Orthodontics in Tampa, FL

Orthodontic treatment helps dentists straighten smiles with detailed adjustments. Braces or clear aligners make it possible to improve crooked or crowded teeth and misaligned jaws or malocclusion. Orthodontic treatment is usually given to children and teens, but it can work effectively on adults too. The success of this procedure depends on how carefully you follow all the instructions provided by your dentist.

Are you looking to get braces or clear aligners in Tampa, FL? Call us to schedule a complimentary consultation with our dentist to see if braces or clear aligners are the right choice for you.

Our team will analyze your teeth, your lifestyle, and your preferences to help you choose the right orthodontic treatment for you.

Care & Maintenance

Congratulations on getting braces! This is very exciting! From now on, you will need to be meticulous with the care and cleaning of your braces to ensure your treatment progresses quickly and smoothly. You may have some tenderness over the next few days. You can take an over-the-counter pain reliever (Tylenol). We also recommend a softer diet for the first few days, just while you are getting used to the braces.

Brushing will now be more important than ever. Be sure to concentrate on the area between the braces and the gums. This is where plaque collects and builds up, causing bleeding of the gums and areas of decay if not regularly removed. Place your brush horizontally and brush above and below the braces, angling the bristles up and down to ensure you get right in beneath the wires. It is recommended to floss twice a day. Thread the floss under the wire, pull between the teeth, and move up and down to clean hard-to-reach areas. Superfloss and floss threaders can help make it easier to floss with braces. Brush your teeth for 3-5 minutes after each main meal and a quick brush after every snack. This means taking your toothbrush to work or school and brushing after lunch.

Hard foods should be eaten with great care as they will damage and break the appliances. If you have foods such as raw carrot, apples, tough meat, or hard bread, cut these into small pieces and chew on your back teeth. We recommend you stay away from wings (try boneless), hard candies, and chewing ice, as these are known to commonly break the brackets. In general, keep objects such as pencils, pens, and fingernails out of the mouth. Do not fiddle with the braces.

Should you suffer from any mouth ulcers or have any sharp bits digging into lips or cheeks, use the wax provided in your braces pack. Dry the area, break off a small piece of wax and roll between your fingers, then press the wax ball onto the bracket that is bothering you. You can also find braces wax at your local pharmacy. Please take care of your braces. Continuously broken brackets will mean that your treatment may take longer than anticipated. With your cooperation, we will achieve the best result possible. Be sure to come to your monthly adjustments and arrive on time to appointments to ensure there is no delay with your treatment. We're so excited for you to be starting this journey with us! Remember, we are always here for any questions, comments, or concerns.

Tampa Orthodontist Tips

• Loose Bracket or Band: If your bracket is still attached to the wire, leave it in place and place wax on it.
• Poking Wire or Elastic Hook: Use a Q-tip or pencil eraser to push the wire flat against the tooth. If still bothersome, use wax on the offending wire.
• Archwire Out of Back Bracket: Use a tweezer to place the wire back through the tube. If this frequently occurs, cut the wire with a fingernail clipper behind the last tooth to which it is securely attached. If discomfort continues, place wax on it.
• Coil Spring Off: Save the spring and inform your dentist. We will let you know if you need to be seen sooner or if the spring can be reinserted at the next regular visit.
• Door of the Bracket Open: Push the wire into the slot and push the door closed with your finger.
• Mouth Sores: The lips, cheeks, and tongue may become irritated for one or two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. Apply a small amount of Orajel, or use a saltwater rinse.
• Discomfort and General Soreness: This is normal 3-5 days after braces are adjusted. Teeth may be tender to biting pressures. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever (Tylenol), eat soft foods, and rinse your mouth with cold water or eat cold food (ice cream, popsicles).

Why Do Braces Take Time?

Orthodontic treatment is a dynamic process. It requires a few different steps, which need to be performed in succession. Earlier straightening uses thinner arch wires, which become thicker as treatment continues. Early wires rotate teeth, with later wires accomplishing subtle changes to the occlusion/bite. Every aspect is necessary for superb results. You (the patient) are the most variable aspect that affects your treatment time. Your dentist may have the perfect diagnosis and treatment plan, but they cannot succeed without your cooperation.

Some things you might be doing to sabotage your own treatment time include:

• Missing, changing, or spreading out your appointments, so the technicians do not have sufficient time to perform all planned procedures.
• Not getting other necessary procedures done on time (surgeries, extractions, restorative, etc.).
• Breaking or bending your wires or brackets between visits.
• Not following instructions regarding rubber bands, aligners, and oral hygiene (including frequent cleanings).

Doing your part will not only help keep your treatment on schedule, but it will give you the best final results too.

Even if your dentist is brilliant and you are the most compliant patient in history, there is still one other factor that neither of you can control. That factor is your biological response. Teeth are moved into new positions through a process called bone remodeling. The arch wires that fit through brackets gently push the teeth into new positions. With that pressure in place, old bone resorbs as new bone tissue is formed. The removal of old tissue allows the teeth to move, while the formation of new tissue solidifies their new positions. And after straightening is complete, it takes up to 10 months for the new bone growth to solidify. When you consider all that your dentist is doing, it's actually amazing that braces don't take longer! Estimates of treatment time are based upon the complexity of the problem and the normal response of teeth to typical orthodontic forces. In some patients, the teeth move faster than normal. In others, they move slower.

The take-home message is that even if you and your dentist are both vigilant in your roles, you'll still need your teeth & bone to cooperate to get it done on time.