Braces help fix different bite and teeth irregularities and are often placed by a qualified dentist or orthodontist. Besides, braces aid in strengthening teeth, enabling a patient to have a strong bite. Although children might feel embarrassed when wearing braces, the benefits the devices outweigh the device's looks. Read through the article to get a few facts regarding braces.

The Cost of Braces

The price you pay for braces depends on a few factors, including the type of brace material, the severity of teeth misalignment and associated dental procedures, such as palate expansion and extraction. Some patients have severe teeth misalignment, which causes crossbites and overbites. In such cases, a dental professional conducts thorough oral checkups and subsequent teeth adjustments for braces to work correctly. Therefore, the nature of misalignment can drive up the cost of owning braces. Notably, metal braces are more affordable compared to ceramic types. However, even the cheapest braces can set you back a few thousand dollars. Therefore, patients should consider alternative financing options, such as insurance, because an out-of-pocket payment option can be costly.

Suitable Candidates 

Braces are not for everyone or every teeth deformity. Therefore, you should ask a dental expert if you are a good candidate for braces. Children aged between 10 and 14 years old are the most suited age group for using braces. At this stage of development, all adult teeth have erupted; however, the rapid growth of other body parts such as the head and mouth can cause misalignment of such teeth. For adults, braces are used to correct tooth alignment problems and slightly crooked smiles. Adults who desire straight teeth and a perfect smile should also consider braces. One major dental issue that children and adults alike face is crowded teeth, which occur because of a small jaw that cannot accommodate all the teeth. As a result, some teeth become crooked and overlap. Crooked and overcrowded teeth are challenging to clean besides affecting the smile and speech. One way of dealing with crowded teeth is the use of braces.  

Treatment 

Once a dental professional indicates that you need braces, the next step is to schedule another appointment to install the devices. Note that braces can be applied during one appointment within a few hours. The procedure involves a thorough cleaning of the teeth before braces are be inserted. A dentist will then attach a bracket to each tooth using a special glue. Each bracket is reinforced to another by wires. At times, a dentist might use unique rubber bands to strengthen the brackets. The duration for wearing braces depends on the magnitude of teeth misalignment. Therefore, periodic dental visits are advised to monitor the progress of braces and for further adjustments.

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