Dental Braces

Braces
Orthodontic treatment can be beneficial at any age and can start as early as age 7. Children and teens between the ages of 7 and 16 are the most likely candidates because their facial structures are still developing but more than 25 percent of today’s patients are adults. Braces for adults sometimes include additional procedures because their faces have already fully developed.

Braces achieve straight teeth for a beautiful smile no matter what your age. Because no two smiles are alike, no two orthodontic treatment programs are alike either. The benefit to you is not only a gorgeous smile but also healthy jaw joints.

Invisalign, Invisalign Teen® , clear braces and metal braces are among the types of braces available today. Come in for a free consultation to see what orthodontic treatment options are available to you. Also, check our F.A.Q.s page for answers to more frequently asked questions!

FAQs About Clear & Traditional Braces

How Long Will Treatment Take?
The length of treatment depends on the severity of your case and can only be determined by your doctor, however, the average case takes about 18 months for adults. The length of time necessary for a teen case varies and can be determined by your orthodontist.

Braces
Braces are applied to teeth for various reasons, including poorly aligned jaws, crooked, crowded and missing teeth or a bad bite (also called a malocclusion).

Various things can cause teeth to become crooked or jaws misaligned, including thumb-sucking or a traumatic injury. Some conditions are inherited.

The New Standard in Comfort
Tip-Edge PLUS® braces are smaller in size, smoother and more comfortable than other braces. The edges of the braces are gently rounded to prevent irritation to the inside of your lips and cheeks. These characteristics make Tip-Edge PLUS® braces not only more comfortable to wear but also easier to keep clean.

The Choice of Leading Orthodontists
Our office uses specially designed Tip-Edge PLUS® braces to provide you with improved comfort, appearance, and oral hygiene. Tip-Edge PLUS® braces provide a highly refined treatment method that requires gentler forces than other appliances. Surgery or the use of head gear is rarely needed. Around the world, orthodontists are choosing Tip-Edge PLUS® braces because they are durable and offer top performance with a shorter treatment time. With Tip-Edge PLUS® braces, you’re getting the best in orthodontic treatment and a smile you’ll be proud to show off.

Tip-Edge PLUS ® Ceramic Braces
If you think having braces means hiding your smile, you might want to think twice. PLUS® “Clear” braces are very small and match the natural colors of your teeth. They are more suitable than metal and provide the same orthodontic treatment with virtually invisible braces. You will have greater confidence and the assurance that people are looking at your smile, not your braces.

What Happens After Treatment to Prevent My Teeth From Moving?
This varies from person to person and depends on the outcome of your treatment. Some patients might need a positioner or conventional retainer. Other patients might need a clear plastic retainer similar to the aligners Invisalign makes, such as Align Technology’s Vivera retainer, which is worn at night.

Hygiene Issues
People who wear braces must be diligent in ensuring that food particles and other debris do not get trapped in the network of brackets and wires. In addition, poor brushing can leave stains and cavities on enamel if the surfaces of your teeth are not cleaned on a daily basis. We recommend brushing twice daily.

Daily oral hygiene such as brushing, flossing, and rinsing is a necessity. Some people with orthodontic appliances can benefit from using water picks, which emit small pressurized bursts of water to effectively rinse away debris.

Another caveat: Braces and sticky foods don’t mix. Crunchy snacks and chewy substances should be avoided at all costs because they can cause braces to become loosened or damaged.

Brushing & Flossing with Braces

Brushing is the best way to remove cavity-causing plaque and other debris from your teeth and we recommended that you brush your teeth twice daily to avoid plaque buildup. Plaque is a colorless, sticky substance, reacts with the bacteria and decaying food particles in your mouth. When left on the teeth long enough, plaque begins to erode the enamel. Excellent brushing and flossing habits with braces will lead to healthy gums and a beautiful smile after braces. Poor brushing and flossing habits while in braces can lead to decay, white spots on your permanent teeth and sore, swollen gums.

Additional Brushing Tips

  • Many people simply brush for a few seconds, spit and place the toothbrush back in the cup. It is very important to spend at least two minutes brushing your teeth. This helps to ensure that the brush doesn’t miss hard-to-reach or often neglected surfaces.
  • Use short, circular motions and brush at a 45-degree angle.
  • Brush all surfaces of your teeth - the sides and chewing surfaces - as well as the lower portions near the gum line.
  • Gently brush other areas of your mouth, including your gums, tongue, and roof of your mouth. These can be prime areas for bacteria to hide.
  • Choose toothbrushes with soft or medium-soft round-headed bristles. Avoid big-headed toothbrushes. Dental associations recommend that you buy a toothbrush with a compact head (1” x ½”) so you can reach the small areas of your mouth.
  • You should replace your toothbrush at least four times a year - more often if you have been sick.

Brushing Techniques
How long you spend brushing your teeth is as critical as how often you brush your teeth.

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Using a soft toothbrush, begin brushing on the upper right side of your mouth. With a small, circular motion, brush above and below the braces to clean the surfaces of your teeth.
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Continue to use a small, circular motion while working your brush toward your front teeth and over to the left side of your mouth.

Also brush the inside and biting surfaces of each tooth.

Braces Centennial, CO
Braces Centennial, CO

Use the same techniques to brush your lower row of teeth. Start on the right side of your mouth and brush the outside of the lower teeth. Continue to use a circular motion to brush the surfaces of your teeth both above and below the braces.

Braces Centennial, CO

Braces Centennial, CO

Slowly work the brush toward your front teeth and continue toward the left side of your mouth.

Braces Centennial, CO
Braces Centennial, CO
Finally, brush the inside and chewing surfaces of your lower teeth.

Flossing With Braces

Our office recommends that you practice flossing daily. Many people find that flossing at night is an easy bedtime routine. Moreover, nighttime flossing helps to protect your teeth during sleep, when harmful plaque can cause a lot of damage.

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  • Using a floss threader, insert floss behind the archwire.
Braces Centennial, CO
  • Gently glide floss up and down the side of each tooth and under your gums. Floss between all teeth daily.

Want to learn more about dental braces from Rocke Orthodontics in Centennial, CO? Call our office now to schedule a consultation! (303) 730-7002

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Rocke Orthodontics

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