When it’s finally time to start with braces, you may be excited about this first step toward straighter teeth. While your teeth will move to a healthier alignment, it’s expected to feel a little sore, especially during that first week. Thankfully, making some simple adjustments to your diet can make the process easier. Keep reading to learn what foods you should stock up on and how you can manage any discomfort.

If it’s been a while, you may only know of traditional braces as the tried-and-true way of fixing misalignment. However, a new kid is on the block, and it is Invisalign! These clear aligners are discreet and removable, so they fit seamlessly into your lifestyle. But are they just as effective as good ol’ braces? Continue reading to learn how Invisalign can address many common bite problems.

With more than 17 million patients around the world, Invisalign is one of the most popular orthodontic treatments. There are several reasons for this, including that the average treatment timeline is only 12-18 months (while traditional braces can take 3+ years). To ensure your teeth-straightening journey is smooth and seamless, there are a few do’s and don’ts you need to keep in mind, including:

If you wore braces as a teen, you probably remember the excitement of seeing your straight smile for the first time. However, it’s common for teeth to gradually shift over the years, especially if you forgot to wear your retainers or your bite changed with age. If your teeth have become crooked again, you may wonder if Invisalign can help you regain your confident smile without going back to metal braces.

The good news? Invisalign is an excellent solution for many adults who have had braces in the past and want to discreetly straighten their teeth again.

Patients often think their orthodontic treatment is done when the brackets come off or there aren’t any more aligners. The reality is that there is another crucial step: the retention phase. This is crucial because upwards of 50% of patients experience orthodontic relapse, which is when the teeth move back into their previously misaligned positions. Retainers help prevent that from happening! To keep yours in pristine condition, we recommend:

Your jaw hurts, and you were told you have something called a temporomandibular joint disorder – or “TMD” for short. Fortunately, your treatment outlook is pretty good. Many TMDs can be solved with the help of orthodontics, and you have plenty of options! You’re just wondering how they all compare. How long will each treatment take to complete, for example?

Keep reading, and you’ll learn about the average timeline for various TMD solutions in Plano.

If you had braces or aligners when you were younger, your orthodontist probably concluded your treatment by presenting you with a clean, sparkly retainer.  Retainers are an important step in your smile journey, because they maintain the results of your treatment. Unfortunately, however, that means if you don’t wear them regularly, your teeth can shift back out of alignment.

If you haven’t been wearing yours as instructed and have noticed some movement in your smile, you may be wondering if you can push your teeth back into place by wearing them again. Here’s why that won’t work, and why wearing your retainers is so vital to maintaining your smile!

You’re finally nearing the end of your Invisalign treatment. There’s no doubt you’re excited to greet the world with your newly straightened smile, but your orthodontist has thrown a curveball at you. You have Invisalign attachments, and they need to be removed before your treatment can be considered complete. Unlike your clear trays, these attachments are fixed to your teeth. So how is your orthodontist going to remove them, and will it hurt?

This post will cover this and more; just keep reading for the answers!

While you’re out grocery shopping, you’re in the school drop-off line, or you’re at the mall, you might notice children and teenagers with braces. Does that mean the ship has sailed on having straight teeth? Or can you get braces when you’re over 40? To learn the answer, keep reading!

Would you like to straighten your teeth, or have you observed that your child might need orthodontic care? If so, you might be wondering about the cost of treatment. Does dental insurance cover braces and other orthodontic services, or will you be left on your own to pay? This blog post provides some helpful information.