What Are Headgear Braces and How Do They Work?

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What do you do if your child has severe dental issues and needs to have their teeth straightened? It’s possible that traditional braces might not be the best option for the situation. An orthodontist in Shawnee, KS, will examine your child’s teeth and jaws and create a custom treatment plan for them. That treatment plan might include headgear braces.

What Are Headgear Braces?

Headgear braces are dental appliances that help bring a child’s jaws and teeth into alignment. Headgear braces are designed to create just enough force to move your child’s teeth into their proper position while guiding the growth of their face and jaws.

How Do Headgear Braces Work?

Headgear braces in Shawnee, KS, are placed outside your child’s mouth and around their head versus attached to the teeth inside their mouth. There are several different types of headgear available.

Cervical Headgear – Moves your child’s upper teeth and jaw backward.

High-Pull Headgear – Moves your child’s upper jaw backward and over their head.

Reverse-Pull Headgear (sometimes referred to as a facemask) – Moves your child’s upper jaw forward.

Your orthodontist will let you know which type of headgear your child needs to correct their oral issues.

How Are Headgear Braces Kept in Place?

Headgear is kept in place by using one of two methods.

Facebow – Afacebow is a single strap that is placed around the back of your child’s neck. It has a wire that is then attached to the braces on the front of their teeth.

J Hook – A J hook uses wires that attach to your child’s braces. Straps are then placed over their head and neck to hold the headgear in place.

Are You Looking for a Reputable Orthodontist in Shawnee, KS?

If your child has teeth and jaw alignment issues, please Contact Bulleigh Orthodontics today to schedule an exam. We specialize in creating beautiful smiles and improving facial aesthetics to give your child a lifetime of confidence.

Bulleigh Orthodontics

 The Risks of DIY At-Home Braces

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If you want to have your teeth straightened, getting braces in Shawnee, KS, was probably your first thought. But then, you do a quick search for teeth straightening, and you stumble upon a DIY at-home teeth straightening kit. You think to yourself that this might be the way to go.

But wait!

Not so fast!

There are a few things you need to know first if you want to avoid permanent damage and expensive, extensive dental fixes to undo the damage.

Why Mail Order Teeth Straightening Options Are a Bad Idea

Mail-order at-home teeth straightening options are a relatively new idea. They are something that, on the surface, sounds like a good idea but one that could result in significant damage to your teeth.

Here’s why:

At-home teeth straightening kits allow people to self-diagnose and treat themselves. This, in itself, is shocking, especially since an orthodontist has to have years of training, be licensed, and know what they are doing before they can treat anyone.

An individual can’t take their own X-rays and dental impressions to treat and monitor the progress of their treatment. Additionally, they don’t have an orthodontist in Shawnee, KS, who can physically look at their teeth to properly monitor their progress and determine when their teeth are ready for the next set of aligners.

How At-Home Teeth Straightening Kits Can Damage Your Teeth

Here are just a few of the ways an at-home teeth straightening kit could damage your teeth.

  • You can’t examine yourself to see if you have any underlying conditions.
  • Wearing dental aligners unsupervised can lead to gum damage, periodontitis, gingivitis, root damage and root resorption, gum recession, loose teeth, tooth loss, bite problems, and dangerous infections.
  • At-home kits don’t account for your bone structure, which could lead to significant oral issues.
  • Teeth that shift too quickly and aggressively can result in other damage.

Are You Looking for a Reputable Orthodontist in Shawnee, KS?

If you want to have your teeth straightened, please Contact Bulleigh Orthodontics today. We’d love to show you just how easy and affordable having your teeth straightened can be.

What You Can and Can’t Eat When Wearing Metal Braces

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If you just got braces or are thinking about getting braces in Shawnee, KS, you probably want to know about what you can and can’t eat, right? So, let’s go over all the foods you can and can’t eat and how to modify the restricted foods so that you can eat them.

The Foods You Can Eat When Wearing Metal Braces

If you have traditional metal braces, you can eat all soft foods that aren’t sticky, chewy, or stringy. If you have any questions about whether or not you can or can’t eat any given food item, contact your orthodontist in Shawnee, KS, and they will advise you on what to do.

The Foods to Avoid When Wearing Metal Braces

You are probably aware that getting traditional metal braces means you will have to restrict your diet until they are removed.

Here is a list of foods you shouldn’t eat until your braces are removed.

  • Popcorn
  • Nuts
  • Hard or sticky candy
  • Chewing gum
  • Corn on the cob
  • Hard raw fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots, etc.

And you probably already guessed this, but don’t chew on ice, pencils, fingernails, or open packages with your teeth.

How to Modify Restricted Foods So You Can Eat Them

Even though hard, raw fruits and vegetables are restricted, that doesn’t mean you can’t eat them at all. They just need to be modified first.

For example, if you want to eat hard, raw fruits or vegetables, you can cut them up into tiny pieces so that you can easily eat them. And sometimes things like apples, peaches, carrots, etc., can be cooked so they are soft enough to eat without damaging your braces.

Contact a Reputable Orthodontist in Shawnee, KS

If you have questions about your braces or about the possibility of getting braces, please Contact Bulleigh Orthodontics today. We have comfortable offices and a team of professionals ready and willing to help.

Best Practice For Successful Braces Treatment

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Whether you’re getting braces for yourself as an adult, or you’re having braces done for your child, you’ll want to know that the time and money invested leads to a successful outcome. The treatment for typical braces in Overland Park, KS takes about 1-1/2 to 2 years. During that time, the teeth and jaw undergo significant change. Both you and your orthodontist want to ensure that the teeth, jaw and gums remain healthy so the results after treatment meet or exceed expectations. Here are best practices for successful braces treatment.

Avoid Certain Foods

Braces have all kinds of nooks and crannies where food debris can hide and lodge, raising the risk that you won’t be able to get rid of it with regular brushing and rinsing. It can be very frustrating trying to get soft bread out of braces brackets, trust us! Your orthodontist will give you a list of foods to avoid, and you should adhere to it carefully during the duration of treatment.

Don’t Miss Adjustment Appointments

Adjustment appointments where when yourorthodontist in Overland Park, KS tightens the wires on your braces. In turn, this helps shift teeth a little bit more into the desired position. Missing these important appointments, even by a few days, means lengthening the treatment time.

Choose Your Orthodontist Carefully

Not all orthodontists are the same in terms of quality of treatment, experience and aftercare. If you live in or around Overland Park, KS, you’re lucky enough to be near Bulleigh Orthodontics. We have a highly experienced staff of orthodontists, a stellar reputation and experience with both child and adult braces treatment.

At Bulleigh Orthodontics, we invite you to contact us for an appointment to discuss your orthodontic needs. We look forward to seeing you!

Invisalign Braces Explained

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If you need your teeth straightened, you’re probably trying to decide between Invisalign clear dental aligners and traditional metal braces…right? There are some distinct differences between the two. Your orthodontist in Overland Park, KS, would be happy to go over everything with you. But until then, we are going to go over Invisalign braces and what you need to know about them.

What Are Invisalign Braces?

Invisalign is the brand name of one of the clear dental aligners on the market. They utilize sets of computer-generated plastic molds to straighten your teeth over time gradually.

How Do Invisalign Braces Work?

Your orthodontist will create computer-generated images of your mouth and teeth. The orthodontist will then use those images to make custom dental aligner trays for your teeth. You will change out those trays over several months until your teeth are straight.

Unlike traditional braces that use metal wires to shift your teeth into place, Invisalign braces use sets of clear plastic molded trays to shift your teeth into their proper position gently.

The Benefits of Invisalign Braces

Invisalign braces in Overland Park, KS, are very popular because of their many benefits.

  • They are invisible, so they provide you with a better appearance.
  • They don’t use metal wires and brackets, so they are more comfortable.
  • There are no diet restrictions like there are with metal braces because you remove them when you eat.
  • They are removable, making it easier to brush, floss, and eat.
  • They are suitable for both children and adults.

The only drawback (that’s really not a drawback for most people) is that you must have enough self-discipline to wear them for 22 hours daily. If you don’t, they won’t work as intended.

How Long Do You Have to Wear Invisalign Braces?

On average, the Invisalign treatment takes somewhere between 6 – 18 months or so. The length of time they must be worm will differ for each person and will depend on the severity of your dental issues.

Are You Looking for an Orthodontist in Overland Park, KS?

If you want to look into getting Invisalign clear braces, please Contact Bulleigh Orthodontics today. We offer a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere and would love to show you how getting Invisalign clear aligners will change your life!

Types of Braces

The Pros and Cons of Lingual Braces

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If you need braces, you probably don’t want them to be visible. When most people think about braces, they picture the traditional metal braces that are placed on the fronts of your teeth. However, there are other options, like lingual braces. But what are lingual braces? Your orthodontist in Shawnee, KS, can tell you all about them. But for now, let’s go over lingual braces and how they work.

Lingual Braces Explained

Lingual braces in Shawnee, KS, are hidden from view because they are placed on the backs of your teeth versus being placed on the fronts like traditional metal braces. They still work just like traditional metal braces, with one exception.

Lingual braces are actually more effective when it comes to correcting certain oral issues. For example, lingual braces work better for correcting gaps between your teeth and fixing a deep overbite.

How Do Lingual Braces Work?

The process for how lingual braces work isn’t much different than that of traditional metal braces. The only difference is they are placed on the backs of your teeth versus the fronts. The way they move your teeth is pretty much the same.

The Pros and Cons of Lingual Braces

There are plenty of reasons to choose lingual braces, especially if you don’t want your new braces to be visible; therefore, the pros of getting lingual braces far outweigh the cons.

Pros:

  • Invisible from the Outside
  • Effectively Correct Bite Issues
  • Customized for Maximum Comfort and Efficiency
  • Can Correct a Wide Range of Orthodontic Issues

Cons:

  • Harder to Clean and Maintain
  • A Bit More Uncomfortable Than Traditional Braces (this is debatable)
  • More Expensive Than Traditional Braces
  • Can Cause a Temporary Lisp

Are You Looking for a Reputable Orthodontist in Shawnee, KS?

If you need braces and want to discuss options like lingual braces, please Contact Bulleigh Orthodontics for an exam and consultation. We will go over all your options with you, along with our recommendations. Then you can decide which one is right for you.

Bulleigh Orthodontics

How to Make Wearing Braces More Comfortable

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Braces in Overland Park, KS, are a temporary challenge but one that will reward your child (or you) with a beautiful smile for the rest of their life. So, the minimal discomfort your child will feel is a very small price to pay for a lifetime of confidence and the social rewards of having a perfect smile.

Your orthodontist will go over all the details with you. And here, we are going to give you some tips on how to make wearing your braces more comfortable.

What Makes Braces Hurt?

Braces hurt due to the constant gentle pressure on your child’s teeth during the alignment period. In addition, when your child first gets their braces, it will take time for their mouth to get used to the wire mechanisms that are used to shift and align their teeth.

When Do Braces Stop Hurting?

Fortunately, after the initial adjustment period of about three days, the pain and irritation caused by braces is manageable. Your orthodontist in Overland Park, KS, will go over the different ways to make your braces more comfortable. But until then, here are some things you can do to help with that.

How to Make Wearing Braces More Comfortable

  • Apply an Orthodontic Wax
  • Use a Saltwater Rinse
  • Eat Soft Foods
  • Use Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
  • Practice Good Oral Hygiene
  • Avoid Hard, Crunchy, and Sticky Foods
  • Enjoy Some Ice Cream (and other cold foods)
  • Apply Topical Anesthetics
  • Apply an Ice Pack
  • Perform a Gum Massage
  • Maintain a Positive Attitude
  • Consider Getting Invisalign Clear Aligners Instead

Are You Looking for a Reputable Orthodontist in Overland Park, KS?

If your child (or you) needs braces, please Contact Bulleigh Orthodontics today to schedule an exam. We are highly trained professionals and are proud to offer outstanding orthodontic care for your entire family.