Braces In West Palm Beach & Wellington, FL
Freedman & Haas Orthodontics is dedicated to delivering the highest quality care to children, teens and adults using metal, ceramic and hidden braces. After your complimentary smile consultation, we will be able to discuss which treatment is right for you, based on your unique needs and specific smile goals. Braces address many types of dental issues, such as:
Crowded teeth
Gaps between teeth
Protruding teeth
Overbite
Underbite
Crossbite
Impacted teeth
Braces change the position of teeth over a period of time using sustained pressure. Drs. Freedman & Haas will adjust your braces periodically to ensure that any dental issue gets corrected. Do you have questions about the types of braces or would you like to see if they’re the right choice for addressing your dental concerns? Contact us today!
Types of Braces
Metal Braces
Metal braces are the type that many people think of when these dental appliances are mentioned. They’re made of stainless steel and are durable and affordable. If you want a colorful look when you’re wearing this type of braces, you can request different elastic colors to enhance your smile.
Lingual Braces
Are you nervous about how your smile will look while you wear braces? If you’re not thrilled about months or years of having the brackets and bands front and center, then consider lingual braces. These go behind your teeth, so you and your dentist are the only ones who know that you have them.
Gold Braces
Gold braces don’t actually use gold in them, but you get the same effect with stainless steel in that color. Some patients prefer this type of braces due to the sophisticated look that it gives their smile. They may also like having braces that aren’t the same as everyone else.
Ceramic Braces
If you want to downplay the appearance of your braces without adjusting to brackets on the backside of your teeth, then ceramic braces are an excellent option. The brackets are clear, so they’re much harder to see than stainless steel ones. The bands have a color that’s close to your natural tooth, so it contributes to the minimal appearance.
Two-Phase Orthodontic Treatment
Parents are often surprised when their child’s pediatric dentist recommends a visit to the orthodontist around age 7 because the child most likely hasn’t lost even half of their baby teeth. Why would you try and straighten teeth that are just going to fall out in a year or two?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children be evaluated by an orthodontist by age 7. When children are treated at such a young age, the orthodontist can identify any jaw issues that may cause long-term issues, including underbites, overbites and serious crowding.
As always, Drs. Freedman & Haas will help you decide on the best treatment for your child. Do remember that early intervention can lead to better outcomes and easier treatment when the patient is in their teens.
Phase One – The Growth Phase
When children are between ages 7 and 11, the orthodontist will often work to adjust the jaw, tooth alignments and dental ridges so that their mouths are ready for braces around age 11 to 13.
The orthodontist may use a dental appliance such as a space maintainer or palatal expander to improve the patient’s bite. The orthodontist may also prescribe retainers and headgear to help move the teeth into their proper positions. On some occasions, braces will be used for a short period of time before the retainer is employed.
After these initial adjustments, patients are given a “resting stage” so that all their permanent teeth can come in before the orthodontist applies braces.
Phase Two – The Alignment Phase
Once all the permanent teeth have emerged, the orthodontist will apply full braces to straighten the teeth and correct remaining alignment issues. Patients who go through Phase One treatment often have a better experience with their braces as well as a better long-term outcome. While Phase One alone may be enough for some patients, most will need to wear full braces for a year or two.
The type of braces used in Phase Two depend on the individual. Some will need traditional metal braces, while others may be able to wear invisible aligners.