A Candidate for Braces
You might be wondering, who is the perfect candidate for braces? To tell you the truth, they are suitable for a variety of people. Our patients who seek braces range in smile goals from aesthetics to functionality.
Some of our patients come to us with misalignment or crooked teeth that they would like to fix in order to benefit their appearance. Others, though, seek braces to help with their bite, to mitigate discomfort, or ease pain while chewing. Still, others seek out braces after a neuromuscular orthodontic consultation, to relieve symptoms of TMJ or sleep apnea.
Often, your dentist will recommend braces after taking a look at your smile. In these cases, Dr. Crosby sees room for improvement in the functionality of your teeth and jaw. Therefore, he will recommend braces to make changes for your comfort and oral health.
The Process
Many of our patients are familiar with braces from their teenage years. But, teeth shift constantly. Even if you had them in the past, you might need a readjustment. Though you might associate braces with discomfort, modern technology makes it easier and more comfortable than ever.
To start out, Dr. Crosby will use advanced modern dental technology to scan your teeth and project movements to meet your specific smile goals. Next, he will place the braces on your teeth. First, Dr. Crosby bonds brackets to your teeth using an adhesive material. Fortunately, the metal brackets are much smaller than they were in the past. Additionally, for a more discreet look, we can now provide ceramic brackets instead of metal.
Next, we place bands between your molars to make your smile even. We will also place bands on top of your brackets to hold the wires in place. Our dental team will then place a flexible wire to guide your teeth and provide constant pressure for proper movement. For more severe cases, we might give you headgear to wear at night in order to shift your jaw.
After we place your braces, you will visit us periodically for adjustments. Since adjustments put mild pressure on your teeth, expect to experience slight discomfort after visiting us for an adjustment.
When to Consider Invisible Clear Aligners
If you want to correct your smile but don’t want the appearance of brackets, you have other options. We offer two types of clear aligners to discreetly straighten your teeth.
Both Invisalign® and ClearCorrect® use sets of clear aligners to gently guide your teeth into place. Much like the braces process, these treatments use oral scans to determine the best movement for your smile. However, with clear aligners, you can wear your braces for 22 hours a day and remove them to eat or drink.
Some of our clients need more correction than Invisalign® or ClearCorrect® can offer. For these clients, we only recommend traditional brackets. To determine what your needs are, schedule a consultation with Dr. Crosby.
Your Premier Dentist for Braces in Anchorage
If you have difficulty with chewing, eating, or talking to friends, you might need braces. Fortunately, modern dentistry has allowed braces to be more comfortable than in the past. Additionally, you have more options with clear aligners and ceramic brackets.
To correct your bite and attain your dream smile, schedule a consultation with our dental team. Call Dr. Richard Crosby in Midtown Anchorage at (907) 277-1098.
