Traditional Braces – Long Beach, NY
A Tried-and-True Method for Straightening Teeth
These days, more patients than ever before are opting to enhance and straighten their smiles with the assistance of orthodontics. And while clear aligner treatments like Invisalign have certainly skyrocketed in popularity, traditional braces in Long Beach still remain an effective alternative, mostly due to their trusty reliability and impressive versatility. Keep reading to learn a little more about how traditional braces work or feel free to give us a call to schedule a visit!
Why Choose Dr. Glen’s Happy Teeth for Traditional Braces?
- Friendly and Experienced Dental Team
- Patients of All Ages Welcome
- Digital Imaging System for Comfortable Impressions
How Do Traditional Braces Work?
To put it simply, traditional braces encourage your teeth to shift positions inside your mouth. Your teeth aren’t totally immobile; they’re attached to the jawbone via tiny ligaments that allow them to have a natural capacity for movement. By applying gentle, sustained pressure with the use of metal brackets and wires, traditional braces can gradually move your teeth into a more-aligned position. This process often takes over 12 months to complete depending on your orthodontic needs, and if necessary, additional accessories and attachments including elastics and retainers are also used to assist with movement.
What Orthodontic Issues Can Braces Fix?
When you visit Dr. Glen, he’ll be able to determine exactly how traditional braces in Long Beach can benefit your smile. They can be used to correct a variety of common orthodontic issues, including:
Bite Misalignment
Whether you suffer from an overbite, underbite, crossbite, or something in between, braces can help! These types of misalignments can often lead to serious problems including TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). However, braces can easily correct your bite and in turn, improve your chewing and speech patterns.
Crowded & Crooked Teeth
In some instances, your teeth might not have an adequate amount of space inside your mouth, leading to them becoming crooked and overlapping. Needless to say, this can take a toll on your self-esteem; but it also vastly increases your chances of developing cavities. Traditional braces can ensure that every one of your teeth has plenty of breathing room.
Gapped Teeth
Small spaces between your teeth can be frustrating; not only do they impact your smile’s beauty, but they can also easily trap excess food debris and increase your risk of oral health issues! But as the brackets and wires exert precise pressure, they close those gaps and correct visual and functionality issues alike.
Caring for Your Braces
Of course, your braces can only do their job if you take great care of them! You’ll want to keep them clean and intact to the best of your ability; after all, a broken wire or loose bracket will only delay your overall treatment timeline! Consider the following when caring for your smile with braces:
- Follow your dietary guidelines and restrictions, and avoid problematic foods that are particularly hard, crunchy, or chewy.
- Practice sports safety by wearing a mouthguard during sports and physical activity.
- Brush your teeth for two full minutes after every meal, and don’t skip flossing; dental flossers can make flossing with braces much easier!
- Prioritize your adjustment appointments; this also allows us to inspect the integrity of your braces to make sure that nothing’s off.