Orthodontics Braces
If you want straighter teeth, traditional orthodontics is still the go-to solution for aligning smiles. At Lone Star Smiles in Murphy, we’re happy to offer our patients both traditional metal braces and more cosmetic, clear ceramic brackets with our partners!
The Orthodontic Team, led by Dr. Villaruel, always does their best to help create a flawless smile that looks great and functions perfectly. No two patients are exactly alike, and no orthodontic treatments will be either. Dr. Villruel offers personalized orthodontic treatment plans to directly address the position and function of your beautiful smile.
How do Braces Work
Braces work by using wires to place pressure on brackets attached to the front surfaces of teeth. At regularly scheduled adjustment appointments, the orthodontist will move or change the wires. This pressure is transferred to the tooth, which begins to move. These adjustments repeated until the teeth are in their ideal position. Once your teeth are in their new position, you’ll need to use a retainer to keep your teeth in the correct place.
Since plaque and tartar can easily build up around your brackets and wires, proper oral hygiene is even more important to prevent cavities and gingivitis when you wear braces. Our orthodontic team will give you a detailed list of instructions for taking care of your braces when they are placed, but here are a few general guidelines:
Brush your teeth at least twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
Floss between your teeth and around your braces once a day.
Swish with an alcohol-free, antibacterial mouthwash twice a day.
Avoid hard, crunchy or sticky foods.
Visit your orthodontist for your regularly scheduled tightening and maintenance appointments.
Visit your dentist regularly for cleanings and routine dental care.
Taking Care of Your Teeth while in Braces
When you think of braces, metal braces are likely what you imagine. Metal braces use stainless steel bands, brackets and wires to gently shift your teeth over time. Metal braces are visible when you smile, but you can choose clear or tooth-colored O-rings to make your braces less noticeable. Or, if you’re feeling festive, you can choose brightly colored elastics.
Metal Braces
Clear Braces
Clear braces are similar to traditional metal braces, but because they’re made with tooth-colored materials, they’re less noticeable. Clear braces are just as effective as traditional metal braces and can correct the same orthodontic issues as metal braces, including overbites, underbites, crooked teeth, and crowding.
Invisalign
At Lone Star Smiles, we believe everyone deserves a beautifully straight smile, but for some, traditional braces may not fit their lifestyle. That is why we are happy to offer Invisalign clear aligners to patients of all ages.
Invisalign uses a series of custom made, clear retainers to apply gently pressure to teeth while you wear them for 20-22 hours each day. Each tray moves the teeth a little close to the ideal position, but allows you to remove the aligners while you are eating and drinking. You wear Invisalign for two weeks before moving onto the next one, and your progress is monitored periodically at our dental office. After you work your way through all of your aligners, you will have the straight smile you want without the hassle of orthodontic brackets and wire!
Orthodontic Retainers
In order to prevent teeth from moving or rotating, a retainer can be used to keep the teeth in place. At Lone Star Smiles, we can provide a removable solution to patients who find it difficult to cleaning around a permanent retainer, whose old retainers are worn or cracked, or even for those who have noticed their teeth start to shift.
Clear retainers are custom made for each patient and should be worn nightly to ensure they still fit and to prevent soreness during use.