Traditional Metal Braces in Houston, TX

Braces can improve the appearance and the long-term health of the smile by straightening the teeth and aligning the bite. A proven, effective method for orthodontic treatment in children, teens, and adults, traditional metal braces have seen many advancements in recent years. Now made from lighterweight materials, braces are more comfortable than ever. Made Ya Smile is a one-stop-shop for smile care and offers full-service orthodontics, including traditional brackets and wire systems for tooth repositioning and better biting function. We customize orthodontic care for every patient to meet their unique functional and aesthetic concerns.

These days, wearing traditional metal braces a more enjoyable experience than in years past. Your rubber bands and orthodontic ties can be customized in a range of colors or in your favorite team colors to make your experience with orthodontics more fun. Our specialized team uses affordable braces to treat a wide range of patients, including those who are not good candidates for clear aligners. To find out if you or your child need orthodontic treatment, call our Houston, TX practice to schedule a visit with the Made Ya Smile Spring Cypress team today.

Traditional metal braces effectively move teeth through the use of brackets, wires, and bands. These orthodontic appliances collaborate to apply gentle force to the teeth and guide them into proper positions within the jaw. Each individual orthodontic treatment is customized to meet the specific needs of every patient. We work to provide the best possible outcomes that improve your ability to eat and speak comfortably and enhance the overall comfort and look of your smile. Our team will strategically place top-quality metal brackets, archwires, and bands on the teeth and routinely switch out these appliances as needed to proceed through your care.

Many patients can benefit from traditional metal braces, which may be ideal for younger children (including those who require phased care), teenagers, and adults with a range of orthodontic problems, like concerns overbite, underbite, crossbite, or open bite. Braces can also correct crooked, rotated, crowded, or gapped teeth, and may even realign protruding or tipped teeth. Our skilled team is ready to help you and your family gain a healthy, straight, and confident smile.

Our Made Ya Smile team will take advanced 3D images and digital x-rays of your head, jawbone, and teeth and take impressions of your mouth when you come in for your orthodontic consultation. With these details, we can better understand how your teeth fit together, your overall treatment needs, and ultimately plan for the best smile outcome. On the day you receive your braces, we will clean the surfaces of your teeth and adhere your brackets to them using a tooth-colored or clear bonding agent. Then, a metal wire will be threaded through the brackets around your arch, which will be held in place by colored elastic bands. Once we place your braces, you will return at regular monthly intervals so we can monitor your tooth alignment and switch your archwires as needed to move your teeth as planned.

Minor soreness in the teeth and jaw may be present for a few days each time your wires are changed. Some relief can be gained by non-prescription pain medications and sticking to a soft food diet. Your new metal wires, bands, and brackets will more easily collect plaque and food than your smooth, natural tooth surfaces, so it is essential to keep up with thorough home care for teeth and gum health. Biannual cleaning and exam visits at Made Ya Smile are also necessary to protect your smile investment during the orthodontic treatment process. During your visit, we will show you the ideal techniques to brush and floss around your brackets and wires, which you should do after every meal. We may also recommend additional products for good mouth care while you wear traditional metal braces.

Each patient's timeline is unique, but typically, treatment periods range from 1 – 3 years. We will evaluate your progress throughout your care to give you an estimate on how long your treatment will last and when you might have your braces removed. After your teeth have reached their ideal position, we will remove your brackets, wires, and bands and take new impressions of your upper and lower arches to make your retainer. It is imperative that you wear your retainer as recommended. Doing so can ensure your teeth remain in their new, proper position and can keep you enjoying your straight, beautiful smile for many years to come.

There may be times while you wear braces that your wires, elastic ties, and even brackets come loose from your teeth. To reduce the risk of this problem, we recommend that you abstain from eating sticky, hard, or crunchy foods. Call us right away if you or a family member has a braces emergency and we will try to get you scheduled to come to our office as quickly as possible. Until your appointment, you can use some of the following techniques to manage your orthodontic issue:

Loose Band or Bracket: You can leave loose bands or brackets that are still attached to the wire until you visit our office. You can try to stabilize loose pieces using orthodontic wax or sugar-free gum if it causes discomfort.

Loose Wire: A Q-tip, tweezers, or a pencil eraser can be used to gently guide loose wires back into place. If this is not possible, you can use orthodontic wax or sugar-free gum to cover the end of the wire, or clip the wire directly behind the tooth it is attached to with wire cutters that have been cleaned with alcohol.

Loose Appliance: It is important to reattach space maintainers, palatal expanders, or other orthodontic appliances that become loose as quickly as possible. You should be able to hold them in place with orthodontic wax until you arrive at our office.

Sharp or Poking Archwire: A loose or broken wire can irritate the cheeks, tongue, gums, or lips. Cover these poking ends with orthodontic wax or sugar-free gum, or you can use nail clippers or wire cutters cleaned with alcohol to cut the wire just behind the tooth it is attached to.

Jaw or Tooth Discomfort: Some tooth and jaw soreness is normal just after your braces are placed or wires are changed. This discomfort and gum inflammation can usually be relieved with non-prescription pain medication and warm saltwater rinses.

Many major dental plans offer at least some coverage for traditional metal braces. We accept most PPO plans and will work with your provider to determine your plan's specifics. Our patients and their families often see huge benefits from needed orthodontic treatment, and at Made Ya Smile, we work hard to offer affordable care to help every patient achieve a healthy smile. We accept a variety of convenient payment methods, like low-interest financing through CareCredit®, and will help you find a solution that matches your family's needs and budget.

How long will I have to wear braces?
One of the first questions we always get is, "How long will it take to straighten my teeth?" The answer is, generally 1 – 2 years. However, keep in mind the amount of time you'll need braces depends on your unique goals. When you get dental braces at our Houston, TX office, we make it our goal to ensure your treatment is completed both efficiently and accurately as soon as possible.

What foods should I avoid when wearing braces?
When you have traditional metal braces, there will be some food restrictions to help prevent the wires from breaking and the brackets from popping off. This might include such things as:

• Nuts
• Popcorn
• Pretzels
• Carrots
• Hard candy
• Gum
• Taffy

We will be sure to review what foods are safe to eat with you so you don't feel uncertain.

Do traditional braces work the same as clear teeth aligners?
Traditional metal braces and clear aligners work somewhat similar in that they both put pressure on the teeth and guide them into their correct position. However, clear aligners are able to be removed while traditional metal braces are permanent until removed in our office. You may have the option to get either clear aligners or traditional braces, and after learning about the pros and cons of both, we can help you decide which would best suit your needs.

Traditional metal braces may enhance your oral health and wellness at any age. Smaller, lighter, and more comfortable, braces often provide great smile outcomes for patients with a range of orthodontic concerns. A consultation with our dentist can help your family decide if braces are the right treatment to improve jaw and tooth alignment and create a confident, straight smile. Our friendly Made Ya Smile Spring Cypress team is here to schedule an orthodontic appointment for you or your family member at our Houston, TX practice.