Misinformation and a lot of anxiety can make getting braces stressful. If you’re getting ceramic braces, our Central Texas Orthodontics office in Austin, TX, wanted to smooth over some fears you may have about what to expect.
How Long Does It Take To Put On Ceramic Braces?
About an Hour or Two
How long the process takes can vary slightly depending on your specific needs. In general, you can expect it to take about an hour or two to have your ceramic braces installed. During your first visit with us, we can walk you through a treatment plan and let you know any information we need. That way when it’s time to come in for braces, it should be as quick and easy as possible.
The length of installation is usually about the same for both kids and adults.
What To Expect During the Process
To start, we’ll clean your teeth to make sure no bacteria is getting trapped anywhere. After that, we’ll bond the brackets of your braces to your teeth with glue. Then we can put a wire over your new brackets.
Ceramics are most commonly used for the upper teeth. Elastics may be used as well, although we can also pair your ceramics with self-ligating technology, which means you wouldn’t have to deal with elastics.
What Are the Benefits?
Clear and Discreet
Many patients shy away from the idea of traditional braces due to how noticeable they can be. Younger patients may not want to stand out at school, whereas adults may be afraid of their braces affecting their confidence at work.
Ceramics are made of a clear material that helps them blend into your smile. No matter what your reason is, if you’re looking for braces that can help correct your smile while being discreet at the same time, ceramic braces may be the right call.
Less Noticeable in Pictures or During Events
If you’re worried about having to wear braces during a special event like a wedding or prom, ceramics can help you not compromise on your dental care, and still feel confident for your big day. Ceramics don’t show up as clearly in photos as traditional braces do, which can help our patients feel more comfortable.
You Can Still Have Fun With Them
Customizing is something a lot of young patients enjoy when they get braces. It’s a fun way to express their personality, and something they can look forward to when they come in for adjustments. Patients can still add a bit of fun to their ceramics with colored bands if they want to.
Treatment Can Be Faster Than With Aligners
There is a lot of confusion online over whether aligners are faster than braces are not. Aligners can be faster than braces, but that depends on how consistently you wear your aligner. Aligners can be removed at will, and many patients take them off for pictures or to eat.
This makes them very convenient, but also means that patients often take them off for longer than the recommended period of time, which may lengthen the treatment period. Since you can’t remove ceramics on your own, they’re hard at work 24/7.
They Can Also Treat More Than Aligners
We do want to stress that clear aligners are a great treatment option for many people. We offer clear aligners here, and for patients who are looking to correct crooked teeth, it can be a great option. However, clear aligners can’t help with more major bite issues.
When your bite concerns are more than what a clear aligner can handle, ceramics can give our patients a discreet option that will still do the job.
They’re Comfortable
Ceramics are often considered to be easier on your gums and lips. The material tends to be less abrasive, so it can make adjusting to your new braces that much easier.
Modern Ceramics Are Tougher
As the technology behind ceramics continues to improve, they’ve become tougher and more effective. Modern ceramics are able to withstand more than early ceramics could.
We’ll still consider your unique needs when it comes to picking the right braces for you, but many patients find that ceramics have what it takes to handle their lifestyle.
Modern Ceramics Are Gentler on Your Teeth
Not only have these braces improved in durability, but they’ve also been designed with ease of removal in mind. Tooth demineralization can be a concern when braces are being removed.
Modern ceramics are paired with bonding agents that will hold them firmly in place for your daily life, and still come off easily for the dentist.
They Can Be Combined With Self-Ligating Technology
Since they eliminate the need for elastics, self-ligating technology can make braces a breeze to deal with. Instead of elastics, a special clip is used. Its sliding technology can gently guide teeth into the proper position.
Self-Ligating Braces Can Offer an Even Higher Level of Comfort
Less pressure and friction on your teeth can make ceramics paired with self-ligating technology even more comfortable than before. Self-ligating braces can also make eating and speaking easier as you won’t have to get used to the sensation of elastics or work around them.
They May Reduce Plaque
When elastics aren’t properly cleaned, they can actually start to grow their own plaque. They can also make cleaning your teeth a bit more of a hassle than it used to be. Self-ligating braces take those factors out of the equation altogether.
They Can Make the Process Even Quicker
Self-ligating braces adjust themselves, which can help space out your trips to the dentist since no elastics will need to be adjusted or replaced. In addition to saving you that time, it can also shorten the treatment period altogether.
Since self-ligating braces are putting consistent, gentle pressure on your teeth, it may save some patients up to six months of treatment time when compared to traditional braces. If you’re looking to get rid of your braces faster, we can help you determine if pairing ceramics with self-ligating technology could work for you.
FAQs
1.What Alternatives Do We Offer?
Clear Aligners
If your tooth alignment issues are more mild and cosmetic, clear aligners may help you avoid braces altogether. Clear aligners are a series of acrylic trays, each one customized for your mouth with the purpose of guiding your teeth into a more correct position. They slide over your teeth like a custom-fitted glove and are nearly invisible.
You can also take them off so you won’t have to worry about dietary restrictions, or cleaning around them. If you’re interested in clear aligners, we would be happy to answer any questions during a consultation and help you determine if clear aligners would be a good fit for you.
2. What Is Cleaning Like With Ceramic Braces?
Modern ceramics are much more resistant to staining than their predecessors. However, much like our natural teeth, in order to keep them clear, it’s important to keep them clean. If you don’t want to avoid drinks that tend to stain your teeth, like coffee or red wine, just make sure you brush your teeth after having enjoyed your drink.
Daily Cleaning
Most of the oral care you should practice with braces is the same kind of routine we’d recommend for anyone. Brushing your teeth three times a day, or after every meal, will help wipe out plaque before it has the chance to harden or fester bacteria.
Daily flossing is an important step for anyone’s dental routine. When patients brush their teeth and floss afterward, they’re often surprised to discover how much buildup is removed. Floss can reach places a toothbrush simply can’t.
We’re Here To Help
We will gladly show you the proper way to brush and floss with your braces so that you’ll know you’re giving your teeth the cleaning they need. Professional cleanings every 6 months will help ensure any tartar is cleaned off as well since tartar can only be safely removed by a professional.
3. What Are the Food Limitations?
Chances are, you’ll still be able to enjoy most of your favorite snacks while you have braces. Most grain and bread types will still be perfectly fine to munch on, as will dairy-based foods, meat, seafood, and of course fruits and vegetables. Soft cookies and chocolate are also usually fine for your braces.
What Foods Should You Avoid?
Foods that are very chewy or sticky, like taffy or caramel, may be problematic when you have braces. You may also want to steer clear of foods that you have to crunch down hard on, although some of these foods can be modified so you can still enjoy them.
For instance, you can cut apples into slices instead of biting into the whole. You can still enjoy a hard candy as long as you don’t chew it. We can give you all of this information in our office, and if you have a particular favorite treat you want to ask about, we’d be happy to answer.
4. How About Sports?
If you’re worried about playing sports with braces, we have good news. Wearing braces doesn’t mean you have to quit your favorite sports. We do recommend that you take some extra care to protect your braces. The right mouthguard can help keep your teeth and your braces safe at the same time.
Make sure you check over your braces and your mouth after playing, especially if you’ve gotten hit in the face or mouth. If you do notice any sort of damage, contact us right away and we can help you get it fixed up.
5. What’s the Difference Between a Dentist and an Orthodontist?
Orthodontics is dentistry that specializes in diagnosing, preventing, and treating facial and dental abnormalities. Dental specialists who practice orthodontics are known as orthodontists.
They receive several years of additional training and experience in order to hold that title. Orthodontists are able to help your smile in many ways, which can include correcting a misaligned jaw or straightening your teeth.
What’s the Best Age To Visit an Orthodontist?
While it’s usually recommended that a child first visit an orthodontist when they’re around six or seven years old, it’s never too late to set up an appointment. Adults who have been living with misaligned teeth don’t need to feel as though there’s nothing to be done. We have helped many adult patients reach their dental goals.
A Reason To Smile
Our team believes in combining our expertise and experience to bring you the best care possible. We know how overwhelming it can be to visit the orthodontist, which is why our goal is to create a compassionate and professional environment you can feel comfortable in. If you’d like more information on how we can help your smile, contact Central Texas Orthodontics of Austin, TX, today for your consultation!
