Metal Braces and Clear Ceramic Braces Las Vegas

Metal Braces

It’s no surprise that metal braces are the most common type of orthodontic appliance today; they are time-tested, reliable, effective and economical. Metal braces are smaller, lighter and more comfortable than ever. Made from high-grade stainless steel, these braces use a system of metal brackets and archwires, gently guiding the teeth into the desired positioned.

Clear Ceramic Braces

If you’d prefer a more discreet way to straighten your teeth, clear ceramic braces may be the ideal option for you. These braces work similarly as traditional braces, except that the brackets are made of a translucent ceramic material that blends seamlessly with your natural tooth color. Ceramic braces are popular with adult patients who value the benefits of braces but prefer a more natural appearance.

Clear Aligners

Looking for Clear Aligners? Read more about this solution on our Invisalign® page.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

There’s never been a better time to start improving your health, smile and self-confidence. During your visit, we will work closely with you to make sure you understand your options and get the best treatment at a price you can afford.

To schedule your appointment, please contact us today by using the form on this page or calling 702-456-0005. We welcome individuals and families from Las Vegas, Henderson and throughout Clark County.

Braces Care Tips

When you get braces, our team will make sure you know how to brush and floss. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns. We want to make sure you feel prepared. We’ll outline the basics below but make sure you fully understand when you visit us.

Brushing your braces: You can use the same type of toothbrush you’ve always used, electric or handheld. It is normal to go through toothbrushes faster because the brackets tend to wear down the bristles quickly.

Brushing is pretty much the same when you have braces. Brush the chewing and back surfaces of your teeth. Then, on the front surface, brush from above the wires and brackets, on top of the wires and brackets, and from below the wires and brackets. Doing so ensures all areas are reached with the bristles.

Flossing your braces: You’ll use a floss threader or threaded floss while you have braces. Threaded floss has a stiff end, allowing you to insert it beneath the wire, where you can thread the floss between your teeth like normal. A floss threader is a stiff piece of plastic with a loop on the end. Put a strand of floss in the loop, and use the stiff end to pull the floss beneath your wires.

Keeping your teeth and braces clean is important. Brackets and wires trap food against your teeth, allowing it to sit there longer than normal, accumulating cavity-causing bacteria. You should brush 3 times a day with braces, but continue to use gentle pressure to protect tooth enamel.

Foods To Avoid With Braces

For the most part, you can continue to enjoy the same foods and beverages you do normally, but with several exceptions. When it comes to wires and brackets, certain foods are capable of bending, dislodging and breaking these braces components. There are some foods you should avoid altogether while wearing braces, but others can be cut into small pieces to prevent breakage.

Avoid altogether:

Ice cubes
Tortilla chips
Hard taco shells
Potato chips
Caramels/taffies
Pizza crust
Corn on the cob
Hard, sticky and/or chewy candies
Bagels and crusty breads

Firm or chewy foods you may be able to manage in bite-size pieces:

Carrots
Apples
Steak
Raw vegetables
Chewy bread

If you aren’t sure about a certain food, you may want to skip it just to be on the safe side. Braces can be repaired, but your treatment price includes a limited number of repairs. Plus, every time a breakage occurs, your treatment is slowed down or stopped until the braces are fixed.

When it comes to braces, sugary beverages should be limited or avoided altogether. Soda is the prime example of a sugared beverage that sticks around your braces. Against your teeth, the soda encourages the development of cavities and, in extreme cases, can lead to white spots known as white spot orthodontic lesions. These white spots are caused when dental plaque accumulates around the brackets, eventually leading to decalcification of the tooth enamel. Fortunately, white stains can be prevented with good oral hygiene during orthodontic care.

Best Braces Cleaning Tools

There are a few basics you should make sure you have with you during your orthodontic treatment:

Toothbrush
Floss
Floss threader
“Christmas tree” brushes (cone-shaped brushes)

Assemble a kit with these cleaning tools to bring with you to work, school and when traveling. That way, you’ll always be able to clean your teeth and braces.