4 Things You Should Know After Your First Orthodontic Appointment

August 20, 2019 Austin Orthodontics

You’ve spent your whole life without braces until now, so it only makes sense you would feel a little apprehensive about getting orthodontic treatment. You are likely wondering just how you feel with braces, what will be safe to eat, and how to best go about your daily routine with braces. Luckily, these questions will all be answered when you visit us here at Austin Orthodontics, so you’ll be fully prepared to handle life with braces. Here are some important things you will know after your first appointment. 

Food Restrictions

One of the most important aspects of orthodontic treatment to be prepared for is knowing what is okay to eat and what foods could damage your braces. While you won’t have to just stick to applesauce or jello, you’ll want to avoid especially crunchy foods like granola, hard candy, or apples. It’s also best to avoid sticky or chewy foods like taffy or jerky. 

To prepare yourself for a braces-friendly diet, stock up on softer foods and spend a couple weeks figuring out which foods you like best. If you will be using Invisalign, you’ll have no restrictions on the foods you can eat, but you’ll still need to remember to have your aligners out when you eat and to keep up with regular cleaning. 

Cleaning Your Teeth

Speaking of cleaning, you will have to take extra good care of your teeth while you have braces to avoid tooth decay and staining. Since food can easily get trapped between brackets, you should carefully brush your teeth with toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush after each meal. It’s also good to rinse with mouthwash every day to thoroughly clean your teeth. In addition, you will have to be extra careful when flossing, since you will have to maneuver the floss around the brackets and wires. 

Dealing with Initial Discomfort

When you first get your braces, you may experience some discomfort due to them rubbing against the inside of your cheeks or lips. This won’t always be the norm with your braces, but you’ll certainly want ease the discomfort when you start your treatment. Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water will help ease the pain in your mouth while also facilitating quick healing. 

It also may be difficult to talk right when you get your braces installed since there is suddenly less space for your lips, teeth, and tongue to interact. This will also go away after a short time as you get used to your braces. 

When You Will Get Your Braces Taken off

One of the biggest questions you will likely have when you start your treatment with braces is just how long you will have to keep your braces in. The answer will vary from person to person, but the most common range to expect is anywhere between 18 months and two years. At Austin Orthodontics, we always give our patients a rough estimate of when they will be done with treatment, while emphasizing the fact that the end date may change based on the way your teeth react to treatment.

While this is some of the most important information to get at your first orthodontic appointment, we love answering all of the questions our patients have. So be sure to ask us whatever you want to know at any time during your treatment.

 

Posted in Braces, Orthodontist, Treatment for adults, Treatment for kids, Treatment for teensTagged , , , , ,

[Video] The Benefits of Maxillary Expansion

August 15, 2019 Austin Orthodontics

In his most recent appearance on KXAN, Dr. Briggs talks about maxillary expansion, including the benefits of the procedure, how it works, and the best candidates for it.

You can read the story here: Maxillary Expansion Benefits with Austin Orthodontics.

Or watch the video here:

To find out if you or your child could benefit from maxillary expansion, schedule a free exam with Dr. Briggs by calling (512) 331-7900.

 

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

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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 , , , ,