Braces Treatment in Baltimore, Pikesville, & Parkville, MD

Dental braces offer a range of important benefits. First and foremost, they help straighten crooked teeth, which not only improves the appearance of your smile but also makes it easier to clean your teeth, reducing the risk of dental problems like cavities and gum disease. Braces are also great for fixing bite issues, such as overbites or underbites, which can lead to better oral function and prevent future problems. Plus, having a straighter smile often boosts self-confidence and can improve speech clarity for those with speech issues related to misaligned teeth.

Yes! Your dentist will continue to monitor your overall oral health and oversee cleanings during your braces treatment. It is important to keep all scheduled appointments with your orthodontist and dentist during your treatment.

To floss with braces, use a floss threader or special orthodontic floss to thread the floss behind each wire. Wrap the ends of the floss around your pointer fingers of both hands, leaving a few inches of taught floss between them. Gently slide the floss between each set of teeth using a back and forth motion. Floss the sides of each tooth beneath the gum line to remove plaque and food particles. Repeat this process until you’ve flossed all of your teeth.

Brushing your teeth with braces may take a little extra effort, but it’s crucial for maintaining excellent oral health. Brush your teeth for two minutes after every meal with a soft-bristled, small-headed toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Brush the outside and inside surfaces of your teeth using small, gentle, circular motions while positioning the head of the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line. Brush your teeth’s chewing surfaces and the inside surface of your front teeth using short, gentle, back-and-forth motions. An electric toothbrush can make this process even easier.

Contact us immediately if a wire or bracket comes loose. If a metal component is causing discomfort, you can cover it with orthodontic wax until it can be repaired. Orthodontic wax can be purchased at any pharmacy.

Tap water and milk are your best choices for drinks during braces treatment. Beverages like coffee, tea, and red wine can stain teeth. Try to avoid these, or consume them sparingly. Avoid regular and diet soft drinks when wearing braces. This includes soda pop, sports drinks/energy drinks, flavored bubbly waters, and fruit drinks. These drinks contain acids and/or sugars that dissolve tooth enamel and can lead to cavities. Be sure to brush right away after drinking anything other than water. If brushing is not possible, rinse thoroughly with water

It’s important to be mindful of the foods you eat to prevent damage to your braces and to maintain good oral hygiene. Here are some foods to avoid, or consume with caution, while wearing braces:

• Hard and Crunchy Foods: These can damage the brackets and wires. Avoid foods like hard candies, popcorn, nuts, and ice.
• Sticky and Chewy Foods: These can get stuck in your braces, making it difficult to clean your teeth properly. Examples include caramel, taffy, chewing gum, and gummy candies or supplements.
• Foods that Require Biting with Front Teeth: Be cautious with foods that you have to bite into with your front teeth, like apples and corn on the cob. It’s best to cut them into smaller, more manageable pieces.
• Foods with Small Seeds: Foods with small seeds, like strawberries and sesame seeds, can get lodged in your braces and are challenging to remove.
• Hard and Tough Meats: If you eat meat, try to choose tender cuts and avoid foods that require excessive force to chew.
• Crusty Bread and Pizza Crusts: These can be hard to bite into without damaging your braces. Softening them by tearing them into smaller pieces or dipping them in sauce can help.

A healthy diet supports the body as it undergoes the biological changes that occur during braces treatment. It’s good to enjoy a variety of healthful, easy-to-chew foods during your treatment. Foods that are soft and easy to chew, like soups, stews, casseroles, pasta, scrambled eggs, and smoothies, are great choices. You can enjoy fresh fruits like apples and pears, but they should be sliced rather than bitten into. Similarly, sandwiches and pizza are OK, but they should be cut into bite-sized pieces. If you enjoy eating corn, cut the corn off the cob before eating.

It’s normal to feel some discomfort when braces are placed, or for a short time after your braces are adjusted. Overall, this discomfort is short-lived and easily managed. Any discomfort can be relieved by rinsing with warm salt water (1 tsp. salt to 8 oz. of warm water), or by taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. Cold soft foods such as ice cream and pudding are helpful as well. Just be sure to brush well after consuming them!

It usually takes 1-2 hours for your braces to be placed.

During your placement appointment, your teeth are cleaned and dried thoroughly. A cheek retractor may be used to keep the teeth dry and accessible. Our orthodontic team applies a strong bonding agent to the teeth so the brackets (small metal or ceramic squares) can stay securely attached to each tooth.. A wire is threaded through the brackets, and ligatures (tiny rubber bands or metal wires) are used to secure the wire in place.

For Invisalign clear aligners, a series of aligner trays are custom-made for the patient. These trays are worn over the teeth and gradually shift them into the desired positions.

Before your braces are placed, you should visit your dentist for a thorough checkup and cleaning. Also, let your orthodontist know if you usually take an antibiotic before going to the dentist or have any metal allergies, especially to nickel.

Braces correct a variety of orthodontic issues, such as crooked teeth, overcrowding, gaps between teeth, overbites (when upper teeth overlap lower ones), underbites (when lower teeth jut forward), open bites (where the upper and lower teeth don’t meet), and misalignments.

Once your braces are placed, you’ll return to our office every 4-8 weeks for adjustments to brackets and wires in order to keep your tooth alignment on track. Depending upon your unique orthodontic needs, braces treatment can last anywhere from 6 months to 3 years.

When the orthodontist determines that the treatment goals have been achieved, the braces are removed. You most likely will need to wear a retainer to maintain the corrected alignment of your teeth. Retainers help prevent relapse, which is the tendency of teeth to return to their original positions.

There’s never a bad time to get braces, but when possible, braces treatment can be most effective between the ages of 9 and 14. At this point, the jaw and facial bones are more malleable because they’re still developing. Adult braces are just as effective, but it might take a little longer to achieve the desired results.

The average amount of time for braces treatment is between 1 and 3 years. You may need them for a shorter or longer amount of time depending on your unique circumstances.

In general, most insurance plans that provide dental coverage will cover a portion of braces, since braces are considered a medically necessary treatment that will improve a patient’s oral and overall health. However, some plans come with certain restrictions for braces, such as a lifetime cap on treatment. Our finance team can help review your insurance coverage.

Absolutely. Even if you currently have a crown or bridge, you can enjoy the many benefits of correct teeth alignment and a brilliant smile. The orthodontist may recommend traditional or removable braces to correct the alignment of your teeth.

It may take a few days to get used to speaking with your braces or aligners, but as your mouth adjusts, you will be able to speak normally again.

Smoking with braces runs the risk of severely staining teeth and causing a host of other oral health problems and is not recommended.

Gum is permitted if it is on the ADA (American Dental Association) approved list of sugar-free gums. These gums are sweetened by non-cavity causing sweeteners such as aspartame, sorbitol, or mannitol.

In most cases, a retainer will need to be worn after treatment. A retainer prevents teeth from gradually shifting back to their original positions.