Traditional Braces – Milford, MA
The Standard for Tooth and Bite Realignment
Traditional braces have been around for many years, both as a concept and as the standard for addressing all levels of misalignment, crooked and rotated teeth, and uneven bites. For decades, Simply Orthodontics Milford has been proud to continue this tradition of helping families and individuals stay proactive against orthodontics issues before they can cause severe problems moving forward. Whether you or your child needs to fix severe levels of misalignment, bite problems, or another issue, we ask that you don’t hesitate to call our orthodontic office directly today for traditional braces in Milford, MA!
What Should I Expect from Metal Braces?
After performing a detailed exam of your mouth, we’ll confirm any unique issues that you might have and schedule you for a separate appointment to have the brackets and archwire placed. Once we clean and thoroughly dry your tooth enamel, we’ll apply a small amount of bonding material to each of your teeth one by one, then place a bracket on each tooth. Next, an archwire will be carefully threaded through each of the brackets. We’ll trim any excess wire so it doesn’t poke your gum tissue. Lastly, a series of bands are wrapped around each bracket. During this step, you can choose which color bands you’d like, whether they be colorful or less noticeable.
How Long Does Treatment Take With Metal Braces?
The overall length of your treatment will vary depending on the severity of your orthodontic issues. Furthermore, if your teeth need to travel a significant distance to become straight or if there not much room available for your teeth to shift, it can take longer to complete. It’s also imperative to practice effective at-home oral hygiene and follow our orthodontic office’s instructions. Most patients can expect to wear braces anywhere between one and three years. After the braces come off, you’ll wear a retainer for six to twelve months so your teeth do not shift back into their original crooked position.
Are Traditional Braces Right for Me?
In order to determine if you or your child needs braces, we will need to perform a detailed exam at our orthodontic office. During this exam, the orthodontist will then give their informed recommendation based on the severity of your dental issue. While crooked or misaligned teeth, uneven bites (aka malocclusions), and rotated teeth can all be resolved with traditional braces, you also might not need them if you only have a minor case to fix. Simply Orthodontics Milford is dedicated to providing you as many options as we see fit to improve your oral health and meet your personal preferences.
Understanding the Cost of Traditional Braces
The total cost of traditional braces depends on the details of your treatment. For example, a case that lasts just one year will, of course, be less expensive than a case requiring multiple years to complete. During your consultation, our team here at Simply Orthodontics Milford will be able to evaluate your situation and provide you with a personalized cost estimate. In the meantime, the following information may help you to anticipate what will be involved in paying for your treatment.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Traditional Braces
Several factors can impact the cost of braces, including:
- The severity of your misalignment: This affects treatment length, what type of accessories you will need and more. It is the most significant contributing factor to the overall price of braces.
- Age: Adults’ teeth tend to move more slowly than those of teenagers, which can make treatment more complex and slightly more costly.
- The number of appointments needed: Braces must be adjusted periodically throughout the treatment. How frequent your appointments are can influence the total cost of your care.
- Compliance with treatment guidelines: Failing to wear your elastics or eating food that damages your braces can delay your treatment and incur extra expenses.
Professional Braces vs. “DIY” Braces: Which Costs More?
You might have seen reports on social media about people who have created their own “braces” using household objects, such as fishing line, Super Glue and paperclips. At first, such methods might seem like a feasible solution for saving money, especially if you are on a tight budget and don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on professional braces.
However, extreme caution is in order. Many people who have tried DIY braces end up worsening their dental misalignment. They may also harm their tooth enamel and gums. Correcting such issues can be much more expensive and uncomfortable than investing in professional treatment in the first place.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Braces?
Some higher-end dental insurance plans cover braces. Typically, such plans have a lifetime orthodontic maximum, which covers 50 percent of the cost of treatment up to the given spending limit. A few plans limit their orthodontic coverage to patients under the age of 18 or 19.
Our team will be happy to help you navigate your benefits and file your claims. If your plan does not cover braces, you might consider using your flexible spending account or healthcare savings account to pay for them.
Another Option for Making Braces Affordable
If you don’t have insurance coverage for traditional braces, consider this to make it easier for you to afford them:
- Financing: We are partnered with LendingPoint patient financing, which helps make getting the smile you want for yourself or your child easy and affordable. There are options for no down payment and low monthly payments.
Are you ready to learn more about braces and their cost? Contact our team today to schedule your free consultation with our orthodontist.
Traditional Braces FAQs
Here at Simply Orthodontics Milford, we understand that you might have all sorts of questions and concerns about traditional braces that you’d prefer to have answered before you’re willing to commit to treatment. That’s why our team has gathered a few of the most frequently asked questions that we receive about braces and their respective answers so that you have the knowledge you need to confidently kick off your orthodontic journey! Of course, if you have any other questions or concerns about traditional braces that aren’t listed below, don’t hesitate to contact our team today for additional information or to schedule a visit.
Do Traditional Braces Hurt?
The short answer here is that traditional braces don’t cause any outright pain; rather, they cause some minor discomfort and irritation as you adjust to wearing them. This soreness usually lasts for about a week and can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers, cold compresses and adjusting your diet to include solely chilled and/or soft foods. It’s also possible for the braces to uncomfortably rub against the soft tissues of your mouth, but orthodontic/dental wax can be used to remedy this discomfort. In any case, if you’re experiencing unrelenting pain associated with your braces that isn’t letting up, contact your orthodontist right away.
Can You Whiten Your Teeth While Wearing Braces?
It’s recommended that you wait until you’ve completed your orthodontic treatment to whiten your teeth. This is because bleaching solutions have difficulty accessing the areas of your teeth’s surface that are covered by brackets, as well as places where your teeth are overlapping. As a result, whitening would lead to uneven shades! However, whitening toothpaste and mouthwashes are generally fine to use, though their results aren’t often very potent.
What Can You Not Eat with Traditional Braces?
Braces are notorious for being accompanied by several dietary restrictions since some foods out there can wreak havoc on your braces if you aren’t careful! Generally speaking, you should try to stay away from items that are particularly hard, chewy, brittle, crunchy or sticky, including items like:
- Popcorn and other hard/shelled nuts
- Candies such as caramel, taffy, lollipops, and jawbreakers
- Tough pieces of bread, crackers, taco shells, pretzels, tortilla chips and other similar items
- Corn on the cob and meat off the bone
- Ice cubes
Am I Too Old to Get Braces?
When most of us think about braces, we picture kids and teens sporting the brackets and wires during picture day and throughout their youth—but did you know that adult patients can also benefit from them? However, it’s worth noting that as you age, your teeth become more firmly embedded in your jaw, meaning that repositioning them will usually take a longer time commitment. In any case, you’ll want to visit us for a consultation beforehand so that we can inspect your situation, determine if you’d benefit from braces, and provide you with an accurate treatment timeline estimate.