Traditional Braces – Cumming, GA

Factors That Affect the Cost of Traditional Braces

When evaluating the cost associated with traditional braces, there are a few things that Dr. Podray, Dr. Lewis, and Dr. Grochowska consider.

The largest factor comes down to the overall length of the procedure. The longer it takes to straighten your teeth, the more your orthodontic treatment is likely to cost. For that reason, mild to moderate misalignment will be less expensive to repair.

Braces are the perfect option for people of any age, but if you’re older, as adult teeth take longer to move. Finally, if you don’t follow orthodontist instructions properly, you’ll extend both the length and the cost of your orthodontic treatment.

Professional Braces vs. “DIY” Braces

Recently, people looking to save a buck on orthodontics have taken matters into their own hands, crafting “diy” braces without an orthodontist’s supervision. This has always been a little bit of a problem, with some people jamming a combination of superglue, paperclips, and earring backs into their mouth to try and simulate braces.

However, the advent of 3D printing has emboldened even more people to try to straighten their smiles with homemade orthodontics.

While you’ll undoubtedly pay less upfront, the fact is that you don’t really have access to the same imaging technology or expertise as a trained orthodontist. If you try and align your teeth by eyeballing it, you’re likely to do more harm than good. If anything, you’re more likely to give yourself a serious infection by tinkering with your teeth, which will wind up costing you more in the long run.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Braces? 

Dental insurance sometimes covers orthodontics, and even then only under certain circumstances. For one, traditional braces are more likely to be covered than clear aligners. Your claim is also more likely to be accepted if there’s a medical reason you need orthodontics, like bite problems or jaw pain.

When dental plans do decide to pay for braces, they usually cover about 50% of the treatment. Thankfully, we’re also happy to accept FSA payments, which can make up for the difference. We’ll work with you to ensure that you can get the most out of your insurance coverage and to make the process as easy as possible.

Options for Making Braces Affordable 

Even if you don’t have insurance, or if you’ve already hit your yearly maximum, we’ll still do whatever we can to make braces affordable for you. We’re proud to offer interest-free financing options to help you to break the cost of orthodontics into budget-friendly payments.

No matter your economic situation, we want to do what we can to help you straighten out your smile. Come to our office for a consultation and we’ll be happy to talk with you about your financial options, and how we can make your orthodontic care more affordable.

Why Do My Teeth Feel Loose with Braces?

True enough, it can seem worrying if your teeth feel loose while wearing braces. However, there really isn’t anything to fear; looseness is a sign of effective treatment.

You see, braces work by applying force via their brackets and wires. This process loosens the ligaments holding your teeth, letting it move your pearly whites into place. As a result, it’s common to feel as if your chompers are loose or “floating” during care.

Thankfully, the sensation fades after your braces are removed. At that point, your jaw will start to resolidify the tooth ligaments. The feeling of looseness stops once that solidification is done.

Can Traditional Braces Fix TMJ?

Generally, yes – metal braces can often fix TMJ disorder (or simply ‘TMJ’). Whether they can treat your own, though, will depend on your situation.

Braces could help if your TMJ stems from orthodontic issues. For instance, perhaps your upper and lower jaws aren’t well-aligned. Similarly, maybe you have crooked teeth that exert more pressure on one side of your jaw. In either scenario, braces would align your teeth and jaw and thus alleviate unpleasant TMJ symptoms.

Can I Chew Gum with Traditional Braces?

Ultimately, you shouldn’t chew gum while wearing braces. Qualified dentists discourage the habit due to how it endangers your treatment.

Remember, chewing gum is inherently sticky; it clings to teeth once in your mouth. As a result, the stuff could easily bend the wires of your braces. Your chompers would then shift in unexpected directions without your even realizing it. Should that happen, you’d face treatment delays or need replacement braces.

Of course, you can go back to chewing gum once your braces are removed. Not only will the treatment risks be gone, but the practice could relieve any lingering post-treatment pain.

Can You Drink Coffee with Traditional Braces?

In most cases, you can drink coffee with traditional braces. You should just be careful when doing so to avoid adverse side effects.

If you don’t already know, coffee is a notorious stain agent. It can discolor teeth and the brackets of braces when you ingest too much. Should your teeth get coffee stains during braces treatment, you’d be left with unpleasant splotches afterward.

Fortunately, it’s possible to avoid these stains in the first place. One way is by sipping coffee through a straw. As for another, you could brush your teeth (or rinse your mouth) roughly 20 minutes after finishing a cup.

Do Traditional Braces Hurt?

We won’t lie; you can expect to experience some soreness during your orthodontic treatment. However, this is actually a good sign because it means that your teeth are moving into their ideal positions! Plus, there are several easy ways you can combat this discomfort, from placing a cold compress against the outside of your cheek and putting orthodontic wax over your braces to taking OTC pain medication as directed.

What Can You Not Eat with Traditional Braces?

Mainly, you can’t eat anything particularly crunchy. A few examples include raw nuts, whole apples, popcorn, and tortilla chips. However, patients should also avoid eating corn on the cob, meat on the bone, pizza crust, caramel, and taco shells. Basically, you don’t want to fill your plate with anything that can potentially break a bracket or wire. This may seem inconvenient, but it’s crucial to preventing an orthodontic emergency that can derail your treatment plan!

Am I Too Old to Get Braces?

Good news: candidacy for braces isn’t determined by age alone! In other words, there’s technically no such thing as being “too old” for orthodontic treatment. So, if you’re interested in straightening your teeth, don’t let your age stop you from scheduling a consultation. You may be surprised to hear that adults often end up being some of the best patients since they are investing their own money and they understand the importance of good oral hygiene.

What Happens After You Get Your Braces Off?

After we remove your braces, we will provide you with a custom retainer. Although you don’t have to wear it 24/7, it is important to wear it consistently. Remember, upwards of 50% of patients experience orthodontic relapse after their treatment (which is when your teeth move back into their misaligned positions). One of the best ways to preserve the alignment of your teeth and protect your investment is by wearing your retainer as directed.

How Long Do Traditional Braces Take?

Naturally, the length of your orthodontic treatment will depend on numerous factors, including the severity of your misalignment and how well you follow the guidelines we provide you. With that being said, it usually takes anywhere from one to three years to completely straighten your teeth. Although it can be tough to wait that long, it’s crucial that we move your teeth gradually. Otherwise, the health and function of your smile could be negatively impacted.

How Do I Take Care of My Braces?

During your orthodontic treatment, you need to take care of your teeth and your braces. This requires a few tweaks to your dental care regimen, including brushing your teeth and cleaning around the brackets after each meal. To make this easier, consider buying some special oral hygiene products, like an interproximal toothbrush and pre-threaded floss, and keep them with you when you go to the office, run errands, or grab lunch with friends.

How Do I Know If I Need Braces?

If your teeth aren’t aligned properly, it’s worth setting aside time to come to our office for a consultation. At this visit, you’ll meet with one of our talented orthodontists, who will get to know you before completing an exam. Next, they’ll review their findings with you and share their recommendations on the best way to move forward.

Remember, orthodontic treatment doesn’t just improve the appearance of your smile; it improves the health and function of your smile. In other words, it’s important to learn about your treatment options since crooked, spaced-out, and otherwise misaligned teeth can lead to an increased risk of tooth decay, TMJ dysfunction, and other oral health problems.

What Should I Do If My Wire Is Out of Place?

A wire that’s out of place can be extremely uncomfortable, especially if it’s in a position where it’s irritating the soft tissue in your mouth. If you find yourself in this situation, use a piece of dental wax to cover the sharp edge and give us a call right away so we can set aside time for you to come in. It’s also important that you don’t do anything that could cause the wire to move even further out of place, like eating hard, sticky, or crunchy foods.

How Can I Prevent Mouth Sores?

Although mouth sores are completely normal, they can be quite uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can help prevent them, like keeping your consumption of added sugar to a minimum and committing to a solid oral hygiene regimen.

Note: If you already have one or two mouth sores, there are also some things you can do to help them heal faster. Try rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater periodically, covering any sharp edges of your braces with dental wax, sipping on cool water, and eating a well-balanced diet filled with lots of nutrient-dense foods.