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At Granbury Dental Center, we believe knowledge is power. That’s why we’re dedicated to life-long learning, continuing education, and teaching our patients, community members, and other dental and healthcare professionals about the latest advancements in dentistry. From the latest research to new treatment methods and technologies, to basic knowledge of all things oral health, you’ll find everything you need to know right here on our blog. Follow along to keep your mouth, body, and brain sharp and healthy!
Orthodontic treatments have been around for centuries, but luckily the materials and methods used have been updated with the expansion of education and technology. If they hadn’t, you might see metal bands or golden wires wrapped all the way around teeth instead of small brackets held in place by wires—or worse, cords made from animal intestines. You might be thinking, “Yikes on bikes, I’d never!” but the reason people in those ancient times were desperate enough to seek teeth straightening through these means is that orthodontics serves more than a cosmetic purpose.
Straight teeth tend to be healthier teeth as proper alignment makes for a happy jaw and simpler oral hygiene routines for better oral health. This is a primary concern for Dr. Buske of Granbury Dental Center, who wants Granbury, TX families and friends to have healthy, happy smiles. However, when braces are recommended, many patients ask, “Do they hurt?” Dr. Buske is happy to answer the question.
First, if you’re cursing the alignment of your teeth and wondering why they couldn’t stay in line—please don’t. We know that hearing you or your child will need orthodontic treatment isn’t the most welcome news, but it’s a very common need. In fact, the American Association of Orthodontists estimates that at any given moment, over four million people in the United States are undergoing orthodontic treatment, and 25% of them are adults.
The reasons for misaligned teeth are varied, ranging from having a jaw that’s too small for each incisor, canine (or cuspid), and molar to co-exist in harmony, to habits such as chronic and prolonged thumb and pacifier sucking in childhood. While this does suggest alignment can be helped by the avoidance or breaking of habits that can negatively affect your bite (or your child’s), genetics and jaw size are factors not entirely in your control.
Orthodontics can save the day—or rather, the days post-treatment when your teeth have been straightened and your bite has aligned like the stars of Orion’s Belt, which we think is a fitting simile because your eyes may twinkle when you see your renewed smile! There are different types of orthodontic treatments available today, but to answer the frequently asked question we posed earlier, we’ll focus on…
Traditional braces remain one of the most popular forms of orthodontic treatment because of their ability to improve nearly any bite and smile. While treatments like Invisalign® continue to innovate their aligners to treat a wider variety of cases, they don’t provide orthodontists (or general dentists who have received the advanced training and education needed to perform orthodontic treatment) with the same amount of control over the movement of individual teeth.
If you or your child have a severe malocclusion, teeth that are rotated more than 20 degrees from their proper position, teeth angled more than 45 degrees, or spaces between teeth that are larger than 0.6 centimeters, braces are the prescription that will create the smile transformation you’re looking for. This is because braces don’t just apply pressure to the tops of your teeth—they also encourage the tooth roots to shift. When we mention shifting of tooth roots, the question we set out to answer in this blog becomes emphasized, doesn’t it? So, without further ado…
It’s one thing to go from a mouth free of metal, and another thing entirely to have metal brackets, wires, and bands placed on your teeth. That’s one difference that comes with an adjustment period. But what about the shifting of teeth? Let’s take a look at what’s moving:
There’s a lot of strong material at work in your mouth, so the honest answer is that you’ll definitely experience some discomfort during your treatment with braces. The good news is, there are ways to treat each symptom you may face while your teeth shift into alignment.
If you’re experiencing pressure and pain from the tightness of your braces and the movement of your teeth, you can suck on an ice cube (don’t chew!) or apply a cold compress to the outside of the face. If your discomfort is due to wires and brackets rubbing against your cheeks and lips, dental wax can be applied as a barrier. You can also take anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen to reduce soreness and prevent irritation to your tongue by avoiding the action of running it along your braces.
The most important thing you can do to prevent additional discomfort is remaining diligent in your oral hygiene regimen. Trust us, you do not want to add gum disease treatment to your orthodontic treatment plan.
If you have more questions about orthodontic treatment, Dr. Buske would love to hear from you! Or, if you’ve already gotten braces and are looking for suggestions on how to adapt while you wear them (remember, this is temporary and your results will be worth it!), don’t hesitate to contact your Granbury dentist, Dr. Buske at Granbury Dental Center and schedule an appointment today!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Our Location
3412 East Hwy 377
Granbury, TX 76049
Proudly Serving Texas
Since 1982
Office Hours
MON 8AM - 5PM
TUE 8AM - 5PM
WED 8AM - 6PM
THU 8AM - 6PM
FRI 8AM - 3PM
Please call us at (817) 573-3761 or fill out the form below to request an appointment.