A beautiful smile is a lifelong dream for every individual, and orthodontists are willing to help everyone gain the confidence to share their smile with the public every day. However, wearing braces is often an unfamiliar experience. After concluding that an individual needs the braces, panic sets in, making others lose the focus and give up on their dream. The best way to beat the panic is to get information from the right sources and focus on the bigger picture. This article covers the basics of dental braces and how to find a reliable orthodontist in Southaven.

What are Dental Braces?

Braces are dental tools used by orthodontics to correct teeth issues. These may include problems such as jaw misalignment, crooked teeth, or teeth crowding. They slowly straighten teeth to enable patients to have a normal bite and enjoy better smiles.

Who Needs Dental Braces?

Dental braces are good at correcting jaw and teeth irregularities. They’re good corrective procedures for all children and adults alike. Some of the signs that any individual can look out for to consider the possibility of going for braces treatment include:

• Visibly crooked or crowded teeth
• Difficulty brushing around and flossing between the crooked teeth
• Teeth won’t close above each other properly when the mouth is at rest

Although dental braces help in correcting jaw and teeth irregularities, not every related issue requires the process. As a result, patients need to consult with their dentists before visiting the orthodontist’s office. The dentist needs to rule out every other possible solution and endorse the need to go for braces.

Where to Find the Right Orthodontists in Southaven

Wearing braces isn’t an easy process that a patient can entrust to any general dentist. As a result, patients should ensure that they’re working with the right professionals. Most dental insurance plans do not necessitate referral. As a result, a patient may only need to make an appointment with any orthodontist of their choice and discuss their treatment procedures. The problem then arises with finding the right professional to trust.

Another critical aspect to consider is the cost. Seeking this kind of treatment may be very costly for many patients. As a result, they may want to check with their insurance provider to see what the plan covers. That’s because plan-preferred orthodontists attract less out-of-pocket expenses than non-plan specialists.

Lastly, they should ensure that the specialist is trained and certified by searching their names on sites such as www.braces.org or get referrals from previous patients who benefitted from the professional.

What’s The Process for Attaching Braces?

The first procedure for this life-changing process is the patient’s preliminary visit to the orthodontist’s office for an impression creation. This is essentially a cast of the teeth that helps the orthodontist study the jaw-teeth relationship and make the right braces.

A few days to the appointment’s final day, the patient needs to visit their dentist for professional teeth cleaning. The teeth need adequate cleaning before the patient gets the braces, so they attach to them appropriately. It’s equally essential to brush and floss before the appointment. If not thoroughly cleaned, the orthodontist may have to use a polishing paste to clean them before attaching the braces.

According to the American Association of orthodontists, the actual attachment process takes anywhere between 90 to 120 minutes. During the procedure, the orthodontist places a retractor in the patient’s mouth to make it open more comfortably and keep it as dry as possible. Next, the specialist places an adhesive on each tooth to make the brackets attach. After all brackets are put in place, the specialist threads a wire through them. He may use rubber bands to hold the wire to the tooth.

Does it hurt?

A patient may feel a little discomfort and mild sores in the mouth after the attachment. That’s very normal, and they can use warm salt water or over-the-counter pain medication to relieve the mild pains. They may also consider eating soft foods that require little or no chewing, like pudding, ice creams, mashed foods, or bananas. Cold foods such as ice creams can also help in relieving the pains.

If pain worsens or doesn’t stop after a few days, the patient may consider going back to their orthodontist for checkup and possible remedy recommendations.

How to Care for Braces

Every patient should consult with their respective orthodontists for the proper care procedures. That’s why it’s essential to attend all the scheduled regular checkups to keep track of their progress. They also need to regularly practice regular dental hygiene, like brushing and flossing the right way and using oral irrigators to draw out any food particles stuck in the braces. It’s also best to avoid sticky and sugary meals at the moment.

Conclusion

Attaching braces can be a nerve-wracking process, considering the costs and steps involved. However, every bright smile matters, and that makes the whole process worth every effort. All the patients need is to get the correct information, take the proper steps, and give the most beautiful smile to the world.

Joyce Laroche