Traditional Braces – Tucson, AZ
Reliable Treatment for a Beautiful Smile
Thanks to modern dental technology, there are plenty of treatments that can help you overcome orthodontic issues. However, the most powerful and reliable way to improve the alignment of your teeth and bite is with traditional braces in Tucson. Dr. Jay Lopez can use this tried-and-true orthodontic solution to address problems that can’t typically be fixed with services like clear aligners, offering a truly reliable treatment for a beautiful smile. If you’re interested to see if traditional braces are right for you, give us a call today to schedule your free orthodontic consultation!
Why Choose Dr. Jay Lopez For Traditional Metal Braces?
- #1 Complimentary Orthodontic Consultation
- #2 Highly-Trained Dentist with Over a Decade of Experience
- #3 Dental Insurance Welcome & Flexible Financing Available
How Do Metal Braces Work?
Traditional metal braces use a straightforward technique that can address even the most severe orthodontic issues. Once Dr. Lopez has determined that braces are right for you, he’ll attach a series of small metal brackets to the front of your teeth. These are then connected with a small wire, which places constant, gentle pressure on the brackets and teeth. Gradually, this will shift your teeth and jaws into their ideal positions. Throughout your treatment, you’ll visit us for periodic checkups to have your braces adjusted and monitor your progress.
The Advantages of Traditional Braces
Many patients wonder if Invisalign clear aligners or traditional metal braces are right for them. While each comes with their own benefits and drawbacks, traditional braces offer a few important advantages, such as:
- Versatility: Clear aligners like Invisalign cannot treat all types of orthodontic problems, but traditional braces can solve virtually any type or severity of alignment.
- Ease of use: Since traditional braces are bonded to your teeth, they will apply constant pressure to your smile until your treatment is finished without any extra responsibility on your part. Many patients like the idea of removable aligners, but end up losing them, breaking them, or not wearing them long enough, which can set your treatment behind schedule.
- Great for all ages: Thanks to their versatility and ease of use, traditional braces are a great choice for smiles of any age!
What Should You Expect After Your Metal Braces Are In Place?
Once your braces are in place, Dr. Lopez will take the time to answer any and all of your questions, including all the best ways to help your treatment go smoothly. To make your journey towards a straighter smile as smooth as possible, remember to:
- Adjust your diet: Traditional braces are strong, but the wrong foods could damage them and increase your risk of cavities, which would delay your treatment. We’ll give you a list of foods and drinks to avoid, and you can always call us with any questions about your diet.
- Use the right cleaning tools: You’ll need to take a bit of extra time and effort to keep your smile clean with braces. We’ll go over the best tools and techniques for cleaning around your wires and brackets to keep your teeth strong during treatment.
- Maintain your checkups: It’s important to visit us for regular checkups every four to eight weeks (depending on your unique treatment plan) so we can spot any potential issues as soon as possible and make sure you’re on the fastest path towards a straighter smile.
Understanding the Cost of Traditional Braces
The cost of traditional braces varies from person to person, as there are so many different variables that come into play. Dr. Lopez can outline your treatment costs during your initial consultation as well as go over your financial options. In the meantime here are some things for you to take into consideration.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Traditional Braces
The cost of braces will vary from patient to patient. This depends on numerous different factors, including the following:
- Severity of misalignment – The greater distance the teeth need to move, the longer treatment will generally take.
- Length of treatment – The longer you wear braces, the higher your treatment costs. This means that you’ll require more routine checkups, adjustments, and supplies.
- Your age – As an adult, your teeth are more firmly set in your jawbone than they were during childhood and adolescence. They take more time to move, so your treatment may cost slightly more.
- Number of follow-up appointments needed – Throughout treatment, braces need to be adjusted every two to eight weeks depending on the patient’s progress and needs.
- Other orthodontic appliances needed – Most patients with braces also need to wear other orthodontic supplies, such as space maintainers, palatal expanders, elastics, headgears, and retainers.
- Compliance with treatment guidelines – If, for example, you need to wear rubber bands on your braces, but you don’t wear them often enough, your teeth won’t move as planned. Therefore, your treatment will probably take longer.
Professional Braces vs. “DIY” Braces: Which Costs More?
It can be tempting to try to save money by opting for a “do-it-yourself” approach. There have been numerous recent trends of people trying to straighten their teeth using a variety of household and over-the-counter items, including but not limited to fishing lines, earring backs, superglue, rubber bands, and more. While these items may sound like they can do the job, they are likely to cause serious issues that will need to be addressed by a professional eventually. This can ultimately spell disaster for your wallet.
Without the guidance of a dental professional, you could accidentally shift your teeth in the wrong direction, throw off your jaw alignment, and damage the soft tissues in the mouth. Ultimately you could end up with some very serious issues that will need to be corrected. By seeing your dentist for traditional braces from the start, you can avoid a world of hurt.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Braces?
Some dental insurance plans include coverage for orthodontic treatment. It is more likely that they will be covered if you need them for a medical reason – like due to a misaligned jaw or difficulty chewing. Additionally, some plans only cover braces for patients under the age of 18. If your insurance does cover braces, you can generally expect up to 50% coverage, but this can vary from plan to plan. You should check with your insurance provider ahead of time so you know what you can anticipate.
Options for Making Braces Affordable
If you don’t have dental insurance coverage for orthodontic treatment, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you are out of luck. We work with a variety of third-party financing companies that can split the cost of your treatment into manageable installments for little to no interest. To learn more about your options talk to one of our friendly team members.
To find out exactly how much you can expect your braces to cost, schedule a consultation with us. We’re eager to help you achieve a straighter smile!
Traditional Braces FAQs
If you’re interested in achieving a perfectly straight smile, then you won’t go wrong by getting traditional braces in Tucson. Although this procedure is well-known and effective, you probably would like to know more about the treatment before undergoing the process. To help make finding your answers simpler, our team has gathered several of the most commonly asked questions we get about braces from our patients. Read on to learn more about this orthodontic treatment, or feel free to give us a call today if you don’t see the information you’re looking for!
Can I Get Traditional Braces on Just my Top or Bottom Teeth?
It may be possible to do this, but we don’t usually recommend this approach. This is because shifting one arch of pearly whites and ignoring the other can create problems for your bite, increasing the risk of teeth grinding and a disrupted chewing pattern. There might even be imbalances like overbites or underbites, making them more pronounced over time. By treating your orthodontic situation from top to bottom, we can achieve a more comprehensive solution for your smile.
Am I Too Old to Get Braces?
Fortunately, you are never too old to get traditional braces. Although kids and young adults make up the majority of patients undergoing this treatment, you don’t have to worry about an upper age limit. If you’re unhappy with your bite, then you deserve to straighten your teeth for a more confident smile. Certain alignment issues can make it difficult to preserve your pearly whites, so don’t let your age keep you from improving your dental health in the long run. The sooner you start, the more likely you can avoid further complications down the road!
What Can You Not Eat with Traditional Braces?
You may need to adjust your diet when wearing metal braces. Some foods can cause issues with your brackets or archwires, causing them to become loose or break and disrupting your orthodontic progress. To avoid these problems, try to keep away from hard, crunchy, and sticky foods like taco shells, chips, whole apples, caramel-filled candies, and even popcorn. Instead, stick with softer foods that are also rich in nutrients such as applesauce, mashed potatoes, and yogurt.
What Happens After You Get Your Braces Off?
After you’ve completed your orthodontic treatment, Dr. Jay Lopez will remove your braces and reveal the perfectly straightened smile you worked so hard for! While the results will be effective and long-lasting, your pearly whites can still potentially shift back into their original positions. For this reason, we’ll provide you with retainers to help keep your teeth in place. While this can vary based on your specific situation, you may be required to wear these appliances every day for a few months until Dr. Lopez says you can start wearing them overnight. To make the most of your straightened pearly whites, make sure you continue to use your retainers consistently.