iBraces

What Are iBraces, and How Are They Used?

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If you’ve been searching online for information on the different types of braces available, you might have come across the term iBraces. But what are iBraces, and will your orthodontist in Franklin, TN offer them?

Let’s find out.

What Are iBraces?

IBraces in Franklin, TN, is just one of the brand names for lingual braces. Recently, people have been using the brand name iBraces and lingual braces interchangeably. This results in some confusion because those who have never heard of the brand name iBraces think that term is referring to a new type of braces when it’s not. You might also hear the term “incognito braces.” Again, that’s just another term that is used for lingual braces.

How Are iBraces Used?

Lingual braces (iBraces) are customized braces that are placed on the back side (tongue side) of the teeth. This offers an almost invisible option for those who want braces but don’t want them showing when they talk and smile. The cosmetic appeal is why many people opt for lingual braces instead of traditional metal braces that are placed on the front side of the teeth. Additionally, iBraces are a popular brand; therefore, many dentists now offer them.

The Pros and Cons of iBraces (lingual braces)

Just like anything else, there are pros and cons to everything.

Pros:

  • Almost completely invisible.
  • Affixed to your teeth, so they are continually straightening them.
  • They are attached to your teeth, so you can’t lose them.
  • The brackets are custom-made, so they fit your teeth perfectly.
  • The custom fit means more precise, tailored movements.
  • Capable of treating minor and complex orthodontic issues.
  • Since teeth are visible, you can watch them improve.

Cons:

  • They are the most expensive braces option, especially the custom-made brackets.
  • You must make changes to the way you eat. No hard, sticky, chewy, etc. foods that could damage the metal wires and brackets.
  • They are harder to floss and brush your teeth.
  • They take some time to get used to. Initially, they will cause soreness and could irritate your tongue until you get used to wearing them.
  • They might initially cause a lisp until you adjust to wearing them.
  • They could cause staining and brown spots if you are not diligent with your dental hygiene.

Do You Need an Orthodontist in Franklin, TN?

If you are looking for an orthodontist in Franklin, TN, please Contact Cool Water Orthodontics today. Our top priority is to provide you with the highest quality orthodontic care possible. We offer a comfortable, friendly environment where we treat everyone like family.

Color Braces

3 Types of Braces: What to Know About Traditional, Clear, and Lingual

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There are a variety of types of braces available in Franklin, TN, and they’re all available for people who want a healthier smile. The key to choosing the right one comes down to understanding what’s available and who the braces are made for. While there are more than these three varieties on the market, some basic information can help you decide if you’re on the fence.

Traditional

Traditional braces use metal, wires, and steel to straighten out your teeth. These are very strong materials, and thus, they’re perfect for people with severe misalignments. Metal braces have been around for decades, and they’re result are undeniable. Despite their efficacy, though, they’re also the most conspicuous type of braces, and they may need to be worn for up to two years.

Clear

Clear aligners in Franklin, TN, sometimes known as Invisalign, are a near-invisible way to straighten your teeth. You’ll wear these for around 22 hours a day, taking them out only to eat and clean. These see-through trays are comfortable enough that you won’t even necessarily notice them after a short period of time. The only caveat is that they won’t work for severe issues.

Lingual

You can think of lingual braces like traditional braces, except that they’re installed in the back of the teeth rather than the front. The brackets and wires are just as effective when they’re concealed as when they’re not, which can make for a good compromise for a patient who wants clear aligners but isn’t eligible to wear them. However, while lingual braces are effective, the brackets can also be damaged by crunchy or hard foods. (Of course, most people agree that it’s worth the trouble if they don’t want people to know they’re wearing braces.)

Orthodontists in Franklin

Choosing braces can be daunting. When it’s a long-term decision like this, it’s reasonable to wonder exactly what you’re signing up for. If you have questions about how long you’ll need to wear your aligners for, what it will cost, or what you can expect after the braces come off, the staff at Cool Water Orthodontics can get you all the facts. If you’re looking for a reputable orthodontist in Franklin, TN, we’re here to give you or your loved ones a reason to smile.

6 Commonly Asked Questions About Braces

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So, you’re getting braces. You probably have many questions! Fortunately, your orthodontist in Franklin, TN, can help you get answers. Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about braces, with helpful answers.

1. What are braces for?

The braces’ purpose is to correct tooth alignment and bite problems. Braces can also help correct cosmetic problems. If you have crowded teeth, overbite, underbite or crooked teeth, then you may benefit from braces. Your dentist will tell you whether you’re a good candidate for braces.

2. What’s the difference between braces and clear aligners?

Braces and clear aligners can correct many of the same problems. However, braces do their job when the braces’ wires pull the teeth into the correct position.

Clear aligners are made out of clear plastic that fits over the teeth. They do their job by slowly pushing the teeth into the correct position. As the teeth slowly reposition themselves to fit inside the aligner, then the aligners are replaced with new aligners that push the teeth even further.

3. How can you tell if you need braces?

Your dentist will be the one to tell you definitively whether you need braces, but you may be able to tell by some of the following symptoms:

  • You bite the inside of your mouth frequently
  • You have a hard time chewing
  • Chewing makes you tired
  • Your teeth are visibly crooked or crowded

If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your dentist.

4. How are braces maintained?

Braces need to be brushed twice each day, just like your teeth. You should also floss your teeth once daily. To floss your teeth, thread the floss through your teeth between the braces and the gums. Once it’s threaded through, move the floss up and down, under the gum like you would normally. Then, floss the area between your teeth on the other side of the wire.

5. Does it hurt to get braces?

It shouldn’t hurt to have braces attached to your mouth, but you may feel discomfort soon after they are installed. This discomfort will fade with time.

Do you have more questions about braces in Franklin, TN? Call Cool Water Orthodontics to find out the answers to your many questions. We’re happy to provide you with the information you need.

How Careful Do You Need to Be When Eating With Lingual Braces?

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Lingual braces go behind the teeth, which is a great way to avoid any potential social stigma surrounding braces. It’s a great option for anyone who has more severe orthodontic issues (if they’re not a good candidate for clear aligners). The major downside is that you need to be careful about what you eat. We’ll look at the basics so you’re able to keep the brackets on until they’re ready to come off.

Avoid Crispy, Chewy Foods

This is a tall order for people, but it’s necessary if you want to be on the safe side. Anything that’s difficult to chew, like licorice, gum, caramels, or hard candies, shouldn’t be on the menu when you have these braces on. You should also stay away from very crunchy foods, like popcorn or almonds.

What Can You Eat?

You can eat pretty much anything soft or that eventually melts down. So, while you wouldn’t want to bite straight into a frozen ice pop, you can enjoy it over time. Muffins, tortillas, rice, pasta, and meatballs can all be added to the menu. You can also alter your cooking habits to enjoy crispy vegetables. Roasting, steaming, or sauteeing these foods until they become soft are excellent ways to get the nutrients into your diet without sacrificing the stunning smile on the other end of your braces.

The bottom line is that you need to be pretty careful with these devices. Having lingual braces in Franklin, TN is a major trade-off, and most people will slip up every now and again when they have them. If the menu sounds too limited, you should work with your dentist to learn more about what else you can do to straighten your teeth.

Dentists in Franklin

The right orthodontist in Franklin, TN will tell you everything you need to know about your braces. What’s right for you doesn’t just depend on how crooked your teeth are, it depends on your personal preferences. If you don’t want to give up your favorite foods, Cool Water Orthodontics can tell you more about how to retain your lifestyle as best as possible while still working toward a straighter grin.

 

3 Benefits Early Orthodontic Treatment

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Early orthodontic treatment isn’t for everyone, but for the right patient, it can be very beneficial. If your little one has misaligned teeth, your child’s orthodontist may recommend early orthodontic treatment. Here’s what you should know about why early orthodontic treatment in Franklin, TN is helpful and what are the benefits.

Why Early Orthodontic Treatment?

Your child’s orthodontist is likely to recommend orthodontic treatment if your child has a condition that is best treated as quickly as possible. Some conditions get worse if they’re not treated right away. This is what your child’s dental professional will likely recommend orthodontic treatment for:

  • Underbite
  • Poorly spaced teeth
  • Crossbite
  • Teeth crowding
  • Missing teeth
  • Extra teeth
  • Thumb-, finger-, or pacifier-sucking

Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment

Below are some of the benefits of early orthodontic treatment:

  1. Improve speech. Sometimes jaw misalignment and tooth misalignment can lead to speech problems. Orthodontic treatment can help improve speech and prevent problems like lisps and difficulty pronouncing certain blended sounds. If your child has difficulty with speech and their dental professional says they need braces, this could potentially help with their speech problem.
  2. Aid digestion. Some children find it difficult to chew properly because their teeth won’t line up as they should. Getting your child orthodontic treatment in this case can help aid their digestion by allowing them to chew their food as it should be chewed. Your child may not even know that they have trouble chewing, but you may notice a difference if their jaw clicks when they chew, or if they often find themselves biting the inside of their mouth or choking on their food.
  3. Prevent tooth decay. Teeth that grow too close together can be difficult to clean. Aligning the teeth properly can help make the teeth easier to clean, which in turn can help your child avoid painful and annoying problems like tooth decay and cavities. Properly aligned teeth are easier to floss and easier to brush.

Is Your Child A Candidate for Early Orthodontic Treatment? Call Today

At Cool Water Orthodontics, we offer early orthodontic treatment in Franklin, TN. To get started with your child’s orthodontic care, call today to make an appointment.

What Should I Know About Taking Care of My New Braces?

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When you get new braces from the orthodontist in Franklin, TN, you have to take proper care of them, or you could find yourself breaking your braces or doing harm to your teeth. Below are some of the suggestions we give to our patients who have new braces.

Watch What You Eat

Braces are easily broken by hard, crunchy foods. Nuts are an excellent example of the kind of food you can’t eat when you have braces – hard candy can be problematic as well.

Sticky foods are also a problem for braces because they can become caught in the brackets, and removing sticky food from those little spaces can be very difficult. Avoid eating anything that could cause damage to your braces. When your braces are first installed, your orthodontist will give you a list of foods that you should not eat.

Floss Regularly

Flossing is very important when you’re wearing braces, because even non-sticky foods can easily become caught in those little spaces between the brackets and your teeth. Floss every night. Your orthodontist can show you how to floss once your braces are put on your teeth, but even if you don’t get a tutorial in the orthodontist office, there are many helpful tutorials online.

Don’t Chew On Things That Aren’t Food

Chewing on ice can be refreshing, but when you’re wearing braces, ice can cause damage. Chewing on pen caps and finger nails can also be bad for your braces. Never use your teeth as scissors to open up packaging, and take care to avoid chewing on anything that isn’t food once braces are put on your teeth.

Contact Your Orthodontist With Questions

Remember that your orthodontist is a resource from the moment your braces are installed. If you ever have questions about what’s acceptable for maintaining your braces, call your orthodontist with your questions. You can also write down your questions and bring them with you the next time that you go to the orthodontist for an appointment.

Want to know more about getting braces in Franklin, TN? Call Cool Water Orthodontics for advice.

 

Dental hygiene with braces

How to Care for Your Teeth While Wearing Braces

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Taking meticulous care of your teeth can be tricky enough. But with the addition of braces, it becomes especially challenging. Braces, while gently repositioning your teeth and improving your smile, have tons of hard-to-reach areas where food and debris can become stuck. For this reason, it’s necessary to take special care of your teeth if you have braces. This will help prevent your perfectly straight, new smile from being marred by stains or cavities. Your orthodontist in Franklin, TN, can give you tips for caring for your teeth while wearing braces.

1. Brush After Every Meal

Did you know snacks count as meals? At least, they do to your orthodontist. This means every time you eat something, you must brush afterward, even if you only had a healthy snack. This will prevent bits of food from lodging in difficult areas where you can’t see or feel it. And no food left behind means less chance of cavities.

2. Use Mouthwash Regularly

An antiseptic mouthwash is best because it helps kill germs that breed bacteria. By rinsing with mouthwash several times a day, you can swish away any food particles your brush may have missed. You can also kill germs that lead to gum disease.

3. Don’t Forget to Floss

Even with braces, you should still floss at least once per day. It may be a bit trickier to maneuver. However, that extra effort will be worth it in the long run. And you can buy dental floss applicators that have been specially designed for use with braces.

4. Keep Regular Appointments with Your Orthodontist

It’s super important to see your orthodontist regularly if you wear braces. In order to do their job, most braces must be readjusted regularly. And if you wear traditional metal braces, only your orthodontist can perform this procedure. You’ll want to keep appointments with your regular dentist during this time, as well.

The friendly professionals at Cool Water Orthodontics can help you care for your teeth while you wear braces in Franklin, TN. Call today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced dental clinicians.

What Are Lingual Braces and Why Are They Used?

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Has your dentist in Franklin, TN recommended that you get braces? If so, you probably want to explore your options first. So let’s talk about one of those options—lingual braces.

What Are Lingual Braces?

Lingual braces, commonly referred to as iBraces, which is a brand of lingual braces, are those that are placed behind your teeth rather than on the front of your teeth like conventional metal braces. They face your tongue and palate instead of being placed on the front of your teeth.

What Is the Purpose of Lingual Braces?

Lingual braces are designed and placed on the back side of your teeth to give you a more normal appearance. This is so you don’t see the metal brackets as you do with conventional metal braces. However, lingual braces still have all the same components as conventional metal braces, they are just placed differently on your teeth.

Are Lingual Braces Better Than Conventional Metal Braces?

Generally, lingual braces work just as well as conventional metal braces, but they have the advantage of being invisible. However, in some cases, they can be more effective than conventional metal braces or Invisalign.

Do Lingual Braces Cost More Than Conventional Metal Braces?

Yes, lingual braces do cost more than conventional metal braces because they must be strategically placed behind your teeth, making them a little trickier to deal with. Ask your dentist about how much lingual braces in Franklin, TN will cost, and they will go over everything with you.

Is It More Painful to Have Lingual Braces?

Lingual braces seem to cause more pain during treatment for most people compared to conventional braces, and the recovery time is a bit longer. Additionally, lingual braces will generally irritate your tongue, just like conventional braces can irritate your lips and cheeks. However, this pain is usually temporary and should go away within the first two weeks. Over time, your tongue will get tougher and will get used to having the lingual braces there.

Do Lingual Braces Give You a Lisp?

Yes, lingual braces will give you a temporary lisp. Since speaking requires your tongue to touch the back of your teeth to make certain sounds, the lingual braces will affect your speech. The speech impairment you experience is only temporary and should go away after a month or so once you get used to speaking with them.

What’s Next?

If you need a dentist in Franklin, TN to discuss lingual braces with you, please Contact Cool Water Orthodontics today. We are committed to providing you with the highest standards of orthodontic care in a comfortable, relaxed, inviting, and professional environment.

dentist-assisting-patient-wear-invisible-braces

Benefits of Clear Braces

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One of the recent advances in orthodonture is clear braces. Clear braces are an alternative to traditional braces that are popular with adults who need teeth alignment. You can get clear braces from your dentist in Franklin, TN. If you are trying to decide if clear braces are worth it for you, consider the following benefits.

More Attractive Appearance

One of the drawbacks of regular braces is their unsightly appearance. Teenagers have always dreaded traditional braces, but for adults, having a “mouth full of metal” can be even more unsettling. Clear braces blend in with the teeth much better than metal braces, and offer a much more attractive appearance. If you are concerned with how braces will look, then clear braces are a great option.

Better Self-Esteem

No matter what kind of braces you choose, they will be visible when you smile. If you or the teenager in your family need braces and self-esteem is going to be an issue, then you should definitely consider clear braces. These kinds of braces are made with a transparent material that let your natural teeth show when you smile. Of course, there is a very thin band of metal that connects each brace, but that is hardly noticeable. For many people, wearing braces is uncomfortable as far as self-esteem goes. Clear braces are the best option for this situation.

More Professional Looking

If you are an adult who is choosing to get your teeth aligned, you may prefer clear braces because they look more professional. This can be a benefit if you are someone who works in the public eye, on camera or as an executive. Unfortunately, braces are connected with adolescence, since teens are the age group most likely to get braces. Even though braces for adults are becoming more common, it might be helpful to get clear braces in order to project a more serious, professional look for business.

Clear braces aren’t for everyone, but with these benefits, they are certainly worth your consideration. If you would like more information about clear braces in Franklin, TN, please contact us today. We’d be happy to answer all your questions about clear braces and other braces alternatives.

Think You’re too Old for Braces? Think again!  

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Did you know that you can correct tooth misalignment, even when you’re an adult? Many people get braces when they’re teenagers, but adults can benefit from braces too. If you have misaligned teeth and have always wanted to see the problem corrected, then you may be a good candidate for braces or Invisalign – even if you’ve been an adult for a long time.

To find out whether this is a good option for you, talk to your orthodontist in Franklin, TN. At Cool Water Orthodontics, we help adult patients restore their smile all the time. You don’t have to be a teenager to benefit from use of braces or Invisalign. Here’s what you need to know.

Age Requirements for Braces

There are no age requirements to get braces. Adults can get braces at any time, provided that their teeth are healthy, and they have sufficient jaw to support the use of braces.

One thing to keep in mind is that severe misalignments may not always be corrected with braces alone. Your dental professional will tell you whether you’re a good candidate for braces, and if so, will help you decide the best way to achieve your goals.

All About Braces

Traditional braces are made from wire and brackets attached to the teeth. They work by gently pulling and shifting the teeth into the right position.

Braces can’t be removed from the teeth without help from an orthodontist, which means they have to be cleaned on the teeth, and anyone wearing braces must refrain from eating certain foods that could cause damage to their braces.

All About Invisalign

Invisalign clear aligners are made from clear plastic that slowly squeezes and pushes the teeth into the proper position. Once the teeth have shifted into position, a new set of aligners are made to further correct the tooth alignment.

Invisalign can be removed for cleaning and for eating, which makes Invisalign easy to maintain. Unlike braces, Invisalign is hard to see. For adults who feel too self-conscious to wear braces, Invisalign may be an excellent way to correct your tooth alignment without interfering with the appearance of your smile.

Want to know more about getting Invisalign or braces in Franklin, TN? Call Cool Water Orthodontics today to make an appointment.