Dentistry for the Entire Family in Fridley MN
Call 763.586.9988 to schedule a dental appointment at Dentistry for the Entire Family in Fridley MN

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Dental Braces

Orthodontics (dental braces or teeth braces) is a branch within dentistry that specializes in the prevention and treatment of how teeth align, are positioned, and how they occlude or bite together and function. Traditional metal braces are the most popular form of orthodontic therapy.

 

Who is ortho for?

People of all ages can benefit from orthodontic therapy. Children and preteens typically sport either tooth colored or metal braces while many older teenagers and adults elect Invisalign, ceramic, or Incognito braces.
 

What’s possible with orthodontics?

The three most popular reasons that people elect orthodontic therapy:

  • Straighten crooked or crowded teeth
  • Close unsightly spaces or gaps between teeth
  • Correct the bite to improve chewing and/or speech function

 

How do I know if dental braces would improve my smile?

Every preventive and initial exam dental visit includes an occlusion exam. The dentist will ask you to close your teeth together. The dentist will examine to see how your teeth align and bite together. Afterwards, the dentist will discuss their findings with you or in the case of a minor, with the accompanying parent or legal guardian.

 

Dentistry for the Entire Family offers complimentary orthodontic consultations

Call (763) 586-9988 to schedule a complimentary orthodontic consultation or click to request an appointment online.

Click to Request a dental braces consultation appointment
 

Orthodontic occlusion exam

During your exam, the dentist will ask for you to bite your teeth together. The dentist will tell the dental assistant or hygienist to record an occlusion classification number of one, two, or three.
 
What does that number mean?
Below is a description for each occlusion (bite) classification.
 
Class I
Class I is considered an ideal relationship for how the maxillary (top) molar teeth occlude with the mandibular (bottom) molar teeth.
 
Class II
Class II is often referred to as an overbite. The maxillary (top)
molars position is more forward than the mandibular (bottom) molars when they occlude together. Orthodontic therapy can correct this.
 
Class III
Class III occlusion is often referred to as an underbite. The lower jaw and teeth are positioned forward to the maxillary (top) teeth. Orthodontic therapy can correct this. In severe cases, jaw surgery may be necessary.
 

Dental braces occlusion classification illustration
Photo source: dentodontics.com

 
The dentist will also examine your teeth for the following:

  • Check for the presence of crowded teeth
  • Check for midline deviation
  • Check for presence of teeth in crossbite
  • Check for presence of overbite or underbite
  • Check the health of you TMJ (Temporomandibular joint)
  • Check for the presence of third molars (wisdom teeth)
  • Check for the presence of periodontal (gum) disease
  • Check for the presence of excessive wear or trauma of teeth

Afterwards the dentist will review and discuss their findings with you, or in the case of a minor, with the accompanying parent or legal guardian.
 

Types of dental braces

Invisalign also known as invisible braces
 
Invisalign (invisible dental braces) at Dentistry for the Entire Family
 
Ceramic or tooth colored braces
 
Ceramic and teeth colored dental braces at Dentistry for the Entire Family
 
Traditional metal braces
Traditional metal dental braces at Dentistry for the Entire Family
 
Incognito or lingual dental braces (braces placed on the backside of the teeth)
 
Incognito or lingual dental braces at Dentistry for the Entire Family
 

Dentistry for the Entire Family is a Certified Invisalign provider

Invisalign is commonly referred to as “invisible braces”. Traditional metal braces require an orthodontist to place bands, brackets, and metal wires to teeth to the tooth surface in order to correct the position and appearance of teeth. Invisalign instead uses clear aligners (trays) to correct the position and appearance of teeth. Dr. Thyra Jagger is certified to perform orthodontic therapy using Invisalign.
 
Invisalign advantages

  • Commonly called invisible braces
  • Easy to remove during meal times to enjoy your favorite foods and beverages
  • Ability to remove aligners to effectively brush and floss teeth

 
Invisalign disadvantages

  • Need to be 100% committed to wearing Invisalign aligners except for meals and cleaning
  • Need to be careful to not accidentally discard Invisalign aligners when removed for mealtime
  • Not ideal for complex or severe cases
  • Generally not recommended for people under 18 years old

 

Dentistry for the Entire Family offers complimentary Invisalign consultations

Call (763)586-9988 to schedule a complimentary Invisalign consultation or click the button below to request an appointment.
 
Click to Request an Appointment
 
Not an Invisalign candidate?
If Invisalign is not an option for you, your dentist will refer you to an orthodontist for an orthodontic consultation. Dentistry for the Entire Family collaborates with several orthodontists throughout the Twin Cities area. Following your appointment, the orthodontist will send us an orthodontic consultation summary report of their findings and proposed treatment options.
 
If you wish, one of our patient care coordinators can arrange your orthodontic consultation appointment or you can call and schedule the consultation appointment yourself. A consultation summary report will be sent to us following your child’s orthodontic consultation appointment that includes a summary of the orthodontist’s findings as well as discussed treatment options.
 

Orthodontic decision considerations

Before deciding if orthodontic therapy is right for you or for your child, keep in mind that orthodontic therapy can take up to two years to complete. Therefore it’s essential that the patient understands that there are some lifestyle changes associated with having dental braces especially for teens and children including:

  • Brushing and flossing is critical while having braces in order to prevent dental caries (cavities) and from developing white spots resulting from the demineralization of enamel from ineffective brushing and flossing.
  • Phase II of orthodontic therapy requires frequent visits, typically every 4-6 weeks to the orthodontist for them to evaluate progress and change out your arch wires and elastics.
  • Custom fabricated mouthguards are strongly recommended for people who participate in athletics in order to prevent injuries to the mouth and teeth.
  • Having dental braces makes it difficult to consume some of your favorite foods like apples and corn on the cob. To enjoy these foods, it will be necessary to cut these foods into small, bite sized chunks to avoid damage to the orthodontic wires.
  • Foods and beverages that stain like coffee and tea should be minimized if you elect tooth colored braces as these will become stained over time.
  • Daily use of a prescription strength fluoride rinse is highly recommended during orthodontic therapy because it more difficult to effectively clean around the dental braces. Dental fluoride helps prevent dental caries (cavities).
  • It is vital that regular preventive visits for a teeth cleaning and dental exam are maintained while undergoing orthodontic therapy

 

Orthodontic records

If you decide to proceed with orthodontic therapy, listed below is a common list of records that your dentist or orthodontist will need to get started.

  • Complete medical history
  • Comprehensive orthodontic clinical examination
  • Digital panorex and cephalometric radiographs (x-rays)
  • Study models

 

Dental braces for teenagers and children

Early orthodontic consult

 
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that children as young as seven see an orthodontist to evaluate whether they will need teeth braces. The orthodontist may recommend to take a digital panorex x-ray of your
child’s teeth to check for the presence of all permanent adult teeth as well as look for any potential future space or crowding issues. This early consultation allows the parent and the orthodontist to establish a phased orthodontic treatment plan if necessary.
 

Phased orthodontics

Phased orthodontics is a term that is used to describe the treatment phase of an orthodontic treatment plan. There are three phases: phase one is early interceptive treatment, phase two is the actual treatment phase, and phase three is retention.

  • Phase I is early interceptive treatment
  • Phase II is active,orthodontic therapy
  • Phase III is retention

 
Phase I: Early interceptive treatment
Early interceptive treatment enables your orthodontist to take advantage of your child’s active growth stages. The orthodontist can help guide the growth and development of your child’s top and bottom jaw relationship while they still have primary (baby) teeth. This will help reduce the severity of phase two as well as minimizes the need to remove permanent teeth later on.
 
Phase II: Orthodontic therapy
Phase two includes the placement of top and bottom teeth braces in order to position all permanent teeth for maximum function
and visual appearance.
 
This phase requires frequent orthodontic appointment visits, typically every 4-6 weeks for your orthodontist to evaluate and make adjustments as necessary to your teeth braces in order to guide the teeth into their ideal position. The orthodontist will also evaluate the effectiveness of your child’s oral home care routine and send Dentistry for the Entire Family a written summary report of your child’s orthodontic treatment plan.
 
Note: It’s essential that your child continues to have professional teeth cleanings and exams by your child’s referring dentist every six months while having dental braces.
 
Phase III: Retention
Once orthodontic therapy is complete and teeth braces are removed, the orthodontist will place permanent and/or fabricate removable orthodontic retainers in order to retain the ideal position of every tooth. Teeth will shift if not retained. Orthodontic retention phase lasts indefinitely.
 

Dental braces terminology

It is important to be familiar with commonly used terms regarding dental braces. Below are a few commonly used terms.

  • Ligature
  • Archwire
  • Brackets
  • Metal bands
  • Elastic hooks and rubber bands
Dental braces terminology
Photo source: Pinterest.com

 

Frequently asked questions regarding dental braces

 
Q. How much do braces cost?

A. The cost of dental braces varies greatly upon the complexity of your treatment plan. Upon completion of your consultation, your orthodontist will be able to provide you with an estimate of treatment costs.

 
Q. Does my dental insurance cover the cost of braces?

A. Many dental insurance policies do provide partial coverage for dental braces. To know for sure, we recommend that you ask one of our patient care coordinators to check your specific dental insurance for orthodontic benefit coverage.

 
Q. Are dental braces considered cosmetic treatment?

A. While the end result of dental braces results in a beautiful smile, if the patient has malocclusion, dental insurance providers do not consider dental braces to be a cosmetic treatment.

 
Q. Does having braces hurt?

A. Dental braces do not hurt but the teeth and gums may feel more tender after dental braces are initially placed or following an orthodontic adjustment.

 
Q. Can adults get braces?

A. YES! There is no age limit to who can benefit from dental braces so long as your teeth and bone are healthy.

 
Q. Can I have braces if I have missing teeth, dental crowns, or a dental bridge?

A. Yes so long as the supporting teeth and bone structures are healthy.

 
Q. Will I need to have any permanent teeth extracted?

A. It depends upon the individual. Your referring orthodontist will contact your dentist if they propose teeth extraction.

 
Q. How long will it take to complete my orthodontic treatment?

A. The length of time to complete orthodontic therapy varies greatly upon the complexity and patient compliance of their treatment plan.

 
Q. Are there foods to avoid while wearing dental braces?

A. Any food or beverage that may alter the orthodontic brackets and/or archwire should be avoided. This includes foods that are sticky, hard, or chewy.

 

Dentistry for the Entire Family offers complimentary orthodontic consultations

Call (763) 586-9988 to schedule a complimentary orthodontic consultation or click to request an appointment online.
 
Click to Request dental braces consultation appointment
 

Contact

Dentistry For the Entire Family

1099 East Moore Lake Drive

Fridley, MN 55432

Phone (763) 586-9988

Fax (763) 586-9977

Email Us

Hours of Operation

Monday 7:30am - 5:00pm

Tuesday 7:30am - 5:00pm

Wednesday 7:30am - 5:00pm

Thursday 7:30am - 5:00pm

Friday 7:30am - 3:00pm

Saturday Closed

Sunday Closed