Braces at Image Orthodontics
What ARE BRACES?
At Image Orthodontics, we are experienced in working with many types of braces. Traditional metal braces are the most common and are more comfortable today than ever before. Made of high-grade stainless steel, metal braces straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires.
You have the option of adding colored elastics (rubber bands) at each visit for a more unique and colorful smile. We also offer clear braces and lingual braces (placed on inside of the teeth).
How Braces Work:
Three Simple Steps
Schedule a free consultation with your Orthodontist
Set up your free consultation with our certified and experienced orthodontist, who can help you determine if you are a good candidate for this procedure
Get acquainted with the customized treatment plan
Your orthodontist will take your teeth impressions and show you the different stages of teeth positioning via 3D imaging.
Show-off your smile!
Once your treatment is complete, your dental braces will be removed with a simple and relatively painless process. A retainer will be made for your mouth and you will wear it for a period of time to ensure your results are maintained.
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Before and After Photos
Frequently asked questions
You can eat any food that is soft. It’s also a good idea to cut your food up into small pieces so that you avoid damaging your braces by biting through big chunks of food.
More importantly, you need to know WHAT YOU CAN’T EAT WITH BRACES.
– Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
– Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice
– Sticky foods: caramels, gum
– Hard foods: nuts, hard pretzels
– Sugary food: candy
– Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots
You’ll be able to enjoy all of your favorite foods once your braces are removed.
The cost can vary greatly depending on your individual treatment plan.
Braces can seem to be expensive. However, as long as you follow the Doctor’s care instructions, your new smile should last a lifetime.
This means that the investment you make is spread out over decades which can amount to just pennies a day.
While individual cases vary, most patients will have a straighter, healthier smile in just 6 months to 3 years with traditional braces.
Some factors affecting treatment time include how closely you follow your doctor’s instructions during treatment, the type and extent of maladjustment being treated, and adherence to regular checkups.
On average, most orthodontic patients wear their braces for 2 years, although some treatment can be as short as 12 months and some as long as 3+ years.
It’s important to remember that wearing your retainers is a part of your orthodontic treatment.
Retainers help stabilize your teeth after straightening and retain their new alignment.
It’s recommended that you wear your retainer full time for anywhere from 4-12 months following the removal of your braces. After that time, you will need to wear it at night indefinitely.
It’s extremely important that you have good dental hygiene at all times, but especially so while you’re wearing braces.
That being said, we’ve found that both electric and manual toothbrushes work well. Of course, the electric requires less work.
What really matters is that you make sure to brush all the surfaces of the teeth around the braces themselves – above and below the braces.
Additionally, we recommend that you consider using a water pick to clean between your teeth, since flossing with braces can be very difficult.
Braces hurt because they are actively moving your teeth.
They can also hurt if the brackets and wires themselves come into contact with your cheeks. Eventually after a few weeks most people grow less sensitive in their mouth’s inner tissues.
We recommend that our patients take any painkillers before their initial and adjustment appointments. It’s easier to prevent the adjustment pain, than stop it once it’s begun.
This is a very common question that depends on the structure of your mouth and teeth – and what your smile goals are. Therefore, we recommend that you schedule a complimentary consultation with either our dentist or orthodontist. Once they examine your mouth and have a conversation with you, they’ll be able to recommend if braces can help you achieve your smile goals.
The orthodontics association recommends that every child see an orthodontist for an evaluation at the age of 7 or 8. At that appointment, the orthodontist will recommend a personalized treatment plan and time for your child.
The short answer is yes. We treat both children and adults for braces.
Adults can explore either metal braces or Invisalign. Again, we offer a free initial consultation to help you plan your smile goals.