Traditional Braces – Flower Mound, TX

Straighter Smiles Through Brackets & Wires

A dentist examining a child with braces

Even today, traditional braces are the most popular way to straighten teeth. That’s only natural – this treatment has aligned grins effectively for decades! At this point, many people think of it as one of the rites of childhood. Naturally, then, you can trust the braces from Dr. Rogers at KidSmiles Dental and Orthodontics. They’ll ensure your children get straight pearly whites in little time. To learn more about them, continue reading or book a consultation.

How Do Traditional Braces Work?

A close-up of a child’s smile with traditional braces

As you might already know, teeth shift if left alone. Their connection to tiny jaw ligaments allows them to move over time. Consequently, they can turn crooked and unfit to the point that they lower your quality of life.

Fortunately, traditional braces can reverse and prevent this outcome. They rely on brackets and wires that put pressure on crooked teeth. In doing so, they gradually push pearly whites into a straighter, more aligned position.

Generally, a braces treatment lasts a year or two. This timeline lets the dentist adjust the archwire every 6-8 weeks. That way, the appliance remains functional and fixes smiles until the very end.

What Orthodontic Issues Can Braces Fix?

A child wearing braces on their crooked teeth

Before your child gets braces, they’ll attend a consultation with Dr. Rogers. This visit helps her assess the relevant orthodontic issues, oral health, etc. Based on her findings, she can determine if braces suit the kid’s needs.

As part of the consultation, Dr. Rogers will see if your little one has problems that braces solve. These include the following:

Bite Misalignment

Bite misalignment may seem trivial, but it can lead to severe problems. Left unchecked, it tends to cause TMJ dysfunction and bruxism (i.e., teeth grinding).

Thankfully, braces can easily fix this dilemma. Proper ones slowly move a patient’s jaw muscles into alignment. As a result, the bite is made nice and even.

Crowded & Crooked Teeth

Crooked and crowded teeth don’t just look bad; they harm oral health. For example, they erode tooth enamel due to rubbing each other excessively. Similarly, their crookedness leads to tooth sensitivity and a higher risk of cavities and infections.

Of course, metal braces can address this situation. They gently guide a smile so its teeth don’t overlap or rub one another.

Gapped Teeth

Gapped teeth are a cosmetic problem and a health-related one. After all, the spaces between them look unpleasant and house germs that damage mouth tissues.

All that said, braces can (and do) correct tooth gaps. Aligning a smile with brackets and wires closes up the spaces between teeth.

Caring for Your Braces

A boy with braces brushing his teeth in the bathroom

For better or worse, braces need regular maintenance to work. Your child thus needs to clean and care for them daily. To help them do so, try using the following tips:

  • Practice Good Dental Hygiene – Make sure your child brushes twice daily for a full two minutes. At the same time, ensure they floss at least once a day. (They can use flossers if necessary.)
  • Avoid Risky Foods – If your youngster bites into hard, crunchy, or chewy foods, they might break the archwire or dislodge the brackets.
  • See the Orthodontist Often – It’s crucial that your kiddie attend orthodontic adjustment visits. As they do so, our team will assess their braces to ensure treatment is going well.