actually falling further out of alignment than they were before, making your issues even more expensive to fix in the long run.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Braces?
Dental plans vary heavily in whether they’ll cover orthodontics, for who, and for what reasons. If you’re interested in traditional braces, you’ll be happy to learn that these are more likely to be covered, even moreso if you’re getting them for a demonstrable medical reasons. However, it’s worth noting that it’s less common for dental plans to cover orthodontic care for adults as opposed to children.
If your dental plan is willing to pay for braces, they’ll usually cover around 50% of the costs. We’ll help you consult with your insurance company in order to determine whether that’s possible for you.
Options for Making Braces Affordable
If your dental plan doesn’t pay for care, there are other options available to you. For one, we have an in-house membership plan where, for an annual fee, you can get 20% discounts on all the care you receive from us. You also get complimentary cleanings and emergency exams each year, which is excellent for people with braces.
We also accept financing, which can allow you to pay off the cost of care over the course of several months. We often work with CareCredit, which offers six-month-no-interest financing for patients who qualify, and longer terms for patients who need them.
With these options at your fingertips, a straighter smile has never been more budget-friendly!
Traditional Braces FAQs
Do Traditional Braces Hurt?
At first, traditional braces can hurt a bit. However, this ache is temporary and fades pretty quickly.
Remember, metal braces work by shifting your teeth. That means your pearly whites may feel sore when you first wear the brackets and wires. Still, this soreness should only last for a week or so. You can also manage it with over-the-counter painkillers and soft foods.
Even after you adjust to braces, it’s normal to have discomfort occasionally. Such aches are even likely when your dentist tightens the appliance. That said, this later pain isn’t as bad as you might feel at the start of treatment.
How Long Do Traditional Braces Take?
On average, traditional braces usually take 1-3 years to work fully. Most wearers get fully straightened teeth within that period. Of course, the exact time varies between patients. Your orthodontist can provide a clearer timeline at your consultation.
Overall, the most common factors that affect braces’ timeline are:
Age – An adult’s teeth are more firmly set than those of kids or teens. As such, straightening them takes longer.
Severity of Misalignment – If your teeth need to move a greater distance, it’ll take longer to treat them.
Treatment Compliance – Some patients must wear rubber bands on their braces. If they don’t, their teeth won’t move as planned. The result will be a longer or delayed treatment.
Can I Chew Gum with Traditional Braces?
According to most dentists, you shouldn’t chew gum with traditional braces. Doing so can delay and even complicate your treatment.
You see, chewing gum often gets stuck in braces. It can then bend the appliance’s wires, causing your teeth to shift in the wrong direction. If you don’t catch the issue in time, you’ll prolong the length of your care.
If you’re careful, though, sugar-free gum could help your treatment. According to some studies, chewing it after you get braces will reduce gum inflammation. The idea is that this action increases blood flow to the area.
Why Do My Teeth Feel Loose with Braces?
Even if your teeth feel loose with braces, you needn’t worry. This sensation is normal – it’s even a sign that your treatment is working!
The feeling stems from how braces move teeth. In essence, the appliance loosens the ligaments that hold your teeth in place. By doing so, it can adjust the position of your pearly whites. This process can sometimes make teeth feel loose.
Luckily, the feeling fades after your braces are removed. Your jawbone will have adjusted to where your teeth are by that point. From there, it’ll solidify them in place so the looseness goes away.
