Braces

Braces and other orthodontic treatments balance your bite, so the pressure is even across all your teeth. The board-eligible orthodontist at Hendricks Dental Specialists in Brentwood, Tennessee, provides clear and metal braces alongside other modern orthodontic treatments like Invisalign®. Set up an appointment by calling the office or booking one online today.

What are braces?

Braces are a popular orthodontic system that places pressure on your teeth to align them over time. While your mouth and jaw have mostly stopped growing by the time you have all of your adult teeth, gently applied pressure can balance your bite over the course of a year or longer, depending on the severity of your malocclusion. 

The team at Hendricks Dental Specialists examines your bite when you first come in for an orthodontic consultation. They might take X-rays to detect any underlying jaw problems or other concerns that might affect your orthodontic treatment. Then, they review your options and predict how long your treatment needs to be. 

Do I need braces?

Braces and other orthodontic treatments address a misaligned bite or crooked teeth, which can lead to tooth damage, difficulty with cleaning, and speech or chewing issues. You might be interested in braces to address:

• Overbite
• Underbite
• Open bite
• Crossbite
• Crowded teeth
• Wide gaps between teeth

Milder issues typically require less time in braces than more severe types of malocclusion. Rarely, jaw surgery is necessary before or after you have braces to address major misalignment.  

Which type of braces should I get?

Hendricks Dental Specialists offers a few different orthodontic treatments for you to consider. You can align your teeth with:

Regular metal braces

Regular metal braces involve metal brackets (one per tooth), along with wires and bands threaded through them. During regular appointments throughout your treatment, your orthodontist checks your progress and tightens the wires. 

Clear braces

Clear braces are slightly less visible from a distance than metal braces. Their brackets are ceramic, which blends in with the natural white shade of your teeth.

Invisalign®

Invisalign isn’t the same as braces and involves more complex treatment planning with digital scans. You get a set of sequential transparent plastic devices that fit over your teeth. Like braces, they align your teeth with gentle increasing pressure. 

Braces and Invisalign can set you up for lasting oral health and excellent mouth function. Schedule an appointment by calling Hendricks Dental Specialists or booking one online today.