Misaligned teeth can cause a variety of oral health issues over time. Crowded teeth create hard-to-clean areas that are perfect for bacteria and plaque to accumulate and cause decay, and an improper bite can cause uneven wear and tear on the surfaces of certain teeth as well as excessive strain on the jaw.
An orthodontist is a dentist who has specialized in the process of realigning teeth through various methods and treatments, spending three or more years in an orthodontic setting to study the physiological structure of the teeth, jaws, and mouth. Orthodontists and dentists with orthodontic training are experienced in the safe and effective movement of your teeth into a beautiful, healthy, and fully functional smile.
You’ll find both orthodontists and dentists trained in orthodontic treatment at Bright Now! Dental, making it easy for you and your family to get all the care you need at one convenient location. Braces, clear aligners, retainers, and more, Bright Now! Dental offers the orthodontic treatment you need for the smile you want.
A regular dental cleaning and checkup with your dentist is a good place to start if you think you or your child may need orthodontic treatment.
Depending on the findings, your dentist may be able to offer certain types of treatment from their office–like clear aligners–or they may refer you to an orthodontic specialist for a consultation.
If you are referred for a consultation with an orthodontist, they will take more detailed images of your teeth and jaws to determine if and when you may need orthodontic treatment.
Orthodontists typically treat any alignment abnormalities during a person’s developmental years, usually between 13-20 years of age. Although this age range is the ideal time frame to receive orthodontic treatment–primarily because of the malleability of the facial structure–there are some factors that could delay treatment, such as an accident, poor dental health, or the lack of access to adequate dental care. However, nearly anyone of any age can receive orthodontic treatment, including adults.
Orthodontic treatment–including the type and duration–is unique to every patient, but they all work about the same–by moving your teeth through constant, gentle pressure. Your best treatment will depend on a number of factors such as your age, the severity of your misalignment, and more.
Braces are small metal attachments that the orthodontist places directly on the enamel of the teeth. A metal wire is threaded between each bracket and tightened every 4 to 6 weeks during treatment. As the pressure is adjusted, the teeth will slowly begin to shift into the desired position.
Braces are available in multiple options such as clear, traditional metal, ceramic, lingual, and self-ligating.
Clear aligners are sets of clear removable molds of your teeth designed to gently shift your teeth into a new position by switching out the trays. They are typically prescribed by an orthodontist or dentist when the patient needs a slight or moderate alignment issue or for a patient who has seen results from previous treatment decline. Clear aligners are easy to use and their clear appearance has made them a popular option.
Although they are removable, clear aligners should be worn 22+ hours per day for best results, and periodic orthodontic visits are necessary to make adjustments and monitor progress.
For more information on clear aligners, including Bright Now! Dental’s line of Reveal clear aligners, check out our blog!
Sometimes space needs to be created or maintained in a child’s mouth to allow adult teeth to erupt properly and prevent overcrowding before it occurs. A space maintainer does just that, creating room in the mouth for a healthy adult tooth (or several teeth) to come in before existing neighboring teeth can overcrowd the area. Space maintainers are near-permanent fixtures typically made of ceramic or wire placed on the roof of the mouth and attached to the teeth.
Orthodontic treatment is patient-specific, and costs can vary based on the type and duration of treatment, so it’s important to check with the Bright Now! Dental near you for exact pricing.
On average, the cost of traditional metal braces can range between $2,800 and $7,200, while ceramic braces tend to start at around $4,000. The cost of clear aligners can also vary widely, ranging between $3,000 and $8,000, although Bright Now! Dental’s Reveal clear aligners are some of the most competitively priced options available.
While many dental insurances will cover at least part of orthodontic treatment, the cost can be prohibitive to many. At Bright Now! Dental, we don’t believe anyone should go without important orthodontic care because of cost, so we do everything we can to make it as affordable as possible for everyone. That includes flexible financing and payment plans, including our OneSmile Dental Plan, and CareCredit.
Offering everything from dental checkups to orthodontics, Bright Now! Dental is your family’s choice for comprehensive oral care. We make it easy, convenient, and affordable for you to get all the preventative, restorative, and cosmetic dental services you need, when and where you need it, with multiple locations, flexible scheduling, and a variety of financing options.
If the smile you have isn’t the smile you want, schedule a consultation at Bright Now! Dental to discuss your orthodontic treatment options. Find the location nearest you and call today!
Orthodontics may be provided by general dentists.
