Premier Braces Treatment in California

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that children have an orthodontic evaluation no later than age 7. At this age, an orthodontist can detect subtle problems with emerging teeth and/or jaw growth that may need to be addressed. By taking your child to the orthodontist as recommended by the AAO, he or she can be monitored to ensure that if a problem does arise, treatment can begin at the most favorable time. Even if your child is older than 7, you should consider making an appointment with an orthodontist for an evaluation. Initial consultations at DiCiccio Freeman Orthodontics are complimentary, just call our office to schedule your child’s free consultation today.

It’s never too late to get braces! As long as you have healthy permanent teeth and no issues with your jaw bone or other oral structures, you could be a great candidate for braces treatment no matter your age.

The application of braces is painless. First, we’ll clean and dry your teeth to prepare them for the adhesive we’ll use to bond the brackets to the surface of your teeth. Once the brackets are bonded, we’ll insert the archwire into the brackets. It’s as simple as that! Right after your braces are put on, our doctors will provide instructions for oral care, diet, and timeline for your treatment.

Once your braces are removed, we’ll polish your teeth and get you fitted for your custom retainer. You will be required to wear a retainer following your braces treatment. Wearing your retainer is extremely important because it keeps your teeth in their proper places. If you neglect to wear your retainer, your teeth will begin drifting back to their previous positions.

Your treatment time depends on the issues that are being addressed. The type of bite that you have and/or any orthodontic issues you are being treated for all dictate how long you will have to wear your braces; however, for the most part, patients wear their braces between 12 and 24 months.

There are some foods that, for the sake of your braces, you will have to avoid for a while. Basically, the foods that you need to avoid are those that could damage or dislodge your braces and/or teeth.

Foods to avoid include:

• Chewy foods and candy – bagels, licorice, gummy candy, and pizza crust.
• Hard candy  – lemon drops and Jolly Ranchers.
• Sticky candy – caramel, chewing gum, and taffy.
• Ice – it is fine to have ice in your beverage; however, chewing on ice is very bad for your teeth. You should never chew or crunch on ice, even after your braces are removed.
• Foods that require biting into – raw apples, pears, carrots, corn-on-the-cob, chicken wings and ribs (bone-in).
• Crunchy, hard foods – nuts, cereals, popcorn, chips, and thick pretzels.

While you have your braces, it’s recommended that you drink beverages that are free of sugar. Water and milk are the best beverages to consume during your treatment because they won’t damage your tooth enamel, and they won’t stain your brackets.

Now that you have braces, you need to brush your teeth after every meal using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a fluoride-containing toothpaste that carries the American Dental Association’s Seal of Approval. In addition, you need to floss at least once a day. You must brush and floss between your teeth and brackets. Consider using an interdental brush to do this, just make sure you have the correct size brush: You should never have to force an interdental brush through a space. If you do, then it is too big and you need to try a smaller size.

After flossing, you can use a mouthwash or rinse. Remember to visit your orthodontist regularly so your progress can be monitored. You never know, maybe everything will be moving along so well that you will be ready to get your braces off early!

Since we are gradually moving your teeth into their proper positions, you should expect to experience some discomfort because of the gentle pressure exerted on your teeth. For the most part, this discomfort will be noticeable immediately after an adjustment, and become much more manageable over the following days. To ease the discomfort, you can gargle with a salt water rinse and/or take over-the-counter pain medication (e.g., Advil or Tylenol). In addition, we will provide you with Dental Wax. You can use this wax to smooth over any brackets that are bothering you.

To make your salt water rinse:

• Take ½ teaspoon of salt and add it to one cup of warm water.
• Gently rinse your mouth and then spit the salt water out.
• Once you have finished rinsing, if any salt water remains, it needs to be discarded.

Yes, regular checkups with your primary dentist will be key to keeping your teeth clean during your treatment. It’s easy for plaque to build up around your brackets during braces treatment, and your dentist will help you clean those hard-to-reach areas.

Braces won’t prevent you from your normal activities, but if you play an instrument or a contact sport, you may have to make some adjustments when you first get your braces.

When it comes to contact sports, we highly recommend you wear a mouthguard to protect your braces and prevent injury.

If a band or bracket comes loose from the tooth, call our office for an appointment. While a tight band or bracket actually protects a tooth from decay, a loose band or bracket is extremely dangerous and decay can occur under it very rapidly. If the band or bracket is still attached to a wire, leave it in place and apply wax if there is discomfort. If the band or bracket comes completely out, place it in an envelope and call for an appointment.

If a wire comes loose, try to place the wire back in the tube. Place wax over it if there are any discomfort and call for an appointment.