Traditional Braces Castle Rock | Sweet Smiles Dental Design

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How Do Traditional Braces Work?

Traditional braces consist of multiple brackets and an archwire. The brackets are individually attached to each of your teeth; then the archwire is used to connect them. The pressure from the archwire is what causes the teeth to move, slowly causing them to shift until they reach the desired positions. Your braces will need to be tightened regularly throughout the process to ensure that they continue to exert the right amount of pressure on the teeth.

Woman’s mouth with traditional braces in Castle Rock, CO

What Orthodontic Issues Can Braces Fix?

Part of the reason braces remain such a popular orthodontic option is that they can be used in a wide variety of situations. Below are examples of alignment issues that braces can potentially help with.

Bite Misalignment

Do your jaws not come together the way they should? Braces can help correct underbites, overbites, and other bite-related issues so that they no longer impair your ability to chew all kinds of foods and speak clearly.

Crowded & Crooked Teeth

Are you embarrassed to show your smile in public due to teeth that are overlapping or crooked? You can straighten your grin with traditional braces, thus improving your appearance while also making it easier to properly clean your teeth.

Gapped Teeth

Are the spaces between your teeth just a little too big? With traditional braces, you can close them so that they no longer attract unwanted attention.

Model of teeth with traditional braces in Castle Rock, CO

Caring for Your Braces

Traditional braces are often the key to achieving the straighter smile that you’ve always wanted, and they represent a significant investment of time and money. It is therefore very important that you give your braces the care that they deserve. You can do so by:

Brushing thoroughly every day.
Using specialized flossers to clean the hard-to-reach areas under your braces.
Staying away from foods that might damage your braces (which includes hard foods like popcorn kernels and sticky foods like taffy).
Avoiding bad habits like biting your nails or chewing on your pencil, which could end up breaking your braces if you’re not careful.
Keeping up with your biannual dental checkups and cleanings to ensure that your smile as a whole stays in good shape.

If you’re having any problems with your braces, please let our team know right away.

Woman with traditional braces in Castle Rock, CO holding toothbrush

Understanding the Cost of Traditional Braces

Without a thorough consultation, we cannot identify the cost of traditional braces. Each case is truly unique, so your treatment plan will be vastly different than someone else’s. Fortunately, our team can help you better understand how much you can expect to pay, how you can maximize dental benefits, and what kind of financing options are available.

The cost of traditional braces in Castle Rock

Factors That Affect the Cost of Traditional Braces

During the consultation phase, we will inquire about your dental history, take necessary digital images of your mouth, and complete a visual oral examination to get a complete picture of your smile. Not only will we be able to determine the following factors, but these will help us come up with a cost estimate you can review:

How misaligned are your teeth? Are they crooked, overcrowded, or gapped? Do you have a significant bite misalignment?
Do you require any preliminary treatments to address gum disease or existing tooth decay?
Do you need additional orthodontic appliances, like rubber bands or a palate expander?
Do both of your arches need to be realigned or just one?

Patient wearing traditional braces from professional

Professional Braces vs. “DIY” Braces: Which Costs More?

It’s tempting to choose a solution that costs less when it comes to braces; however, you should not put your smile at risk. Professional braces offer greater results because of the oversight provided by a skilled professional at Sweet Smiles Dental Design. Also, these products are reliable, effective, and closely monitored.

With DIY solutions, you run the risk of problems forming that cannot be remedied without the help of a trusted and licensed professional (i.e., teeth shifting in the wrong direction). It’s not worth the money you might save with DIY, especially since you could potentially harm your smile and overall health.

Person figuring out cost of traditional braces

Does Dental Insurance Cover Traditional Braces?

Each dental insurance plan is different, so the only way to know if your policy covers orthodontia is to call and ask or have a member of our team work with your insurance company on your behalf. While many do offer partial coverage, others do not. This means individuals should consider purchasing a supplemental plan early on if anyone in your family might require orthodontic treatment.

Options for Making Traditional Braces Affordable

If private dental insurance is not something you have, there are other ways to straighten your teeth with braces without breaking the bank. At Sweet Smiles Dental Design, we offer flexible financing through CareCredit. By splitting the cost of your treatment into manageable monthly installments, you can adhere to your budget and forget about paying everything upfront.

You can also join our Sweet Smiles Club, which is a monthly subscription that takes care of preventive services but also provides discounts on many different services.

Traditional Braces FAQs

Answer

It's never too late to invest in a straight, healthy smile with braces in Castle Rock. There isn't an age limit for braces. Whether you missed your chance for orthodontics as an adolescent or your teeth have moved a little over the years, your dentist can fix your bite and alignment issues with a system of brackets and wires. You'll benefit from better oral health and functions while improving the appearance of your smile.

Answer

No orthodontic treatment is completely pain-free. Brackets and wires apply continual pressure to your teeth to move them in small increments. It's normal for your mouth to be tender for a few days after first getting your braces and any adjustments. It's a sign your treatment is working. You can manage it with an over-the-counter pain reliever and eating soft foods. The likeliness of discomfort will decrease as you progress through your treatment. Your brackets may also irritate the insides of your lips or cheeks after getting them. Applying dental wax to your brackets will reduce friction until calluses form.

Answer

You will have to be mindful of what you eat while wearing braces. Certain foods can damage your braces. Besides experiencing an orthodontic emergency, some foods are difficult to remove from your teeth and braces, which may lead to cavities, gum disease, and other issues.

It's important to brush and floss your teeth after eating. You'll keep your teeth and gums healthy and prevent tooth discoloration.

Answer

The average treatment with metal braces is about 18 to 24 months. Every case is unique, and many factors will affect your timeline, like the complexity of the tooth movements needed. Your dentist will explain how long you can expect your treatment to take. Adults may experience slower tooth movements because their teeth are more firmly set in their jaws than teens, who are still growing and developing. You can ensure there aren't any delays in your journey to a straight smile by visiting your dentist regularly for adjustments and following their treatment instructions.

Traditional Braces – Castle Rock, CO

Putting You on the Path to Straighter Teeth

Why Choose Sweet Smiles Dental Design for Traditional Braces?

How Do Traditional Braces Work?

What Orthodontic Issues Can Braces Fix?

Bite Misalignment

Crowded & Crooked Teeth

Gapped Teeth

Caring for Your Braces

Understanding the Cost of Traditional Braces

Factors That Affect the Cost of Traditional Braces

Professional Braces vs. “DIY” Braces: Which Costs More?

Does Dental Insurance Cover Traditional Braces?

Options for Making Traditional Braces Affordable

Traditional Braces FAQs