Braces

Braces Healdsburg, CA

Fix gaps, overcrowding, and crooked teeth.

Orthodontic braces are a traditional and effective way to correct teeth affected by a variety of alignment issues such as gaps, overcrowding, or crookedness. Sure, it’s true that many people think of these as being unsightly, but with a variety of colored bands to choose from, and even available in a clear/translucent style, they can be as flashy or as conservative as your personality desires.

How do braces work?

Braces (and indeed all orthodontic treatments) work by exerting a gentle, gradual force on teeth to change their position. We apply braces by bonding a clear or metal bracket to the front of each tooth. These brackets are then connected with a metal wire and secured with rubber bands. Over time, the wire is adjusted to pull the teeth into perfect alignment. Treatment times usually fall between 12 and 24 months, but may vary depending on the severity of your alignment issue.

Types of Braces

Healdsburg Orthodontics offers several types of braces depending on what characteristics fit your individual needs.

Traditional (Metal) Braces

Traditional (metal) braces consist of standard metal brackets that bond to your teeth with an adhesive and connected by wire. They require periodic adjustments so pressure can gradually straighten your teeth and align your jaw as needed.

While metal brackets are still the most common, other treatment options are available today.

Traditional (Metal) Braces

Clear (Ceramic) Braces

Not all braces are metal. There are several options that are more invisible or at least transparent, and still do the job of straightening your teeth and aligning your bite. In general, clear (ceramic) and traditional metal braces function in the same way. The bracket’s material is what makes the difference.

Ceramic brackets are made of composite materials. They come in varying levels of transparency so you can have clear ones that mimic the color of your natural teeth.

Clear (Ceramic) Braces

FAQ

Healdsburg orthodontist Dr. Marc DeBerardinis and his team at Healdsburg Orthodontics have provided a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) and answers about orthodontic braces, including traditional metal and clear ceramic options.

During your complimentary consultation, we may advise you to receive orthodontic braces to treat misalignment of the teeth. Depending on the severity of your misalignment, we may recommend one of several types of braces. This may include metal braces, clear braces, or Invisalign®. This decision is based on factors such as teeth gaps, quality of bite (such as overbite or underbite), and crooked teeth. Fortunately, there is a method of treatment available for all types of teeth misalignment conditions.

Your first week wearing your new braces will be different. There will most likely be some discomfort involved as your teeth become accustomed to the restrictive aligners. You may even feel slight pain. Your dentist may recommend a pain reliever – please check with your dentist before taking any pain reliever. Sometimes your cheeks may be tender or sore as the braces rub against them. For this, many patients use wax on the braces where the irritation is occurring.

Many patients become accustomed to the braces fairly soon after they receive them. With proper food choices (explained below) and maintenance, the process will have very little impact on your daily activities. And with orthodontic technology advancing so rapidly, the time that braces must be worn for their full effect is reducing. We will work with you throughout the entire process to ensure that you experience as little discomfort or difficulties on your journey to renewing your beautiful smile.

The nature of oral braces is to serve as a ‘brace’ pulling your teeth together in a proper formation. However, the construction of braces prohibits certain food from being eaten, as food particles may get lodged into them. If this happens, it can be quite hard to remove the food and may require a dentist visit to remedy. Other food, especially chewy or crunchy foods, may damage the braces themselves, either by dislodging them or breaking down their components. This would result in another dentist visit and a potential lengthening of time that you have to wear your orthodontics.

There are only several categories of foods to avoid while your braces are aligning your teeth. Crunchy foods such as chips, popcorn, even ice, can cause damage to the braces. Chewy foods, such as jerky, dense breads, and tough meats will put additional strain on your braces. Sugary snacks and candies are to be avoided all-together as they typically fall in one of the categories of foods to avoid. Likewise, their artificial sugars can wear down the braces. This is in addition to the wear and tear they place on your teeth! Acidic foods and drinks such as overly citrus-y fruits and sodas are to be avoided as well. Foods that require biting into, much like chewy foods, will typically wear down the effectiveness of the braces and may cause breakage.

It should be pretty straightforward to assess your dietary decisions while wearing braces. You should ask yourself, “Will this food put extra strain on my braces?” If so, then you should either avoid that food or contact us so we can let you know whether or not that food is to be avoided.

Foods that you can eat are plentiful. Soft breads, fruits, tender meats, fish, vegetables, and fruit drinks (so as long as they aren’t overly acidic and don’t require crunching ice) should be okay when you’re wearing braces. Soups are often a great choice. For a comprehensive list of foods safe for your braces, feel free to contact us and we’ll let you know what we think are ideal food groups to enjoy!

As you wear your braces, you’ll realize what foods can do to your teeth over time. Most foods in the ‘foods to avoid while wearing braces’ category place strain on teeth. Our patients often tell us that they’ve gained a realization why eating healthy is important; not only are healthy foods good for your body, they are good for your teeth. There are some instances where healthy foods cannot be eaten while wearing braces. Examples include nuts, apples, corn on the cob, pears, and chicken on the bone, among others.

It may be possible for you to have successful orthodontic treatment if some teeth are missing, depending on your circumstances and your treatment goals. Orthodontic treatment may be able to close the space of a missing tooth or may be able to create or save sufficient space for a replacement tooth/teeth. Schedule your complimentary consultation with Healdsburg Orthodontics to discuss what is right for you.

It may be possible for you to have successful orthodontic treatment if your teeth have crowns or root canals. Schedule a complimentary consultation with Healdsburg Orthodontics for answers that are specific to you and your circumstances.

Whether in braces or using another type of orthodontic appliance, patients should limit their intake of soda pop (even diet soda pop), some juices, and some sports drinks.

Soda contains acid that can weaken tooth enamel. Some juices and sports drinks contain a lot of sugar. Drinking excessive amounts of any liquids with sugar and/or acid could lead to cavities.

It’s best to consult with Healdsburg Orthodontics about what kinds of soft drinks and juices are permissible for you while you have on braces or any other kind of orthodontic appliance. Our goal is to keep your teeth healthy so you have a great result from your orthodontic treatment.

For more information about the different orthodontic treatment options visit the website for the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO).