A few simple tools make it easier to reach the places braces can hide food and plaque. You do not need to use every option at once; start with what feels manageable and ask your dental or orthodontic team if you are unsure what suits your appliance. Our guide to brushing and flossing with braces covers the basics.
The cost of braces depends on the treatment plan, the kind of appliance, and where you receive care. As a rough U.S. planning estimate, a full course may fall around $3,000 to $7,500, though some cases and locations may land outside that range. The best way to answer “how much do braces cost” for your situation is to compare written estimates that spell out what is included.
A broken bracket or wire can feel alarming, but many orthodontic problems can wait briefly for professional repair. Start by looking in a mirror with clean hands and good light. Try to identify what moved, what is still attached, and whether anything is cutting your cheek or gums. That description will help our office decide how quickly you need to be seen.
A loose bracket may still be threaded onto the archwire, where it can slide or rotate instead of staying fixed to the tooth. A completely detached bracket may be sitting in your mouth or may have fallen out. Do not tug at a bracket that is dangling, because pulling can irritate the tooth or bend the wire.
Two-phase orthodontic treatment is a plan divided into an early stage and a later stage, with a pause between them. Phase 1 usually takes place while a child still has a mixture of baby and permanent teeth. Phase 2 comes later, when more of the permanent teeth have erupted and the orthodontist can finish the alignment and bite. The point is not simply to give a child braces twice; it is to address different problems at different stages of development.
Completing orthodontic treatment is an exciting moment, but the journey doesn't end the day your braces or Invisalign come off. The retention phase is what keeps your teeth from slowly moving back to where they started. At Swenson Family Orthodontics in Lewiston, Dr. Brendon Swenson and our team guide patients through this stage with custom-made retainers that protect a brand-new smile for life.
When parents compare Invisalign vs. braces for teens, the biggest difference is whether the treatment is removable. Braces stay attached to the teeth throughout treatment, while clear aligners can be taken out for meals, brushing, and flossing. At Swenson Family Orthodontics in Lewiston, Dr. Brendon Swenson helps families weigh both options for their teenager's specific needs.
Many parents assume they can put off thinking about orthodontics until their children are teenagers. After all, we usually picture middle schoolers or high schoolers with a mouthful of brackets. In reality, the journey toward a healthy smile starts much earlier than most people realize. At Swenson Family Orthodontics in Lewiston, Dr. Brendon Swenson helps families figure out the right timing for each child rather than a one-size-fits-all age.
Finishing orthodontic treatment feels like a massive accomplishment, but the real work of protecting that beautiful result starts the moment your braces come off. Many people assume their teeth will stay locked in place once the wires are gone, but nature has other plans. Understanding the commitment involved is essential for protecting your investment, and knowing how long you have to wear a retainer is the first step toward long-term alignment success. At Swenson Family Orthodontics in Lewiston, Dr. Swenson walks every patient through a clear retention plan before the braces ever come off.
So, you're thinking about getting braces, huh? It's a big step towards a straighter smile, and one of the first big decisions you'll face is choosing between metal and ceramic. Let's break down the difference between ceramic braces and metal braces so you can figure out what works best for you.
So, what exactly is Phase 1 orthodontic treatment? Think of it as a proactive approach to your child's dental health, often called "interceptive orthodontics." It's not about getting a full set of braces for your kiddo just yet, but rather about addressing potential issues early on, while their mouth is still developing. This phase usually happens when a child still has a mix of baby teeth and some permanent teeth coming in, typically between the ages of 6 and 10. The main idea is to guide the growth of the jaw and make sure there's enough space for those adult teeth to come in without a major traffic jam.