Crooked teeth can be frustrating. You may be unhappy with your smile. It\u2019s harder to brush and floss. It could even impact your ability to get promoted or find a new job. After all, first impressions really do matter. All this can cause harm to your self-esteem. But it doesn\u2019t have to be that way. Modern dentistry has come so far, and no matter what your age, you can have a straighter smile\u2014one that you will love. How, you might ask? The solution is traditional braces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ve probably heard of clear aligners and dental treatments<\/a> that aren\u2019t quite as obvious as traditional braces. Clear aligners can be highly effective for straightening teeth. However, traditional braces can be far more impactful when it comes to serious malocclusion. If that\u2019s your path, knowing you are not alone is important. An estimated four million Americans<\/a> are donning braces in some form or fashion. And about one in four are adults.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The process all starts with a consultation with your dentist at Sheppard Family Dental Care in Lawton, Oklahoma. During this appointment, we\u2019ll evaluate your mouth, take some X-rays, and discuss your smile goals with you. Once we have agreed on your treatment plan, we will take some impressions of your mouth so that we can begin building your braces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll have you return a few weeks later for the fitting procedure. During this appointment, we\u2019ll place your braces, including the brackets, bands, and wires. We\u2019ll talk with you about what to expect, the anticipated duration of your treatment, and we\u2019ll create a plan for periodic check-ins during the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It does take a bit of time to get used to wearing your new braces<\/a>. Your mouth might be a bit tender for the first couple of days. However, you can easily treat your pain and discomfort with ibuprofen or acetaminophen. You may also wish to apply an ice pack to help control the soreness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You will also need to make a few diet modifications<\/a>. We encourage you to consume fewer sweets, chips, and soda. These foods generate plaque acid, which can cause cavities (tooth decay) and make you more susceptible to gum disease. Also, please avoid sticky, chewy indulgences, such as caramel, fudges, and toffee, which are likely to damage wires and loosen your brackets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will need to visit us every four to six weeks to have your braces tightened or adjusted. During these appointments, we\u2019ll also take a look for any loose wires or brackets that require correction. These visits are typically quick and are scheduled in advance so that you can easily work them into your schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every patient is different, and your course of treatment might not be the same as others you know who have had traditional braces. Typically, treatment takes one to three years<\/a>. Here is what we look for to decide when your braces are ready to come off:<\/p>\n\n\n\n After your braces come off, we will fit you for a retainer<\/a> that should be worn at night when you sleep. We like to see patients wearing their retainers nightly for the first twelve months. After that, the frequency can be a bit less\u2014about three or five times per week. This will help keep your teeth from shifting back into their previous, misaligned position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you need orthodontics<\/a>, including metal braces or clear braces, your Lawton family dental team can help. The first step is to request a consultation. We\u2019ll be happy to meet with you, discuss your goals, and partner on a treatment plan to help you get the smile you want. We can\u2019t wait to help you start smiling again. Request your appointment<\/a> today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Crooked teeth can be frustrating. You may be unhappy with your smile. It\u2019s harder to brush and floss. It could even impact your ability to get promoted or find a new job. After all, first impressions really do matter. All this can cause harm to your self-esteem. But it doesn\u2019t have to be that way.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":3599,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[65],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shepparddental.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3598"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shepparddental.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shepparddental.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shepparddental.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shepparddental.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3598"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/shepparddental.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3598\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3603,"href":"https:\/\/shepparddental.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3598\/revisions\/3603"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shepparddental.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3599"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shepparddental.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3598"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shepparddental.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3598"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shepparddental.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3598"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Initial Consultation <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Fitting Your Braces <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Living With Braces <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Regular Adjustments <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Path to Removal <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Aftercare and Keeping Your Smile Straight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you need traditional braces, Sheppard Family Dental Care can help.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n