Braces are placed on teeth to correct alignment, make room for new teeth (in children's cases) and ensure a proper bite when the jaw comes together. Today's technology makes braces both quicker and more effective than the previous...
A mouth full of metal braces for years does not excite many people. However, a mouth full of beautiful, straight teeth does. Fortunately, alternatives to braces exist in the dental market today. However, not everyone is a candidate, so it is best...
While some are born with a perfect smile, others require help from an orthodontist to achieve straight teeth and an aligned bite. With the assistance of braces, the teeth are slowly shifted into a healthy pattern.
Having braces on your teeth requires that you make some temporary changes in your diet and the way you eat. Eating hard or chewy foods can damage or dislodge the brackets or wires of your braces. Until your orthodontist repairs the damage, your...
In order to get braces for the teeth, someone has to display a physical structure issue in order to qualify. There are several reasons why someone may need braces, including malocclusions such as crooked teeth, overbite, overcrowding, breathing...
Braces are a common option for treating misaligned teeth. The series of brackets and wires put pressure on the teeth, helping to correct the disorder. While braces are most often seen on teens, many adults get braces later in life to realign their...
Orthodontic braces are made up of a handful of appliances that work together to straighten your teeth. A primary component of braces is the brackets. According to Orthodontics.org, brackets are made of tiny pieces of metal or ceramic. A glue-type...
Having braces put on requires no needles, anesthetic or drilling into the tooth. The actual process of braces is usually quite simple, with minimal discomfort. The fear of braces is often unjustified; indeed, most patients, young and old, leave...
When you get braces, you most likely will have to modify some parts of your diet to protect them. Some foods can break the wires and dislodge the brackets. If this happens, you will have to immediately see your orthodontist to have your braces...
Braces are a common treatment used for fixing misaligned teeth. The process of putting on braces requires three basic steps. The application of braces is done by an orthodontist and is a relatively painless procedure. Knowing how braces are put on...
Today's braces have changed from a generation ago with a more aesthetic look, more efficiency and better comfort. Orthodontic devices have so many variations they are being used at earlier ages to simplify treatment later on. Adults make up about...
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) says straightening crooked or poorly aligned teeth can improve a person's ability to properly to chew, bite and speak. Teeth that are correctly aligned also enhance the overall health of teeth and...
If you have recently had traditional metal braces installed, you may be wondering what foods it is safe to eat without worrying about breaking your brackets or wires. BracesQuestions.com notes that it is important to take care of your braces to...
Emerging theories in orthodontic care have changed the timing of when children get braces. By putting braces on baby teeth, orthodontists can better manage jaw growth and positioning of adult teeth. The result is typically a two-phase approach,...
You have undergone months, or perhaps years, of orthodontic treatment in the form of dental braces and now it is time to have them removed. Understanding the process that your orthodontist will follow to remove your braces will help you better...
Teeth are vitally important because they help you eat, speak and smile. You can usually maintain them with good oral hygiene practices, such as frequent brushing and flossing, but sometimes you may have a problem that goes beyond the normal scope...
Twenty percent of orthodontic patients are adults, according to the American Association of Orthodontics, or AAO, which means that the vast majority of people who wear braces are children. It is easier to correct problems in a youngster's mouth as...
The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, recommends that children have their first orthodontia appointment by age 7. The reason, according to the AAO, is that developmental problems such as cross bites or narrow jaw can best be treated...
If you or your child have dental braces, changes have to be made in the diet for the treatment to be successful. The American Dental Association warns that some foods must be completely eliminated from the diet because they can loosen or break the...
In some cases, children and adults may benefit from removable orthodontic apparatuses rather than traditional, fixed braces. Unlike the usual metal bands and wires, removable apparatuses are made of plastic. They fit over the teeth and are molded...
Teeth grinding -- also referred to as bruxism -- is a relatively harmless, yet rather annoying habit. Bruxism can develop out of stress or anxiety, but can also be the result of eating with braces. However, when it is prolonged, teeth grinding can...
If your teeth are crowded or misaligned, you may be interested in straightening them. Braces are a popular treatment option; however, some people prefer not to use these devises to align their teeth. If you are one of those people, there are a...
A smile is often the first thing people notice about you so it makes sense that you want your teeth to be straight. While braces are an option, they can be unsightly and uncomfortable. Maintenance can also be a chore. Fortunately, today there are...
The discomfort associated with braces remains a primary driver of anxiety in potential orthodontic patients and it is cited as the No. 1 cause for patients who discontinue treatment before the recommended duration has been reached, according to...
Braces are typically applied to teeth when they grow in crooked. An orthodontist will attach the braces to your teeth with a few drops of cement, which hold the wires and bands that are placed along your teeth. Braces are more fragile than they...
Having "railroad tracks" was once the only choice of adults and children facing braces on their teeth, but today there are more options. The chief competitor of traditional wire braces is Invisalign, an invisible, removable aligner tray that gets...
Orthodontists are dentists who are trained in diagnosing and treating misalignments of the teeth and jaw. Orthodontists who treat children focus on the development of the teeth and jaws and on preventing or correcting problems with misalignment....
A child who has just had braces put on may feel self-conscious as well as uncomfortable. Braces on the teeth can take some getting used to, and your child's mouth may be sore for several days after getting braces and following periodic...
Dental braces often invoke the image of awkward adolescents with silvery smiles. But braces are not only for children: Many adults seek orthodontia to straighten teeth and fix bite problems not corrected when they were younger. Accidents may have...
Wearing braces is far from an ideal situation for most teenagers. Learn how to help a teen cope with wearing braces in this parenting video.
