Braces in Cincinnati, OH

Braces can correct crowded and crooked teeth, jaw problems, and a misaligned bite, and jaw problems. They can also eliminate problems you may have with speaking and eating properly.

At Kemper Meadow Family Dentistry, we offer multiple types of braces or aligners to meet your orthodontic as well as cosmetic requirements.

How Braces Work

If you’re thinking about getting braces in Cincinnati, OH or have a teen who needs them, it’s important to understand braces work. Braces use a controlled and slow process that uses constant pressure and force.

There’s a biomechanical bone remodeling process your teeth go through as they move. As the braces apply pressure on your teeth, the bone and “periodontal membrane” surrounding your teeth are impacted. This periodontal membrane totally surrounds your tooth in its socket and basically helps anchor your tooth to the bone. When the braces apply pressure, the periodontal membrane is compressed on one side and stretched on the other. And, this efficiently loosens your tooth out of its socket.

The bone is broken down on the compressed side to allow for the new tooth position. The new bone is made on the stretched side. It’s a very slow process and explains why it can take some time to wear braces before the desired results are achieved.

Types of Braces in Cincinnati, OH

There are numerous types of braces, including:

1. Traditional Braces

Traditional braces have come a long way since earlier times. They’re now:

• Lighter in structure
• Lighter in weight
• Come with high-grade stainless steel metal brackets

Each of the brackets link to one another with a thin archwire. This adds pressure on your teeth, causing them to gradually move into the proper position.

2. Ceramic wired braces

Ceramic wired braces or “clear braces” offer you a cosmetic alternative to traditional metal wired braces. They have ceramic brackets that match your teeth’s shade and they use clear elastic ties. But, ceramic braces, unfortunately, are more susceptible to breakage when you compare them to metal braces.

3. Removable, Clear Aligners

Clear aligners, particularly Invisalign, which we here at Kemper Meadow Family Dentistry offer, involve a series of clear plastic aligners that look similar to mouth guards. Our dentists will custom-make them for you. They’re removable for cleaning and eating. Every two weeks, you switch them for new aligners, with each new set of aligners adjusting your teeth a step further.

4. Damon Braces

Damon braces are presently popular with orthodontists since they require fewer dental visits and provide gentler treatment. They’re self-ligating and rather than elastics, they use a slide mechanism for connecting to the archwires.

Damon braces offer quicker results since your teeth can move on their own without requiring adjustment. This causes:

• Less pressure on your teeth
• Less friction on your teeth
• Less movement pain

They’re simpler to clean too. Plus, because you’ll need to make fewer trips to our office, this means the whole process will cost you less money and time.

Braces for Teens

Some teens worry about getting braces – how they feel and look. But your teen should know that braces help straighten their teeth so they’ll have a better looking smile. Many teenagers don’t have the best teeth, so if your teen’s teeth aren’t straight, they’re not alone. In fact, many of their classmates will likely need braces as well.

There are multiple reasons your teen might need braces. Teeth sometimes just grow unevenly. Or, your teen’s lower and upper jaws might not be the same size. When your teen’s upper jaw is larger than their lower jaw, it’s referred to as an overbite. If their lower jaw is larger than their bigger jaw, it’s an underbite.

These days, braces are much less visible. While metal braces still exist and are used often, it is possible for your teen to get clear braces or braces that match the color of their teeth, which will help them feel better about wearing them. You’ll even find braces that are applied to the back of your teen’s teeth so they’re not visible at all.

Also, the wires used in today’s braces are much smaller than those from earlier days. They straighten your teen’s teeth quicker and easier and are crafted of space-age material. They can even get cool looking colored rubber bands.

What to Expect When Getting Braces

The first step to getting braces involves our dentist thoroughly examining your teeth. They’ll take molds (impressions) of your teeth to make models to evaluate and also X-rays for looking at the positions of your teeth. They’ll also take measurements of your mouth too.

After a thorough evaluation, our dentist creates a treatment plan. This treatment plan will specify:

• What needs to be corrected
• Recommendations of treatment
• An estimated treatment length of time

You’ll sit down and consult with our dentist to discuss the benefits, risks, and alternatives of treatment, if any.

If needed, our dentist performs any required extractions before they place the braces. For the two-phase process, you’ll wear headgear and appliances like palatal expanders during the “phase-one” treatment for correcting any skeletal growth development issues.

For Traditional Braces

If you’re having traditional braces placed, our dentist bonds the brackets to all your teeth in the arch with special dental cement. They may place elastic spacers between your molars for one to two weeks before they place the brackets to make room for the metal bands and connected brackets. They’ll usually place the metal bands around your last molars.

Once they place the metal bands and/or brackets, they’ll then place the archwire or metal wire in the brackets and secure it with elastic rubber bands.

For Clear Aligners

If you’re going with clear aligners, our dentist takes accurate molds or dental impressions to have a series of aligners made specifically for your mouth. These aligners are clear trays that fit over your teeth and promote movement. You wear the trays for the two weeks and then progress on to the next trays.

You can expect to experience a little discomfort as you’re heading home. You might experience sensitive teeth and possibly sores in your mouth from your new braces. You’ll want to start off eating soft foods like pasta, soup, and bananas for the first several days. If needed, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers. Your sensitivity shouldn’t last more than several days. Our dentist will provide you with instructions to care for your braces properly.

Call our office today at Kemper Meadow Family Dentistry to set up your initial consultation for braces.