Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Braces
The human body is composed of various systems, and each has its purpose in keeping you healthy. All of these systems require proper care and maintenance so they can keep doing their tasks while also avoiding health problems.
These include your oral health, which is responsible for helping you talk and break down food through chewing and biting. One way to take care of them is to visit your dentist regularly. In that way, they can spot issues early, recommend necessary treatments, and provide emergency dental care if needed.
Over the years, dental specialists have formulated solutions for various dental problems, one of which includes correcting teeth alignment. This complication will require a patient to wear dental braces. To help you understand, listed below are more answers to frequently asked questions about braces.
What Are Dental Braces?
Dental braces are corrective devices that, as mentioned above, are recommended for patients with teeth alignment problems. They consist of wires and brackets that apply constant pressure on your teeth and help them shift to their aligned position. These elements are usually made of metal, but nowadays, patients have more options on materials.
What Are the Different Kinds of Braces?
Braces come in various sizes determined by measurements shown on your X-ray. They also have different types that are based on factors such as the materials used and their placement on your teeth. Some of them are listed below.
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Metal braces
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Lingual braces
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Ceramic braces
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Invisible braces
How Much Do They Cost?
The cost of dental braces varies depending on their type, placement, and how long you’ll have to wear them. But in the US, it usually ranges from $3,000 to over $10,000. Most patients choose traditional braces because it is usually the cheapest option. On the other hand, ceramic and invisible braces are two of the most expensive options because of the price of the materials used.
Do They Hurt?
Patients typically won’t feel pain when braces are being attached to their teeth. However, you may feel some pain and discomfort a few hours after the procedure as your teeth adjust to the pressure applied. It usually lasts for about a week and will eventually go away once you get used to your braces.
After a few weeks, your dentist may have to add pressure to your braces by tightening the wires and bands to correct the alignment of your teeth. At this point, you will feel some soreness in your gums again. But it won’t be as bad as the first time you got your braces and will only take a few days.
How Long Do I Have To Wear Them?
The timeframe of how long you’ll have to wear your braces will depend on the gravity of teeth misalignment that needs to be treated. But the average duration for most patients is around 1 to 3 years.
Which Food Can I Eat or Avoid While Wearing Braces?
As mentioned earlier, your teeth will hurt the first time you get your braces. That’s why in the first few weeks, you should only eat soft food like yogurt, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, soup, pasta, and some soft vegetables. Once you’ve fully adjusted to them and no longer feel any pain or discomfort, you can resume your usual diet.
However, you should still avoid hard and sticky foods as these might cause your brackets or wires to break. These include chewing gums, candies, popcorn, pretzels, nuts, and chips. It’s also advisable to lessen your consumption of drinks and food high in sugar as they create plaque which can be difficult to remove when wearing braces.
How Should I Deal With Common Issues on Braces?
You may encounter dental issues like a loose elastic band, an unattached wire, and broken brackets. One thing you can do to address some of them is to apply wax to prevent loose wires or brackets from poking your mouth. But after that, you need to seek emergency dental care so a dentist can reattach or fix them immediately before they can cause other problems.
Takeaway
Dental braces are essential and effective devices that help correct the alignment of your teeth. For them to work properly, it requires patience and a lot of maintenance. So once your dentist recommends you to wear them, make sure to research what to expect during the process. In that way, you’ll also learn the proper way to take care of your braces. Most importantly, if you encounter any problem, seek help from an orthodontist immediately.
