There are other reasons for braces even if your teeth are straight, the most important being a good bite. Even though your teeth may be straight your bite may be off and need correction to prevent future problems, such as jaw-joint problems (TMJ).

According to a recent ArchWired.com poll, most people begin see changes in their teeth in the first 2 to 6 weeks of treatment. See similar questions...

Braces use steady, gentle pressure over time to move teeth into their proper positions. They don't look like they're doing much just sitting there. but in fact, every moment or your orthodontic treatment, there's something happening in your mouth. Something good for you. The brackets we place on your teeth and the main archwire that connects them, are the two main components.The bracket is a piece of specially shaped metal or ceramic that we affix to each tooth. See similar questions...

First, rinse with warm water a couple of times to dislodge any food particles. You can also use a rubber-tipped gum massager to dislodge any particularly stubborn particles that are badly stuck in your brackets. Now you can use a small amount of toothpaste and brush your teeth. It is best to use circular, vibrating motions around the gum line. Angle your toothbrush above and below the brackets. Scrub each surface of every tooth with 10 strokes of the toothbrush. See similar questions...

It's a little tricky at first. You must thread the floss under the arch wire between each tooth, floss under the gumline, then remove it. Repeat for each tooth. At first it will take about 15 minutes to floss all of your teeth, but with practice you will get faster and more efficient at doing it. It is important to floss EVERY NIGHT. Even if you use a Waterpik device, you should still floss. See similar questions...

In today's world, orthodontics has come a long way from standard metal braces and you have several options to choose from (all of which our office will review with you in more detail at your new patient exam). See similar questions...

A 11. Braces consist of brackets (mini-handles) bonded (glued) on to most of the 12 or 14 teeth in each jaw. A thin highly flexible wire is fastened to each bracket on each tooth. Suppose a tooth is incorrectly positioned; let us assume it is a tooth that is depressed inwardly and we want to bring it more forward. When we fasten (attach) the wire to all the teeth with brackets the wire flexes in to attach to the depressed tooth. See similar questions...

The brace will not mark the teeth. If dental plaque is allowed to become thick around the brace the plaque itself may damage the teeth. Instruction will be given on the use of special brushes. A daily fluoride mouth rinse can be used to harden areas that are very difficult to clean. Care must be taken to choose an alcohol-free, pH-balanced rinse. Certain foods and drinks may also lead to damage. You should avoid drinking lots of fizzy drinks and keep in-between-meal snacks to a minimum. See similar questions...

Yes. When teeth are missing, adjacent teeth will drift into the empty space. This will cause a functional, esthetic or periodontal problem. Orthodontic treatment will correct and prevent these problems from happening and will also provide proper alignment for your dentist to replace the missing teeth. [Back to top] See similar questions...

Getting braces put on your teeth does not hurt, and does not require Novocain injections or anything painful. For a full description of the process, read Braces Basics: When the Braces Go On. See similar questions...

Some patients simply cannot stand the color of their teeth and need to have the procedure done before the braces are bonded on. We are willing to do the whitening before the braces are put on and repeat the procedure at a reduced fee when the braces are removed. Yes, the fee can be paid in two payments if the procedure is being performed in two sessions (top first then bottom). If you are having top and bottom whitened at the same visit the fee must be paid all at once. See similar questions...

Yes, if you are an adult or a mature teen with only 1 - 6 millimeters of crowding or spacing of your front teeth and no missing or severely tipped teeth. A series of 3-D computer generated invisible aligners made by Invisalign may allow creation of a beautiful smile for you without glued on braces. This advanced technology does not correct bites that are due to jaw bone malpositioning. See similar questions...

After the brace has been fitted the nurse or Orthodontist will provide verbal and written instructions about your brace and it's maintenance. At the practice we have for sale products we recommend for keeping your braces clean. We recommend that you maintain your usual check up with your dentist. [Back to top] See similar questions...

A 17. Yes and no. No, if you follow Dr. Rothstein’s instructions for the care and maintenance of the braces, keep your appointments and brush your teeth regularly. Every time you come to the office to have your braces adjusted the very first step that Dr. Rothstein takes is to look for any possible harm the braces are doing to your teeth or any discomfort you may be experiencing, and then he corrects the cause of that harm. See similar questions...

In spite of the careful attention given to informing the patients how important retainers are to prevent the teeth from returning to their crooked position, relapse occurs disconcertingly to the patient and the orthodontist too frequently. This occurs because teeth need time to "permanently set" or grow into their new positions like poured cement setting around a newly placed parking meter. See similar questions...

Of course you're self-conscious because it is YOUR mouth, but frankly most people don't give a hoot. Your braces are a conversation piece for about 3 minutes; after that, nobody pays much attention. Really. And most people don't think you look geeky. In fact, they probably think you look cute, or applaud that you are doing something positive to improve your appearance and your dental health. See similar questions...

If you have braces and need a scan of your brain or facial area, the MRI system may have difficulty "tuning" to your body. (The process is similar to tuning in a radio to a specific frequency or radio station.) The tuning process can be confused if metal is in the MRI machine. Unfortunately, we cannot know in advance how much distortion may result on the pictures. The amount of distortion depends on the amount of metal in the area. See similar questions...

Everyone wants a beautiful smile - and everyone should have a healthy one. The orthodontist's goal is to achieve both for the patients. Properly positioned teeth are much easier to care for and clean. Correction of the bite not only helps with improved chewing and speech, it also plays a significant role in reducing future wear of the teeth and stress on the supporting bone and jaw joints. Orthodontic care can also improve an individual's self-image -- adult or child. See similar questions...