Traditional Braces – Ellicott City, MD
Second-to-None Orthodontic Care
If you’re interested in straightening your smile, it’s hard to go wrong with traditional wire-and-bracket braces. This time-tested method of orthodontics can address any of a variety of alignment issues, ranging from severe malocclusion to profoundly misaligned teeth.
Moreover, the braces that you’d get today are more comfortable and more beautiful than they’ve ever been, meaning that there’s never been a better time to straighten your smile. If you’re near Ellicott City, MD, make an appointment with the team here at Ellicott City Smiles Dental Group and we’ll show you second-to-none orthodontic care!
Why Choose Ellicott City Smiles Dental Group For Traditional Braces?
- Team of Specialists Who Will Personalize Your Orthodontic Care
- Years of Advanced Training and Experience at your Disposal
- Comfortable Dental Office that Makes Patients Feel At-Home
How Do Traditional Braces Work?
You’re probably familiar with what traditional braces look like, but you might know less about how they actually work. First, a series of small brackets will be attached to each of the teeth. These brackets will be connected by an archwire, one that is progressively tightened as the treatment goes on. This wire pulls on the brackets (and, by extension, the teeth), gradually moving them into their ideal position.
These tightening will take place at your dentist’s office every 6-8 weeks, and after a year or two of wearing braces your teeth should be perfectly in alignment!
What Orthodontic Issues Can Braces Fix?
We’ll be sure to talk to you about the issues that traditional braces can address and what they can do for you at your consultation. Until then, here’s a small sample of the problems that these orthodontics can address.
Bite Misalignment
Overbites, underbites, and crossbites can all result in serious problems. In addition to affecting how you look to others, these conditions can also lead to chronic jaw pain and teeth grinding if left untreated.
Traditional braces can connect the top and bottom jaw via elastics, bringing them into their proper position.
Crowded & Crooked Teeth
Crowded teeth overlap in such a way that they appear “crooked,” impacting how your smile looks and making your teeth harder to clean. Traditional braces can be used to pull these teeth apart, straightening them.
Gapped Teeth
Gapped teeth aren’t necessarily a health concern, but can nevertheless affect how people’s smiles look in ways that they might not care for. Just as braces can pull crowded teeth apart, they can also bring gapped ones together.
Caring for Your Braces
One of the biggest hurdles for new orthodontic patients is figuring out how to care for their braces. In addition to thoroughly flossing your braces each day, you’ll also need to find a new way to floss around the archwire. This can be done with interdental brushes, floss threaders, or oral irrigators—we’ll be happy to give you recommendations when we meet.
You should also adjust your diet to avoid foods that could damage your oral appliance. You might need to refrain from tortilla chips, hard candy, and gooey foods for the duration of treatment.
Most importantly, you should see us regularly for tightenings and checkups. If you have any questions about what caring for braces will entail, feel free to reach out to us for an appointment today!