Traditional Orthodontics – Danville, CA
Get a Straight Smile Without the Struggle!
A crooked smile can make life really difficult, especially for a teen. Being unhappy with their smile can sap their confidence, which is especially hard at an age where building healthy self-esteem is key. Moreover, misaligned teeth can present difficulties in dental hygiene that can lead to serious oral health problems.
Good thing for those near Danville, the team here at Main Street Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics can help your child get a straight smile without the struggle! With traditional orthodontics, they can get the smile they’ve always wanted with no hassle whatsoever. If that sounds appealing, schedule an appointment with us and we’ll talk it over with you at a consultation.
Why Choose Main Street Pediatric Dentistry for Traditional Orthodontics?
- Fun, Comfortable Dental Office to Make You Feel at Home
- Digital Imaging System for Mess-Free Impressions
- Compassionate and Friendly Dental Team
How Do Traditional Orthodontics Work?
Traditional braces gently move the teeth into alignment over the course of around 18-24 months. They do this via a system of brackets connected by a thin wire, one that is progressively tightened every few six to eight weeks until the smile is in perfect alignment. By the end of the treatment, even severely misaligned teeth will have been pulled into position, giving your child the teeth smile they’ve always dreamed of!
What Orthodontic Issues Can Braces Fix?
While simple in concept, wire-and-bracket braces can be used to address any of a number of issues with the teeth. That said, we’ll need to meet your child in person before we can determine for sure whether this treatment is right for them. Until then, here’s an idea of some of the most common orthodontic issues braces can deal with:
Bite Misalignment
Overbites, underbites, and crossbites can all lead to more serious oral health problems down the line, like chronic jaw pain and teeth grinding. Braces can be used to move the teeth such that they can meet, and they can pull the top and bottom jaw together such that the bite problem is addressed.
Crowded & Crooked Teeth
Crowded teeth, or teeth that overlap, can be much harder to clean effectively than those that are well-aligned. This can lead to an increase in oral health problems in addition to the aesthetic problems associated with the issue.
Gapped Teeth
Gapped teeth aren’t necessarily a health problem in themselves, but they can absolutely dominate your appearance for better or worse. The tightening wire used in braces can easily pull these teeth together, meaning that you don’t have to worry about how they make you look.
Caring for Your Braces
As you may know, caring for your braces can be a little bit of a skill in itself. Once you’ve perfected it you won’t have any issues with your teeth, but there can be a little bit of a learning curve when you first get started.
First of all, you might need to invest in specialized tools that make cleaning between your wires and brackets a little bit easier. Floss threaders, interdental brushes, and oral irrigators can all be helpful to this effect.
You will also have to learn to avoid foods that could break your archwire, like potato chips and hard candy. And most importantly, you’ll have to be sure to visit us for your regularly scheduled appointments.
Understanding the Cost of Traditional Braces
Even if your child needs metal braces, the prices involved may worry you. That’s a fair concern – orthodontic work often looks pretty expensive. However, the cost of traditional braces varies from patient to patient; you’ll need to consult Dr. Bailey or Dr. Zhang for an exact estimate. Our team will also work to make your child’s care more affordable, walking you through its pricing factors, payment options, etc. For further details, please keep reading or call us.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Traditional Braces
Our orthodontists will give your child a quick oral exam at the consultation. By doing so, they can assess factors that impact the metal braces’ final cost. These include:
- Your Child’s Age – As a child ages, their teeth become more firmly set. That means treatment for older kids can often cost more.
- Severity of Misalignment – The greater the distance teeth need to move, the more prolonged treatment will be.
- Need for Accessories – Besides the braces, your child may need supplies like elastics, space maintainers, or retainers. These items will add to the treatment price.
- Compliance with Care – If your child must wear certain items with their braces but doesn’t, their teeth won’t move as planned. Treatment will then take longer and cost more.
Professional Braces vs. “DIY” Braces: Which Costs More?
While “DIY” braces can seem cost-effective, the truth is that professional ones save you more money overall.
The main issue is that DIY braces don’t offer good long-term results. Even if they can move your child’s teeth quickly, their effects are unlikely to last more than a year. Worse, your little one’s smile will be at great risk of returning to its previous position after a while.
At the same time, “DIY” braces involve more spending than metal ones. Many of their users must see an orthodontist to fix the damage they cause to the mouth. As you’d expect, these follow-ups are costly and defeat the purpose of DIY braces. Your child would likely end up getting traditional braces anyway.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Braces?
Dental insurance doesn’t usually cover orthodontics, but it’s still more likely to offer coverage for metal braces than clear aligners. The odds of getting benefits also improve if the braces are for medical reasons. Also, some dental plans fully cover braces for patients under 18.
If your child qualifies, you can expect up to 50% coverage. Our team will also help you maximize your benefits!
Options for Making Braces Affordable
With or without insurance, metal braces can be affordable. You can just rely on our practice’s helpful payment options! With the right one, your kiddo’s path to straight teeth will be budget-friendly.
In particular, consider our CareCredit Financing service. This option lets you pay for metal braces in small, monthly installments with little or no interest. To that extent, you’d gradually cover the cost instead of doing so all at once.
Our practice doesn’t want pricing to get in the way of your child’s straight smile. So, come visit us to learn how to finance their braces!