With Heroes Dental, your kids are receiving the utmost attention and care for their dental health. But you, the parents, can also schedule yourself to get braces, too!
Orthodontic Dentistry FAQ
Orthodontics focuses on the diagnosis, avoidance, and treatment of dental and facial abnormalities.
Your child’s pediatric dentist will often be the one who suggests orthodontic treatment. It is important to follow up as soon as possible because prolonging the issue will lead to greater damage to your little one’s teeth and confidence.
An orthodontist is a dentist who finished an educational program during dental school that taught them the techniques necessary to manage the movement of teeth and facial development.
Essentially, orthodontists are the ones who decide if and what kind of braces are best for your child.
Yes! Luckily, several options are available and range in the material they are made of. While most people are used to seeing others with metal braces, there are more options available for getting your child’s teeth straightened.
Options at Heroes Dental include:
• Metal Braces - This is one of the most common types of braces, thankfully, metal braces have become significantly more discreet over the years.
• Clear Braces - Clear braces are a nice way to straighten teeth with nearly invisible brackets that fuse naturally with your little one’s smile. They are very discreet and are not as noticeable as metal braces.
• Invisalign - The process of using Invisalign over metal braces varies in many ways. These types of braces are removable for eating and drinking but should be worn the majority of the time. Invisalign braces are clear molds of your child’s teeth, appearing like a mouthguard, that you switch out every few weeks with a new mold that will get their teeth to where they need to be.
The time it will take for your kid to obtain straight teeth is completely up to their specific situation. Everyone is unique and has different anatomies, so there is no definite answer on how long your child will have to wear braces.
A few factors that will affect the length of their journey include:
• Your child’s age
• General oral health conditions
• If tooth extraction is necessary
• The braces you choose for your child
• Other issues that need to be fixed
On average, a person can have braces between 1-3 years, like mentioned before, depending on their unique needs. When you make an appointment with our children’s orthodontist in McAllen, you will get a better idea of how long you will need them.
Although braces aren’t the most comfortable when your child first gets them, fortunately, they will get used to them rather quickly. When they first start to adjust your kid’s teeth, any pain should be relieved by over-the-counter pain medicines.
By the time they know it, braces will be an average part of their lives and they probably won’t even realize they’re there.
Teeth Whitening FAQ
Teeth whitening procedures are not invasive and produce results quickly, and this cosmetic procedure is less expensive than most. Professional teeth whitening can create the confidence you and your children deserve by restoring the sparkle in your smiles.
Although the whiteness achieved after a session depends on how discolored your teeth are, professional teeth whitening can help them become almost ten times whiter after only one session.
The biggest concern people tend to have about this procedure is whether the procedure could potentially damage their teeth. Rest assured that this procedure is safe and will not cause harm to enamel or gums when done by our oral healthcare professionals.
The tools and materials used during a teeth whitening procedure are safe and do not have any negative long-term or short-term effects. Our knowledgeable staff performs the procedure with much care and attention to safety.
For most people, getting their teeth whitened does not cause any pain. The only exceptions are those who have weak enamel. In this case, the procedure may cause sensitivity to the teeth that should only last for a few days.
Usually, before a teeth whitening procedure, your McAllen cosmetic dentist will provide a teeth cleaning to check on the state of the enamel, which will help to prevent any pain and sensitivity during and after the procedure.
The result of teeth whitening can last from 6 months to a year if you and your families take care of your teeth and develop a solid oral hygiene routine. Things you can do to prevent staining are limiting the consumption of foods and drinks like coffee, dark sodas, and tomato-based sauce.
As always, practicing good oral hygiene can help you maintain the good and prevent the bad. Remember, it is recommended you and your little ones brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes each time. Flossing and using mouthwash are also essential parts of good oral hygiene.
Practicing ideal oral hygiene can help your kid’s enamel stay strong and will generally keep their smile bright.
As previously mentioned, avoiding food and drinks that stain your enamel will keep your teeth shimmering, as well as scheduling regular cleanings with your McAllen pediatric dentists.
As time passes, you might notice that your once glimmering white teeth now are so bright. Fortunately, your McAllen family dentists at Heroes Dental can help restore the shimmer in your smile.