Should You Have More than One Child in Braces at the Same Time?

August 13, 2019 Austin Orthodontics

When you have kids, you’ll often find yourself juggling the different needs of each child while trying to meet your own at the same time. As you’ve watched your kids grow, you’ve likely been mentally preparing for when they will need to get braces to straighten their teeth. If you have more than one child, the idea of having multiple kids in braces at the same time may sound a bit intimidating, but this actually has some benefits you should consider. 

You Can Schedule Appointments at the Same Time

The thing about having more than one kid with braces at once is you will have to go through the process fewer times, perhaps just once depending on how many kids you have and how you time their treatment. If you have multiple kids in braces, you can take care of their appointments at the same time, from when they get their consultation to when they get their braces off. Since each person’s treatment will be different, one may be in treatment longer than the other, but they will mostly be on the same schedule.

It Will Be Easier to Keep Track of Food Restrictions

When a patient has braces, there are certain things they should avoid eating so they don’t damage their braces or get food stuck in them that they can’t remove. Having one child who can eat anything and one who can’t can be tricky. If both of your kids have braces, neither one of them will be able to eat crunchy or sticky foods, so you can simply eliminate them from your grocery list. Once their treatments are over, you can go back to buying all of the foods you normally would and not have to worry about food limitations again. 

Your Kids Are Less Likely to Tease Each Other

If one child has braces and the other doesn’t, it can be a headache dealing with one sibling teasing the other. It can also cause added stress on your child during their treatment. If your kids have braces at the same time, it evens the score and they have no reason to tease each other. Plus, if they encounter any teasing from their peers, they can support each other since they know what the other is going through. 

You Have to Keep Track of Treatment Fewer Times

When your kids have braces, you will need to help them stay on track with their treatment plan. This includes making sure they are eating foods that are safe for their braces, but it also entails other factors. You’ll need to make sure they are keeping their elastics in and replacing them on time, avoiding rough play without a proper mouthguard, and keeping up with good oral hygiene. 

Multiple Family Member Discounts

Orthodontists understand treatment is an added expense and the thought of paying for two or more sets of braces can be daunting. To make braces more affordable for families, many orthodontists, including Austin Orthodontics, offer discounts to those who have more than one child in treatment at the same time. This discount also lessens the need for parents to decide who is going to get treatment first, which can be a hard decision to make.

If your kids are close in age and you manage to get them in braces at the same time, you can deal with the process once and save some money. Obviously if your kids are spread out in age or not ready for treatment at the same time, this won’t work, but if you have two or more that are ready for treatment, consider doing them both at once.

If you have any questions or concerns about orthodontic treatment for your kids, feel free to contact Austin Orthodontics today! 

Posted in Braces, Treatment for kidsTagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Heading Back to School with Braces and Confidence

August 1, 2019 Austin Orthodontics

While the summer fun isn’t over quite yet, it is time to start thinking about getting back into the routine of the school year. If you have pre-teens or teenagers, or if you are a college student getting ready to head back for another year, it can be a bit nerve wracking thinking about going back to school with braces. Luckily, you have plenty of reasons to feel confident about walking through your school doors while your going through orthodontic treatment. 

Getting Past the Nerves

Many people in school highly value the views of their peers, with many going to great lengths to gain approval. While many kids think having braces will be embarrassing, the fact of the matter is having braces isn’t viewed the way it used to be. In the old days, braces weren’t nearly as common and kids that had to get braces were often stuck with very bulky metal braces. Today, braces are much more common and far more subtle than they used to be, and you rarely hear kids bullying others because of their braces. 

In fact, modern options for orthodontic treatment can even make you feel excited to head back to school and show off your smile before your treatment is even over. When you visit Austin Orthodontics for your free consultation, be sure to ask about these fun options for braces. 

WildSmiles

Many tweens and teens go into their treatment with braces thinking they are simply going to have to tolerate them. However, your kids can find ways to have fun with their braces, and the options available with WildSmiles are proof of that. These fun braces work just as well as traditional braces but come in a wide variety of stylish shapes, including sports balls, diamonds, and stars. Your kids can mix and match their favorite designs when they get adjustments for different events or if they just feel like switching things up. 

Colored Bands

Each set of braces comes with elastic bands called ligatures, which connect the different parts of your braces together. Your kids can choose bright colors for their ligatures based on their favorite colors, teams, or for different seasons. There are even glow-in-the-dark bands available for a spooky addition to any Halloween costume. 

Subtle Treatment Options

There are plenty of options to choose from that make orthodontic treatment less visible. Ceramic braces work the same way as traditional metal braces, but have tooth-colored, medical-grade ceramic brackets instead of metal brackets. This makes these braces much harder to see throughout the course of the treatment. 

Invisalign is hands down the most discreet treatment option thanks to aligners that are completely clear. The additional advantage to this treatment option is the aligners are also removable for limited hours during the day, allowing for removal during meals or sporting events. 

Contact Austin Orthodontics today to learn more about treatment options that are perfect for going back to school! 

Posted in Braces, Treatment for kidsTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Why You Still Might Need Braces Even if Your Teeth Look Straight

July 25, 2019 Austin Orthodontics

For people who are unhappy with their smile, getting braces makes sense. However, if you like the way your teeth look, you may not think you need braces. While this could be the case, there may also be issues that aren’t as noticeable when you look in the mirror.

Unseen Crowding

Even if you have a good-looking smile, there could be problems you can’t see. When you get orthodontic treatment with braces or clear aligners, it fixes far more than cosmetic issues.

One common issue is crowding, which is caused by a shortage of space between your teeth. When your teeth are crowded, it often affects the appearance of your smile, but some people can have crowding in the back of their mouth, leaving their smile still looking straight. The problem with crowding is food can easily get stuck in between your teeth, making it difficult to thoroughly clean them. This will inevitably lead to tooth decay and possibly worse oral health problems.

Crowding can also cause one or two teeth to be positioned higher than the surrounding teeth. This will cause a disproportionate amount of force to be put on those teeth, which erodes the tooth over time unevenly or causes cracking, both of which you want to avoid.

Underlying Issues

Not all orthodontic issues occur above the gum lines. X-rays often discover problems that need to be fixed but are currently not affecting a smile’s appearance. For example, some patients have adult teeth that have never erupted, either because there wasn’t enough space or the baby teeth never fell out. These trapped teeth can even end up sideways under the gums in an attempt to move into their proper positions.

Braces are often needed to fix these types of underlying issues, either as part of the initial treatment, or after the fact to return the smile to its straight, healthy state.

This is one of the many reasons we don’t recommend mail-order orthodontic treatment. These providers rely on impressions and selfies submitted by their customers, which means any issues hiding under the gums are not addressed.

Misaligned Bite

While your smile may look straight to others, many people have to force their smile to look normal due to an overbite or underbite. Both of these conditions can complicate your oral health by leading to uneven pressure in your mouth, speech or eating problems, or jaw pain. By getting braces or clear aligners, you can get your bite to a normal position and always bite down comfortably while never having to adjust your jaw to make your smile look straight.

To schedule a free consultation and see how braces can improve your oral health, contact Austin Orthodontics today!

Posted in BracesTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

4 Ways to Limit How Much Sugar You Eat with Braces

July 3, 2019 Austin Orthodontics

The process of getting a straighter smile you’ll be proud of includes going through orthodontic treatment. Braces are still the most common method of straightening teeth and setting yourself up for good long-term oral health. This treatment method takes plenty of getting used to, but the results will be far more than worth it. One of the adjustments you’ll need to make during your treatment is cutting back on sugar.

Reasons to Avoid Sugar with Braces

Besides the fact that sugar is something you should always do your best to avoid, you have an increased chance of experiencing tooth decay when you have braces. This is because food can more easily become trapped around the brackets, making it harder to clean off with brushing. Having sugary food become stuck in your braces causes plaque to build up, which will lead to the formation of cavities.

Another problem people often experience if they don’t take good care of their teeth while they have braces is discoloration of their teeth enamel. If you aren’t keeping with cleaning and choose sugary foods, you can end up with darker spots around your braces when they are removed.

1. Cut Out Hard Candy

One type of food you should be avoiding for multiple reasons is hard candy. Not only can the tough texture of hard candy possibly damage your braces, but the sugary residue can hide underneath the archwire and brackets. You should also avoid sugary cereals for the same reasons.

2. Reserve Desserts for Special Occasions

When it comes to typical dessert foods like cookies, ice cream, and cakes, you should cut back on how often you eat these foods. The best practice is to reserve these sorts of foods for special occasions, such as if you are at a wedding or birthday celebration. If you still feel like you need to appease your sweet tooth, you can schedule a “cheat day” one day a week where you can have a dessert to satisfy your craving.

3. Avoid White Bread

One type of food many people don’t think of as being sugary is starchy white bread. While this may not exactly be a dessert food, white bread processes in your body the same way sugar does. The same goes for your teeth. White bread processes into sugar in the mouth, which quickly leads to tooth decay. In fact, the texture and contents of white bread can be even worse for your teeth than cane sugar.

4. Read Food Labels Carefully

It can be surprising just how much sugar gets packed into foods that seem like they are meant for meals rather than desserts. This is especially true in America, where sugar is a common ingredient in foods that are marketed as being “savory.” Many sauces like ketchup and barbeque sauce can have surprisingly high levels of sugar. When you go shopping at the store, be sure to read each label and look for the sugar content.

If you have any questions or concerns about life with braces, feel free to contact Austin Orthodontics.

Posted in Braces, Caring for bracesTagged , , , , , , ,

What the Elastics on Your Braces Do

Austin Orthodontics

During your orthodontic treatment with braces, you’ll become familiar with the various aspects of the orthodontic products being used. One of the most important parts of your braces is rubber bands, or elastics. Elastics play a major role in the process of correcting your teeth during your treatment, so it’s worth getting to know a little bit more about what they are and how they work.

What Are Orthodontic Elastics?

It may seem strange to put elastic bands in your mouth, but these bands are specially designed to provide necessary adjustments to your teeth. Orthodontic bands are quite a bit smaller than the typical rubber bands you might think of and are stiffer than conventional rubber bands to provide the force needed for adjustment. Orthodontic elastics are also made to be durable and to last a significant amount of time attached to your teeth.

There are two types of elastic bands you may end up having as part of your orthodontic treatment: elastic ligatures and interarch bands.

Elastic Ligatures

Most likely, you’re familiar with what braces look like. One thing you’ve probably noticed when you see someone with braces or a photo of braces is the tiny bands that surround each bracket of the braces. These small elastic bands hold the archwire in place against the bracket. The level of tightness of your elastic bands also helps in creating the pressure needed to straighten your teeth.

Your elastic ligatures will stay on your braces throughout the course of your treatment, and your orthodontist will often adjust or replace them when you go for your follow-up appointments. Many orthodontists have these bands in different colors, which means you can get them in your favorite colors, be festive for the holidays, or wear the colors of your school or favorite team.

Interarch Bands

Whether you get traditional metal braces or the Invisalign Clear Aligner System, you could also have interarch elastic bands. Rather than helping straighten your teeth to fix issues of crowding, large spaces, or crookedness, interarch bands fix problems with the jaw alignment. Interarch elastic bands run from the lower jaw to the upper jaw, connecting at attachments on your brackets, or on your teeth when it comes to Invisalign.

The pressure created by the interarch wires helps fix instances of overbites or underbites. As you wear your interarch bands with your braces, the pressure pulls the jaw in a direction that corrects your bite over time. In the instance of an underbite, the elastics attach towards the front of the jaw on the bottom and attach towards the back on the upper jaw, and vice versa for instances of an overbite.

When it comes to interarch bands, you’ll most likely wear these for the full length of your treatment, but you will need to replace them frequently yourself rather than waiting until an appointment to have them changed.

To learn more about how elastics play a role in your treatment, contact Austin Orthodontics today!

Posted in BracesTagged , , , , , , , ,

Why Are My Teeth Crooked?

June 20, 2019 Austin Orthodontics

As you think about starting orthodontic treatment to straighten your smile and improve your oral health, you might find yourself wondering, “Why are my teeth crooked in the first place?” The answer is different for everyone, which is part of the reason why everyone gets a personalized treatment plan to help with their specific issues. Still, there are some common reasons people’s teeth end up crooked.

Genetics

Just like nobody has perfectly clear skin or a totally symmetrical face, nobody has perfect teeth. Some people have pretty straight teeth naturally, but even they may have underlying issues orthodontic treatment can fix. Some people inherit genes that cause their teeth to grow in crooked. The actual ways genetics affect each person’s teeth varies. Some people have jaws that are too small for their teeth, resulting in crowding, or impacted teeth in severe cases. Other issues with the jaw can cause the person’s bite to be off, causing an overbite, crossbite, or underbite. Permanent teeth may simply grow in at awkward angles due to genetic hardwiring as well.

Bad Timing of Baby Teeth Loss

Many people don’t realize their baby teeth actually play a huge role in how the permanent teeth come in. Baby teeth guide the path of eruption, and if they fall out early or late, it can cause the permanent teeth to come in crooked. For example, if baby teeth don’t fall out when they are supposed to, the permanent teeth may erupt in front of or behind the baby teeth instead of in their proper positions.

Losing baby teeth too early can also affect where the permanent teeth come in. If your child sucks their thumb past toddlerhood, they may loosen the baby teeth early. This habit, along with extended pacifier use, also alters the shape of the jaw as the child is still growing and developing, which can lead to crooked teeth.

Other Bad Habits

Beyond thumb-sucking as a toddler, older children and even adults, can engage in bad habits that cause problems for their teeth grow. For instance, anxious habits like tongue-thrusting or teeth-grinding can alter the orientation of your teeth, causing crookedness and other oral health problems.

Injuries

Another potential source of crooked teeth is getting an injury. For one, getting a facial injury as a child can knock out a baby tooth early, which can lead to permanent teeth coming in improperly. If a permanent tooth is knocked out, it’s important to get a replacement tooth put in as soon as possible since the surrounding teeth will begin to move to fill in the gap.

To straighten crooked teeth, most people undergo orthodontic treatment with either braces or the Invisalign, which both help move the teeth and jaws to an ideal position. Early orthodontics starting at age seven can also help correct the issues that cause crooked teeth before the permanent teeth erupt.

Contact Austin Orthodontics and schedule a free consultation to see which treatment option could be right for you!

Posted in BracesTagged , , , , ,

How to Take Care of Your Retainer

June 13, 2019 Austin Orthodontics

Once your braces are removed and you get to see the amazing results of months, or possibly years, of hard work, you want to make sure you maintain your healthy new smile. That’s why it’s important to wear your retainer for the time your orthodontist prescribes. Of course, this also means taking good care of your retainer.

Keeping Removable Retainers Safe

There are several different types of retainers you might get from your orthodontist, and the length of time you need to wear your retainer depends on your specific needs. Sometimes, you may be required to wear your retainer for most of the day soon after you get your braces out. If your retainer is removable, you’ll want to be careful to take it out for meals to avoid damage. Be sure to store your retainer in a distinct case while you eat instead of on a napkin, especially if you are at a restaurant. This will ensure servers don’t accidentally toss it in the trash with your napkin.

If you only have to wear your retainer for part of the day, which is often done at night for convenience, your retainer will be stored much of the time. You’ll want to pick a safe spot away from kids or pets but that’s still easy for you to access so your retainer doesn’t get damaged and you still remember to wear it.

Keeping Your Retainer Clean

After meals, brush your teeth thoroughly with a soft-bristled toothbrush and do the same with your retainer separately. This will prevent food from getting trapped underneath your retainer and causing tooth decay.

When your retainer spends a large portion of the day in its case, you run the risk of bacteria growing on it, which can lead to plaque buildup. Needless to say, this can become very problematic for your teeth. One strategy to prevent plaque buildup is to store your retainer in a case that has small holes near the top for air circulation. It also helps to keep it on a shelf or counter rather than inside a closet or cabinet where there is no airflow.

Another problem that can come up with retainers is calcium buildup, which can interfere with the bite. You can keep your retainer soaked in a denture solution or in water with baking soda to prevent this buildup. Just be sure to avoid harsh chemicals, such as bleach or mouthwash, when you soak your retainer.

Any time you might need to bring your retainer along with you, such as for road trips or if you simply need to get more hours in during the day, be careful about subjecting your retainer to heat. It can be easy to forget about your retainer if you have it in a bag in your car. Summers can get pretty hot in Austin, and the heat can warp your retainer.

If you have any other questions about how to store your retainer, feel free to contact Austin Orthodontics.

Posted in RetainersTagged , , , , , , ,

The Benefits of Early Orthodontics

May 22, 2019 Austin Orthodontics

Most people are familiar with getting braces as a teenager or as an adult to correct the alignment of their teeth, but getting early intervention is often an important first step for children. Sometimes referred to as two-phase orthodontics, early orthodontics can greatly help kids with more severe orthodontic problems, setting them up for a healthier smile as they get older.

What is Early Orthodontics?

Most people get orthodontic treatment in their teen years or adulthood, but some kids require a treatment plan when they are around the age of seven. Early orthodontic treatment plans are designed to make more difficult adjustments when the jaw is more malleable at a younger age, making the second phase of treatment easier. Not every child will need early orthodontics, but it’s definitely worth it to bring your child to see your orthodontist when they are about seven years old to see if it is right for them. Otherwise, they could require more invasive procedures later on in life, such as an especially long phase with braces, getting teeth pulled, or surgery.

What Does Early Orthodontics Fix?

There are several reasons your child could benefit from early orthodontics. One reason could simply be excessive crookedness or large spaces between the teeth. Whether due to bad habits like thumb-sucking or genetics, you might notice your child’s permanent teeth are appearing in all the wrong places. To avoid needing a long time with braces or perhaps having surgery, your child could get treatment while their jaw is still growing, making the necessary adjustments far easier.

Sometimes, the jaw itself grows irregularly, causing the teeth to not bite down properly. This can also lead to underbites, overbites, and crossbites, which can be more difficult to fix later on in life. When the jaw doesn’t grow correctly, it can also cause teeth to become impacted, which is when a permanent tooth doesn’t have room to erupt. Early orthodontics can fix these issues with little intrusion and short-term solutions, preventing more involved and costly treatments in the future.

Common Early Phase Treatments

One of the most common types of early phase treatments is partial braces. When your child is young and their jaw is still growing, partial braces can quickly make precise adjustments to fix issues of crowding and spacing. Partial braces will only be installed on the teeth that are the most severely misaligned, positioning them to more easily adjust with a full set of braces when they are older.

Another common method of early intervention involves using a palatal expander. When the upper jaw is too small, it can lead to issues like a misaligned bite, crowding, and impaction. A palatal expander is a small metal device adhered to the roof of the mouth, with extensions that apply pressure to the inside of the upper jaw. This early phase treatment will expand the upper jaw to make room for all the teeth to erupt properly and for the jaw to bite down comfortably.

Contact Austin Orthodontics today and schedule a free consultation to see if your child could benefit from early orthodontics.

Posted in Early orthodontics, Treatment for kidsTagged , , , ,

Do I Need Braces?

May 15, 2019 Austin Orthodontics

By now, you’ve no doubt heard about braces as a way of getting a better smile. While getting a better smile sounds fantastic, it is also a significant investment when it comes to your time, effort, and finances. So you may be wondering, “Do I need braces?”

A common misconception is that braces only serve the purpose of straightening your teeth, but there are plenty of reasons people get braces other than just fixing crookedness. When you complete your orthodontic treatment, your teeth will be optimally positioned to keep your smile both looking better than ever and healthy for as long as possible. Here are some signs braces could be right for you.

You Have Crooked Teeth

Starting with a rather obvious reason, braces are for you if you want to have a straight smile you are proud to show off. Crooked teeth are often pretty easy to see, making the results of a treatment with braces pretty dramatic. But what exactly is crookedness? Crowding is a major culprit of crooked teeth, causing teeth to appear jagged and stick out in awkward places. Excess gaps result in crookedness as well.

Crowding can also cause some teeth to stick out more, putting too much pressure on just one or two teeth when you bite down, and leading to wear. By fixing crowding, your bite can evenly put pressure on all of your teeth.

You Don’t Bite Down Correctly

Braces can also fix instances of misaligned bites. Normally, your upper jaw rests a little bit over your lower teeth, allowing the bottom of your lower teeth to still show. If your jaw sits too far forward and starts to perhaps even hit your lower gums, or if you can’t fully bite down without forcing your upper jaw forward, you could benefit from braces. Having a set of braces with elastic bands can fix instances of underbites and overbites, allowing your bite to feel smooth and natural.

Frequent Cavities

When teeth are crooked, it makes it far easier for food to get trapped in your mouth. This leads to decay over time, even if you keep up with recommended oral hygiene habits. Even if your smile looks perfectly straight, getting braces can be beneficial in spacing your teeth in a way that allows you to actually reach all parts of your teeth.

To really answer the question of whether or not you need braces, you should schedule your free consultation with our team of orthodontic specialists today. We can get a complete look at your teeth and find out if there are any issues you aren’t aware of. If you experience frequent jaw pain, tooth sensitivity, or can’t seem to bite or speak comfortably, these problems could be solved with braces. Schedule an appointment at Austin Orthodontics today!

Posted in BracesTagged , , , ,

Why Austin Orthodontics Is the Best Orthodontist for You

May 3, 2019 Austin Orthodontics

There can be a lot of claims that a certain orthodontist is the best of the best, but what backs up those claims? You see, to be among the best in the industry, it takes dedication, skill and the absolute willingness to provide patients with superior treatment plans and top-of-the-line products. There’s no cutting corners when you’re the best solution in orthodontics. When it comes to choosing an orthodontist to help correct the issues with your teeth, don’t you want the best? Here’s why Austin Orthodontics is the best orthodontist for you.

A Step Above the Competition

Choosing an orthodontist can be a daunting task if only because there are so many to choose from. Find an orthodontist who focuses on you. At Austin Orthodontics, our mission is to provide top-level care and help our patients achieve the best smiles possible. Our team offers a state-of-the-art experience in a warm inviting, stress-free environment, so our patients can focus on one thing—their treatment.

Not only is our team among the best in the industry, they help patients get the most out of their treatment, providing them with the necessary guidance and tools for maximum success. Through specialized treatment plans, our staff provides custom solutions for each individual patient, going the extra mile to ensure treatment is comfortable and the absolute best it can be.

Superior Treatment Plans

Our professionals treat a variety of orthodontic issues and address problems with bites, crowding, spacing, alignment and more. We offer custom-designed plans, utilizing numerous products, including:

  • Invisalign clear aligners
  • Self-ligating braces
  • Ceramic braces
  • WildSmiles

Our practice also offers OrthoPulse, which aids in reducing the treatment time for patients with braces or clear aligners. Utilizing low level light therapy, the bone around the roots of the teeth is stimulated, facilitating tooth movement.

Next Level Expertise

Unlike many orthodontic practices, our team has extensive experience with jaw issues, such as TMJ. This oftentimes debilitating condition can cause extreme discomfort and pain, making everyday tasks, like eating and talking, uncomfortable. Our digital radiology and imaging software is used to help achieve lasting results, helping patients suffering from these issues to live a life free from pain.

Our team also specializes in surgical orthodontics to help correct issues, such as jaw bone abnormalities and malocclusions. This complex area of treatment helps to properly align the jaw and allow for proper growth.

Choosing Austin Orthodontics

When you choose our team, you not only get the very best treatment available, you get to work with the brightest minds in the industry. We’re focused on you and your success, and we ensure your treatment plan is tailored to you and only you. When you’re searching for the right orthodontist for you, choose wisely. After all, the fate of your success begins with your orthodontic team. When it’s time to choose a practice that you can trust, choose Austin Orthodontics.

The team at Austin Orthodontics is ready to help you achieve a dazzling smile! Call (512) 331-7900 to learn more.

Posted in About Austin OrthodonticsTagged , , , ,