Cedar Park TX Orthodontist Puts Modern Technology in the Mouths of His Patients

CEDAR PARK, TX, February 28, 2013 (Press-News.org) A beautiful smile is the most obvious benefit of orthodontics. A healthy smile actually impacts your entire face. Not to mention your self-esteem. Orthodontic appliances can be made of metal, ceramic or plastic. They may be removable or they may be brackets bonded to the teeth. By placing a constant, gentle force in a carefully controlled direction, braces slowly move teeth to a corrected position. Dr. Hodgkins guides you along every step of the way until your orthodontic treatment yields the perfect smile.

Treatment time typically ranges from one to three years, depending on the growth of the patient's mouth and face and the severity of the problem. Patients grow at different rates and will respond variously to orthodontic treatment, so the time to case completion may differ from the original estimate. The patient's diligent use of any prescribed rubber bands or headgear is an important factor in achieving the most efficient treatment. Interceptive, or early treatment procedures, may take as few as six months. Dr. Hodgkins will keep you abreast of your progress with each subsequent visit.

Which Type is Right for You

Thanks to today's advances in orthodontic technology, Hodgkins Orthodontics can provide our patients with more options when it comes to wearing braces than ever before. While regular metal braces are still widely used, clear braces are becoming increasingly popular along with removable appliances that can be used for mild cases of misaligned teeth.

Invisible Braces

Clear appliances, such as Invisalign, use a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners to straighten your teeth. And, no one can tell you are wearing those aligners because they are invisible! Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are less of a hassle. The aligners are comfortable and have no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment.

Traditional Metal Braces

Traditional metal braces are the most common type of braces and are smaller and more comfortable today than ever before. Made of high-grade stainless steel, metal braces straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires. With metal braces, you have the option of adding colored elastics (rubber bands) for a more unique and colorful smile.

Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces are made of clear materials and are therefore less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, ceramic braces are used mainly on older teenagers and adult patients who have aesthetic concerns. While they are visually less prominent, they do require more attention to oral hygiene as ceramic braces are larger than metal braces. The only drawback to ceramic brackets is that they are more fragile, and the elastic ties can discolor between orthodontic visits with certain foods and smoking.

The Clock is Ticking

While it's true that orthodontic treatment is available to individuals of any age, the sooner you act the sooner you'll be enjoying the smile you've always dreamed of. A complimentary consultation is waiting for you at our state-of-the-art facility in Cedar Park, TX. Located at 2515 South Lakeline Blvd. (Tel: 512-331-1419). Or visit our website at www.10grin.com/ or check out our blog at www.cedarparkorthodontist.com/.