Getting braces put on your teeth is one of the most routine orthodontic procedures in modern oral medicine.Yet it’s probably also one of the most understood. As a mother looking for safe, reliable, and efficient orthodontic treatment
gif courtesy of giphy.com
in Southington for you and / or your loved ones, it goes without saying that the first thing you need to do in order for things to go smoothly is to lay any fear you might have about braces and the procedures firmly to rest. How? That’s easy to do – in fact, all that’s required is that you keep reading. Sound good? Great! Let’s get started.
Some Basic Facts About Braces
Whether it’s related to medicine or anything else, fear is rooted in misunderstanding. For instance, did you know that there isn’t just one type of orthodontic brace? That’s right! There are many types of braces, from standard metal ones, to ceramic products, and even high-tech models like the Invisalign braces you can sometimes see advertised on TV.
Depending upon the diagnosis of your orthodontist, you may also be fitted with any number of removable or permanent (that is, treatment-spanning) retainers or headgear apparatuses. Depending upon your own unique circumstances, people may not even realize you’re wearing braces at all, but even if they do, you’re far more likely to be complimented on them than anything else. In other words, braces are actually really sophisticated bits of technology, and they’re designed to make your life better. So embrace them!
Examining The Most Common Orthodontic Fears
Believe it or not, orthodontists report a strong probability that they will encounter patients with the same fears and concerns within their practices not once or twice, but hundreds of times. It seems that when it comes to our oral health, we all have the same sense of trepidation! Sensing the trend and seeing something needed to be done to alleviate their patients’ anguish, here’s what a group of orthodontists had to say when asked about the most common fears related to braces (and how to squash them for good).
MYTH #1: It’s Going to Hurt!
Pain is always the top priority when it comes to a procedure like this, and who can object? After all, mothers will do anything to shield their kids from pain, and neither children nor adults want to subject themselves to torture, straight teeth at the end or not.
THE REALITY: You’ll Hardly Feel Them
The idea that your teeth are going to be wrenched and twisted until they’re jerked into straightness by pure, brute force is an urban myth. The fact is, you need braces or a retainer because your teeth need realignment, so yes, your gums might ache a little until you get used to things, especially at first. However, your orthodontist is stocked to the rafters with pain meds, numbing ointments, and others such wonder-treatments. Rest assured, you’ll be given your fair share of them so that any discomfort you experience post-fitting is kept as nearly to zero as possible.
MYTH #2: They’ll Look Terrible, and So Will I!
Adults usually don’t fret too much about this one (although some do, of course, and that’s OK; it’s a natural worry), but kids are a different story entirely. Children are quite sensitive to how they look, how they’re perceived, and what that all means. The prevailing mythos surrounding braces and other orthodontic gear is that it’s a bunch of hulking, drool-inducing metal designed to make the wearer look awful and feel worse.
THE REALITY: Braces are a Fashion Statement (Unless You Go Commando)
This one’s simple: People will only realize you’re wearing braces if you and your orthodontist want them to realize it. With products like Invisalign technology on the market, no one but you ever need to know there’s anything on your teeth at all. If you do decide to go with a more traditional approach, you can rest easy in the knowledge that there are so many different material, color, and style combinations available on the modern market that braces are basically suit your teeth – as infinitely variable and customizable as you are. Your smile can be as cool as you want to make it!
MYTH #3: Food Will Get Caught Everywhere – My Teeth Will Be Disgusting!
Another popular myth propounded by mothers and their kids is that they / their loved ones will acquiesce to orthodontic treatment only to have their smile buried in a swamp of smelly, decomposing food. This, of course, will lead to cavities and a host of other complications which would seem to make braces more of a problem than anything else.
THE REALITY: Rest Easy and Smile Pretty!
You’re at no more risk for the dreaded “parsley tooth” if you wear braces than you are without them. In fact, the reverse is true – the bevy of problems periodontal disease and tooth misalignment can cause are much more serious than a bit of half-chewed food, especially in the long term. Drink more water to keep your teeth food-bit free (the increased hydration is good for you, too!), be sure to practice good oral hygiene, and wear your braces knowing you’re looking great and getting healthier in one fell swoop.
MYTH #4: Braces? No Way! It’ll Take Forever!
Moms know all too well that kids reckon time on a whole other scale. It’s no exaggeration, to their minds at least, when they worry about their orthodontic procedures lasting for the rest of eternity. Even some adults can balk at the prospect of a multi-year treatment, which is probably why some people, grown-ups and kids alike, shy away from getting braces put on because “it will take too long”.
THE REALITY: Today is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life
Unless your name is Doc Brown or Marty McFly, you can’t bend time. Braces are going to take time to work. While
it’s true that some treatments recommended by your orthodontist might last for a year, it’s important to consider something: A year is nothing when weighed against a lifetime. Consider how great you’re going to look and feel with a celebrity-quality smile, and then ponder this exchange: You waited a year to acquire it, but it’ll be with you for the next 50 or 60 years. When you look at it like that, “forever” doesn’t seem so long!
Next Steps
If you’re looking for braces in Southington or the surrounding area for yourself or your child, take a look at our website for more information! You can visit us at Team Demas Orthodontist.
Our team of highly-skilled orthodontists and friendly support staff is ready to assist you with anything you might need. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Team Demas Orthodontics
27 Meriden Ave #2a, Southington, CT 06489, USA
Phone: 860-276-0333
