There’s a lot to learn when you decide you want to have a straighter, healthier smile with orthodontics. One of the first questions is: which treatment should I get? There are a few different options available now, so it can get confusing to know which one makes the most sense for you or your child.
Thankfully you have an amazing team of professionals to support you at Sawgrass Orthodontics! With offices in Sunrise and Weston, and serving communities across Davie, Plantation, and Cooper City, we have the experience to know which treatments work well for each patient and their unique needs and lifestyle. Keep reading to learn the overview of our most popular treatment options–braces and Invisalign!
What to Know About Wearing Braces
Your Appearance
One of the big concerns we hear from people who are considering braces is how it looks. A smile full of metal isn’t everyone’s idea of fun, and that’s totally okay. People that still want or need braces, but don’t want the metal braces look, can opt for ceramic braces that blend in almost perfectly with your smile.
Your Case Complexity
Because each person’s facial structure is unique, so too is their dental structure. Some people are born with smaller mouths, small jaws, wide gaps between teeth, or missing teeth. For this reason, Dr. Penny and Dr. Kristen take each patient’s unique needs into account. And while other orthodontic treatments can be useful, nothing has quite the shifting power of braces. For complex cases where many changes are necessary then we will likely recommend braces!
Your Time in Treatment and in Our Office
Braces have a reputation for taking their time to shift your teeth. Typically treatment takes an average of 24 months to complete, and you will need to come into our office for a check-in every 6-10 weeks. This might seem like a lot at first, but you’ll soon get used to the rhythm and appreciate the office time to ask questions and get support for your treatment. It also helps the doctors guarantee that progress is continuing as prescribed!
Restrictions
Because braces are what we call a fixed appliance, it means that you don’t have the luxury of taking them out anytime you want. In fact, they will stay in your mouth permanently until your treatment is done. This means that you will have to be cautious about what you eat and drink during treatment in order to keep your braces and teeth healthy. Plan to skip hard and crunchy foods or chewy and sticky foods. You should also avoid drinking sugary or acidic drinks that can harm your tooth enamel and erode your braces!
Your Hygiene Routine
Learning how to brush and floss with braces is a bit of a trick at first, but it is easy once you get the hang of it! Using tools like the interproximal toothbrush to get under and around brackets for a deep clean, and a floss threader to weave the floss under wires will make the process easier. Even though it might seem like more work than expected at first, you will quickly get used to your new cleaning schedule!
What to Know About Wearing Invisalign
Your Appearance
Many of our patients love Invisalign simply for the appearance factor. They tell us how great it feels to take care of your teeth while still looking like yourself! Invisalign is made up of a series of clear retainers that are worn about 22 hours a day, but they are scarcely visible to others when they are in. Definitely consider Invisalign if one of your priorities is to not drastically change your appearance during treatment.
Your Case Complexity
As we mentioned above, Dr. Kristen and Dr. Penny will often recommend braces to people who have more complex dental cases. But if you have more mild to medium shifts that need to take place, usually Invisalign is a good option! Be sure to discuss this possibility with them when you come into the office for a free consultation appointment to see if Invisalign is in fact a great fit for your needs!
Your Time in Treatment and in Our Office
When you are getting Invisalign treatment at our office, be ready to come in about every six weeks to have a quick check-up with our team and to receive your next round of retainers! Most patients have to switch their retainer every one-two week, so you will need to regularly get updates from our office.
Restrictions
Invisalign is what we call a removable orthodontic appliance, which means they are easily removed when eating, drinking, or brushing your teeth. This means that you shouldn’t have many restrictions! Just be sure to take out your retainers when you eat or drink anything other than water!
Your Hygiene Routine
Of course, maintaining your usual hygiene routine will be super important when you have Invisalign. As your teeth are inside of retainers all day, it can create a close environment for bacteria and plaque to grow, so make sure to do your twice-daily brushing, and flossing once! You will also need to add some retainer care into your routine. Retainers need to be brushed and sanitized once per day to keep them safe and clean as well.
Find the Treatment You Need at Sawgrass Orthodontics
Now that you know a bit more about which treatment might be a good fit for you, it’s time to schedule that free consultation appointment! Our doctors, hygienists, and office staff are ready to greet you and get you started toward the smile of your dreams! Give us a call today!
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