Metal & Crystal Braces

For the first couple of days after receiving braces, it may be unpleasant or even painful. You will become used to wearing braces in no time.

When patients wear their transparent aligners for at least 20-22 hours each day, Invisalign works just like braces. In certain cases, traditional braces are preferable to Invisalign. Consult an orthodontist to determine which choice is best for you.

Surely, yes. If you don’t, your teeth may revert to their original position.

If you break your braces frequently or don’t wear your rubber bands as directed, your therapy will take longer. Furthermore, skipping visits or constantly rescheduling appointments might cause therapy to be prolonged.

Traditional metal braces are brackets that are attached to front of teeth with an adhesive and connected by a wire. When you come in for follow up appointments during treatment, the wire
is tightened to help the progression of improving the alignment of your teeth.
Crystal or ceramic braces work in a very similar way to traditional braces. A bracket is placed on your tooth and the brackets are connected by a wire that is tightened at follow up
appointments. The difference between ceramic braces and metal braces is the color. Ceramic braces are also called “clear braces” because the color is meant to mimic tooth color, so the
braces are less visible. These braces are typically chosen for cosmetic reasons.

Yes, retainers are necessary following braces to keep your teeth in the proper position. You will likely need to wear your retainers all the time for a few months, and then just at night for longer.
Some orthodontists recommend wearing your retainers at night for the rest of your life for best results. Failing to wear your retainers could allow your teeth to shift back into their previous
positions, leading to another round of braces.

You don’t need to follow a special diet, but a healthy diet is best. If you have traditional braces, you can eat most of what you normally do. However, you should avoid foods that are sticky, like
gum, and hard foods like apples. Sticky and hard foods can damage braces and make oral care more challenging. There are no food restrictions for aligners because you take them out when you eat.

Usually, every six weeks in general, but the orthodontist will tell each patient how often is best for their case.

You should avoid sticky and chewy foods like caramel as well as extremely hard foods to eat. These can harm braces and wires, requiring more consultations and lengthening your treatment period.

You should consult your dentist before beginning orthodontic treatment to ensure that your gums are healthy and free of cavities. You should see your dentist every six months during orthodontic treatment. If you have trouble cleaning your teeth or have a history of tooth decay, see your dentist every three months while wearing braces.

Treatment can take anywhere between six and 30 months to complete, but this widely varies depending on the treatment you choose. It also can vary if your issue is more severe in nature.