Braces in Cookeville and Hendersonville, TN
Braces have the important job of straightening your teeth and improving your smile, and you probably know many people who either have them or have had them in the past. Whether or not you get braces and which type you get is up to you, and talking to an orthodontist to understand your needs and options can help!
Before you make your appointment to get braces, read on to learn more about how they work, what the benefits of braces are, and how to take care of them.
What Are Braces Used For And How Do They Work?
If you’ve heard of orthodontics, you’ve probably heard of dental braces. They are one of the most common orthodontic treatments, and their main job is to align and straighten your teeth and bite. Braces are made out of three parts that work together: brackets, bands, and wires.
Brackets are the pieces of metal or ceramic glued to each individual tooth. Wires are what connect those brackets together. Bands are often made out of rubber and help the brackets and wires do their job; they’re attached to both the upper and lower jaw and are typically used to target a specific group of teeth or correct your bite.
In order to straighten your teeth, braces need to pull and guide your teeth to the correct position. External pressure on both your teeth and jaws through the use of brackets, wires, and bands make this happen. The average treatment time for braces can take anywhere from 12 to 36 months, depending on your needs and the type of braces you choose.
Types of Braces Available at Koen Orthodontics
Not all braces are the same.
Here at Koen Orthodontics, we offer several types of braces so you can find an option that works for your budget and lifestyle.
Clear Ceramic Braces
Clear ceramic braces are the most popular choice today because they blend in with your teeth and appear more natural with their translucent material. Teens and adults may prefer them, appreciating that they aren’t as noticeable as other options. Some of the benefits of Clarity™Ceramic Braces include:
- A translucent material designed to build in with your teeth
- Small and smooth sizing for your comfort
- No staining or discoloration
- Trusted and used by orthodontists worldwide
- Proven success, used by more than one million satisfied patients
Traditional Metal Braces
We promise modern metal braces are nothing like the clunky, painful metal braces you remember hearing about. Today, metal braces are smaller and more comfortable than ever before with low profiles and strong adhesives. Victory Series™Metal Braces work just like traditional, full size braces — without the bulky size and discomfort. Some of the benefits of choosing traditional metal braces include:
- High bond strength that provides firm, corrective forces
- Unique natural curvature that provides maximum contact and comfort
- Smooth finish that’s easier on the lips and gums
- A multitude of colors to choose from for rubber bands
Alternative to Braces: Invisalign Clear Aligners
If you’d prefer not to use braces at all to strengthen and align your teeth, you do have another option: Invisalign clear aligners. Instead of using brackets that are glued to your teeth, Invisalign uses clear aligner trays to guide your teeth into position. Clear aligners are lightweight, durable, discreet, and removable, so you can eat what you like and brush with ease — and you don’t have to worry about getting any food caught in wires. Every Invisalign aligner is custom-made to your teeth and fits comfortably to provide effective and reliable results.
Who Can Benefit From Braces Treatment?
Braces aren’t just for young children or teens — adults need them, too. The treatment and styles of braces differ depending on your age.
Adult Braces
It’s never too late to consider upgrading your smile and getting braces treatment. Getting braces in your adult years can be very beneficial to your self-confidence, as well as your dental hygiene and health.
With more discreet options available for braces, more adults are seeking orthodontic care so they can take care of their teeth. Although the growth and development of the jaws is complete in adults, braces can still be very helpful with fixing gaps between teeth, overbites and underbites, and crooked teeth. There’s no age limit to braces or to moving healthy teeth and perfecting your smile!
Teen Braces
Teens are the most common orthodontic patient for braces, and it makes sense why — the teenage years are the perfect time to fix any issue with jaw structure, bite, and teeth alignment while their jaws are still developing. .
Most teenagers don’t have perfect smiles, and braces are the perfect choice. They help with appearance and self-confidence, but braces also help set up teenagers for success with their health. Crowded, crooked, or gapped teeth are more likely to cause plaque buildup and lead to cavities and gum disease. With braces, teens can get a head start on healthy dental hygiene.
Benefits of Braces Treatment
Braces have a big job — straightening and aligning your teeth. But they hold additional benefits, including:
- Preventing tooth decay and erosion
- Preventing gum inflammation and disease
- Reducing the likelihood of cavities
- Boosting self-confidence and self-esteem
- Fixing any bite alignment or other issues
- Decreasing your likelihood of getting TMJ disorders
- Improving chewing, digestion, and speech
Cleaning and Caring For Your Braces
Just like anything else for your health and wellness, you need to take good care of your braces and your oral hygiene while you have them. We know it seems more difficult to do things like floss or brush your teeth with braces on, but it’s not as hard as it seems.
Many people don’t know that braces can trap food in hard-to-reach areas that you can’t see, even when looking in the mirror. To take proper care of your teeth during your braces treatment, we recommend using mouthwash or water before brushing your teeth to loosen or remove any unwanted food particles. It takes a gentle hand to brush your teeth in small circles when you have braces, but you can still get full coverage when brushing. Another option is using an interdental brush, which is built specifically for removing plaque and debris from difficult spots.
You need to take good care of the braces themselves during your treatment, too. To make it easier on yourself, it’s helpful to avoid certain foods that are known to get stuck in your teeth, like corn on the cob, popcorn, caramel, and any other sticky or crunchy food. Avoiding these types of foods reduces the likelihood of your braces warping, breaking, or coming loose.
How Much Does Braces Treatment Cost?
Orthodontic treatment is different for every patient and there is no standard fee, so it’s hard to estimate exactly how much your braces treatment will cost without a consultation. Generally speaking, though, the average cost of braces is somewhere between $4,000–$8,000. Where your treatment falls in that range depends on the type of braces you choose, the severity of the orthodontic issue, the length of treatment, and the dental insurance you have.
At Koen Orthodontics, we accept many different types of insurance and offer flexible, zero-interest financing to help you afford treatment.
Who is a Good Candidate For Braces?
It’s hard to tell whether or not someone needs braces just by looking at their smile. Sometimes, people with straight teeth may have other issues with their bite or jaw that need to be fixed. Some of the symptoms that indicate whether or not you need braces include:
- Visibly crooked, crowded, or otherwise misaligned teeth
- Visible over or underbite, or an inability to properly close your teeth when your mouth is closed
- Day-to-day issues like biting your tongue when speaking, sore jaws after eating and chewing, or difficulty with speech
- Audible clicking or crunching from the jaw when speaking or eating
- Difficulty flossing or brushing misaligned teeth
- Visible spacing between teeth
Why Choose Koen Orthodontics For Your Braces Treatment
At Koen Orthodontics, we’re committed to providing a caring, comfortable, and effective treatment and experience to every patient that walks into our office. Dr. Tommy Koen and our team of highly qualified health care professionals have one goal: to provide our patients with the best service possible and help them improve their overall dental health and appearance.
With state-of-the-art technology and the most advanced sterilized equipment available, your safety is our top concern. If you’re interested in braces in the Hendersonville or Cookeville area, we’d love to welcome you to our practice. Request a free consultation with us today!