Your Quick Guide to Getting Braces

If you’ve ever considered getting braces in Riverdale but don’t know where to start, our team at Dr. Carr Orthodontics has the answers you need.

Braces are an incredible common orthodontic procedure used to straighten teeth for patients who suffer from a variety of oral health problems that range from crooked, crowded, or misaligned teeth to jaw and bite problems. Orthodontic treatment can help to dramatically improve the appearance and function of the smiles of patients of all ages.

If the state of your smile has caused you any embarrassment or you need relief from painful chewing or eating problems, then getting braces in Riverdale may be the right option for you. Here’s a quick guide to what you need to know about getting braces.

Preparing for Treatment

If you’re considering orthodontic treatment, you should schedule a consultation with Dr. Carr. During your consultation, Dr. Carr will ask you a few questions regarding your current oral and overall health and perform a clinical dental exam. Dr. Carr will then order a series of x-rays to be taken of your mouth and head, along with photographs and an impression that will be used to create a plaster model of your teeth. Once our team has collected all of the relevant information, Dr. Carr will develop a custom treatment plan designed to meet your individual orthodontic needs.

Getting Braces in Riverdale

Before placing your braces, Dr. Carr will thoroughly clean and dry your teeth. Then he will begin to apply an adhesive substance to the surface of your teeth that will allow him to attach the brackets. Once the brackets are in the correct position, Dr. Carr will thread the archwire through the brackets and use elastic to secure them into position. For most patients, the procedure will take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours to complete.

While having your braces placed is not at all painful, most patients do experience some degree of discomfort following the procedure. At first, your cheek and tongue will rub against your braces in ways that take time to get used to. This may cause some initial sensitivity, and your teeth may feel sore. But don’t worry, you’ll get used to your braces after about a week.

Taking Care of Your Braces

Once Dr. Carr has placed your braces, it’s very important that you take proper care of your orthodontic appliance to ensure your treatment goes successfully. This means you need to make certain you continue following the basics of quality oral hygiene by brushing and flossing every day.

When brushing, it’s important to take the time to thoroughly remove all food and plaque that might hide under the wires and brackets of your braces. Because brushing becomes harder when wearing braces, you’ll need to dedicate more than the recommended two minutes brushing. You may even want to consider using a proxabrush, a small interdental cleaning device designed to help you clean those hard to reach areas around your braces and orthodontic wires.

When flossing, always use a waxed dental floss to prevent the floss from becoming stuck between your braces. Using a floss threader will make flossing a lot easier. Start by cutting an 18-inch piece of floss, place the floss through the threader, thread the floss through the wire of your braces and gently slide the floss between your teeth. Repeat this process until you’ve cleaned between all of your teeth and around all of the brackets of your braces.

You’ll also need to watch what you eat, and be careful to avoid hard, sticky, or chewy foods that could either break the brackets of your braces or get stuck in hard to clean areas. Dr. Carr will be able to give you a full list of foods to avoid, along with braces-friendly foods you can enjoy.

That’s all it takes to when it comes to getting braces in Riverdale. If you’re ready to get the smile you’ve always wanted, call our office today to schedule your orthodontic consultation with Dr. Carr!