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Reasons Parents Hesitate To Get Dental Braces For Their Kid

Approximately 4 million Americans wear dental braces, with children making up roughly 80 percent of wearers. For many American children, getting dental braces is more a question of “when” rather than “if”, as getting one’s teeth straightened is just another common part of growing up.

Health Benefits of Braces

Straightening one’s teeth is not just a cosmetic issue. Misaligned or crooked teeth can lead to significant medical issues such as: chronic headaches, bad digestion, gum disease, and tooth loss. Failure to invest a relatively small amount of money in braces can easily lead to exponentially larger medical bills in the future.

Despite the many cosmetic and health benefits a child receives from having straight teeth, there are still some parents who hesitate at getting their kid fitted for braces. The following are two of the top reasons for their hesitation, and how we here at Centra Dental address them.

Price of Dental Braces

This is perhaps the most common reason parents hesitate to get their kid fitted for braces. They may feel their kid’s teeth aren’t that bad and can’t seem to justify the cost. They are also not aware of the health issues related to having crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw.

Our Houston dental office always educates parents on the many health benefits of braces. We help the parents understand that by getting their child braces, they are making an investment in their child’s health. In addition, we are constantly offering great deals on dental braces, which also help parents overcome their hesitancy.

Pain From Dental Braces

Many parents are afraid that their child will experience pain from braces. There might be slight pain in the teeth or jaw in the beginning, but this is because the wires and brackets are new to the mouth and actively moving the teeth. An over-the-counter pain reliever such as Ibuprofen will easily relieve such pain symptoms, and soon the child’s mouth will adjust to the braces and no longer feel pain.

Contact Centra Dental For A Dental Braces Consultation

Our Houston dentists understand that for many parents, deciding whether or not to get braces for their kid is a big decision. This is why our dental office in southwest Houston makes a point of helping parents feel comfortable through education and great pricing. We are dedicated to your child’s overall health, so contact us today to set up a braces consultation.

What To Do If Your Kid Is Resistant to Getting Braces

Orthodontic treatment from Centra Dental not only improves a person’s smile, but also corrects many problems, such as overbite, underbite, or jaw misalignment. Dental braces from our Houston dental office are often the best form of treatment in resolving these issues. However, many children and teenagers are reluctant to get braces because they are self-conscious about how they will look or that they will cause pain. If your kid needs braces but is against getting them, here are some tips to overcoming resistance.

Ask Your Kid Why They Are Against Dental Braces

First and foremost, find out from your child why they are against getting dental braces. The only way you can address your child’s concerns is by directly asking what they are. Listen attentively to your child’s responses without arguing. By creating a non-confrontational environment, this helps make them feel safe and more at ease to open up.

Ask Your Kid Who They Like or Admire That Wears Dental Braces

Children are often worried that they will look funny with braces and be made fun of by their peers. I’m sure we can all remember hearing the term, “Metal Mouth”, used in describing someone with braces at one time or another. As bullying is a serious issue in some schools, it is important to take your child’s concerns seriously. Ask your child if they have any close friends or people they respect who already have braces. Encourage your child to talk to these people about their experiences with braces, and what makes them think wearing braces is worthwhile. An additional tactic that may also help is to make a list of athletes or celebrities your child is a fan of who have worn braces before, and showing them the list.

Assure Your Child That Braces Do Not Cause Much Pain

Many kids are anxious about getting braces because they are afraid they will cause pain. Although there may be some initial discomfort, this can easily be treated with over-the-counter pain medication. In addition, our orthodontic patients here at Centra Dental have found that any feelings of pain or discomfort aren’t really that bad and fade quickly.

Contact Centra Dental For Your Houston Braces

It’s not surprising that getting braces is not something many kids usually look forward to. However, our Houston dentists are here to make the experience worthwhile for your kid, while alleviating any fears they may have. Not only will they end up with a better smile, but better overall oral health as well. Serving the southwest Houston area, we offer some of the best deals on braces in the city. Contact us today to set up a braces consultation.

Invisalign: A Great Alternative to Metal Braces

Having straight teeth is a highly valued esthetic in American culture. So much so that for many kids, wearing dental braces is a question of “when” rather than “if. Still, there are also many adults who may not have worn braces when they were younger that now wish to straighten their teeth. However, many adults often do not want to have to deal with the permanence of metal braces, or are afraid braces will make them look like a kid. Thankfully, Centra Dental in southwest Houston offers Invisalign clear braces as a great alternative to metal braces.

Invisalign clear braces are practically unnoticeable, thus allowing patients to straighten their teeth without feeling self-conscious about looking like a child. In addition, as opposed to metal braces, Invisalign clear plastic trays are removable, thus allowing patients a greater degree of freedom when eating, drinking, or having romantic encounters. Such benefits have caused a boom in the Invisalign market in recent years. In fact, the number of Invisalign treatments has tripled over the last five years, with an expectation that the number of treatments will only continue to increase.

HOW INVISALIGN CLEAR PLASTIC TRAYS WORK

The process of getting fitted for Invisalign at our dental clinic begins with a consultation with one of our Houston dentists. Here, the dentist will learn about your needs, while answering any questions you may have regarding the process. Our dentist will then conduct a thorough examination of your teeth to determine the severity of misalignment or crookedness. If the dentist concludes Invisalign would be a good option for you, we will then take X-rays of your dental structure. This allows us to make custom braces that fit your teeth perfectly. After each session, you will be provided new clear plastic trays that will continue to adjust your teeth until they are completely straightened.

Book Your Invisalign Consultation with Centra Dental

It used to be that the only option to straighten your teeth was traditional dental braces. This deterred many adults and teens from getting their teeth straightened because they did not want to deal with the look and hassle of traditional braces. Now, with Invisalign, these are no longer issues. Therefore, if you or your loved one is looking to straighten their teeth sans metal braces, contact our southwest Houston dental office today.

Get Your Kid’s Braces at Our Southwest Houston Dental Office This Spring Break

Here in Houston, your child most likely is currently on spring break or about to start it. If you suspect your child may need braces, contact our southwest Houston dental office to schedule an appointment for a dental braces consultation. Our Houston dentists are ready to examine your child’s teeth and determine if braces are needed, and to prepare a comprehensive treatment plan.

Spring break is a great time to bring your child into our dental office because it provides an entire week they are not in school. This leaves more options available when it comes to setting an appointment. However, this is also one of our busiest times of the year thus, you should make the appointment as soon as possible.

SIGNS YOUR CHILD NEEDS BRACES

If your child has crooked, gapped, or misaligned teeth, chances are they need braces. Our Houston dental office offers 3M metal braces to our kid patients. These braces are not only high quality, but affordable as well. Therefore, you can be sure your kid is getting great orthodontic treatment without hurting your wallet.

Another great thing about getting braces at Centra Dental is that dental insurance will often pay for the braces. This is due to the fact that dental insurance benefits will pay when it is shown that the benefits your child receives from braces go beyond cosmetic. For instance, if your child suffers from malocclusion – severely crooked teeth, they can also suffer from poor digestion because the crooked teeth prevent food from being properly chewed. In addition, severely crooked teeth can lead to poor oral health because food particles often get stuck in the crevices of crooked teeth, thus leading to plaque buildup, cavities, gum disease, and other issues.

CALL TO SCHEDULE YOUR CHILD’S SPRING BREAK BRACES APPOINTMENT TODAY

Serving southwest Houston, Centra Dental is committed to your child’s oral health. This includes providing straight teeth at an affordable price. Take the first step to improving your child’s overall health by contacting our dental office today.

How Do I Know if My Kid Needs Braces?

Determining when their child should be checked for braces is a dilemma parents often face. Some parents take their kids as early as 6, while others wait until their kids are in their pre-teen or teen years. Also, with the exploding popularity of Invisalign clear braces, there are even those whose parents never took them to get checked for braces, who are now opting to straighten their teeth in their adult years.

Although there is no set age for when a parent needs to take their kids to see the orthodontist for the first time to check for braces, at Centra Dental, our Houston dentists recommend bringing your child in around the age of 7, as this is typically when a child’s permanent teeth start coming in. When their permanent teeth start coming in, issues such as an uneven bite and overcrowding become visible. Bringing your child in at 7 does not mean he or she will be getting braces right away. This just allows us to discover any issues and determine the best time to start a comprehensive treatment plan.

Come To Our Southwest Houston Dental Office To Get Your Kid Checked for Braces

At Centra Dental, our dental experts often use dental braces to resolve your child’s crooked or misaligned teeth. It is important to address these issues, as straight teeth are easier to clean and enable better digestion, thus leading to better overall health. When you bring your child to our Houston dental office for a cleaning, our dental experts will also check for any orthodontic issues your child may have, and determine whether or not dental braces are needed.

Centra Dental is committed to your child’s overall health. A big part of this includes determining whether dental braces will be necessary in the future. As providers of great dental and orthodontic services, you can be sure your child is in great hands. Contact our southwest Houston dental office today to book an appointment.

Get That Perfect Selfie Smile with Dental Braces from Our Houston Dental Office

In a world where social media reigns supreme, a selfie phenomenon has occurred, where people of all ages are constantly taking selfies to post onto their numerous social media accounts in search of likes and comments. Smartphones have long catered to this phenomenon by providing reversible camera lenses on their phones.

Straight Teeth: More Important Than Ever

With the selfie revolution, having straight teeth has become more important than ever. People are looking to achieve a great smile because they understand the attractiveness and pulling power of a warm, endearing smile. In addition, they understand that a great smile is great bait when it comes to fishing for comments and likes.

Centra Dental in southwest Houston is committed to giving you a perfect selfie smile. We understand that there is no greater antagonist to a great smile than crooked teeth, as they can be unsightly and distracting. We also understand that without a perfect smile, there is no perfect selfie. Thankfully, our Houston dental office can easily rectify this issue. We offer two options to straighten your teeth: traditional metal braces or Invisalign clear plastic trays.

Traditional Metal Braces

Centra Dental offers 3M metal braces that permanently fix to your teeth for the entire duration of your treatment plan. While some may find this cumbersome, the advantage of traditional metal braces is that they work round the clock at straightening your teeth. Therefore, as you wear the braces, you can be sure that they are working 24/7.

Invisalign Clear Braces

Invisalign clear braces is another option offered at our southwest Houston dental office. Invisalign clear braces are clear plastic tray aligners specifically molded to fit your teeth. These clear plastic trays are virtually unnoticeable, thus allowing wearers to smile more confidently. In addition, the clear plastic tray aligners are removable, thus making teeth easier to clean.

Whichever teeth straightening option you choose, Centra Dental is your source for Houston braces. As we are in the midst of a selfie revolution, our Houston dental office understands the power of social media, and how important having a great smile is. Contct our southwest Houston office today, and let use get you on your way to that perfect selfie smile!

Get that Perfect Selfie Smile with Dental Braces from Our Southwest Houston Dental Office

In a world where social media reigns supreme, a selfie phenomenon has occurred, where people of all ages are constantly taking selfies to post onto their numerous social media accounts in search of likes and comments. Smartphones have long catered to this phenomenon by providing reversible camera lenses on their phones.

Straight Teeth: More Important Than Ever

With the selfie revolution, having straight teeth has become more important than ever. People are looking to achieve a great smile because they understand the attractiveness and pulling power of a warm, endearing smile. In addition, they understand that a great smile is great bait when it comes to fishing for comments and likes.

Centra Dental in southwest Houston is committed to giving you a perfect selfie smile. We understand that without a perfect smile, there is no perfect selfie.

Two Dental Braces Options

There is no greater antagonist to a great smile than crooked teeth, as they can be unsightly and distracting. Thankfully, our Houston dental office can easily rectify this issue. We offer two options to straighten your teeth: traditional metal braces or Invisalign clear plastic trays.

Traditional Metal Braces

Centra Dental offers 3M metal braces that permanently fix to your teeth for the entire duration of your treatment plan. While some may find this cumbersome, the advantage of traditional metal braces is that they work round the clock at straightening your teeth. Therefore, as you wear the braces, you can be sure that they are working 24/7.

Invisalign Clear Braces

Invisalign clear braces is another option offered at our southwest Houston dental office. Invisalign clear braces are clear plastic tray aligners specifically molded to fit your teeth. These clear plastic trays are virtually unnoticeable, thus allowing wearers to smile more confidently. In addition, the clear plastic tray aligners are removable, thus making teeth easier to clean.

Whichever teeth straightening option you choose, Centra Dental is your source for Houston braces. As we are in the midst of a selfie revolution, our Houston dental office understands the power of social media, and how important having a great smile is. Contct our southwest Houston office today, and let use get you on your way to that perfect selfie smile!

Why Does My Kid Need Braces?

Kids can need braces for a variety of reasons. These often include: crooked teeth, overlapping or overcrowded teeth, or a "bad bite" (malocclusion). Malocclusion refers to when the top and bottom jaws are different sizes, resulting in uneven contact between the upper and lower teeth. As a result, overbites and underbites occur. An overbite is when the upper jaw is larger than the lower jaw, while an underbite is when the lower jaw is larger than the upper jaw.

Sometimes losing baby teeth too soon or practicing bad habits like thumb sucking can also lead to tooth and jaw problems. However, tooth and jaw problems are also often inherited. If you or someone in your family have tooth or jaw issues, it is likely that your kid will as well. When left untreated, issues such as low self-esteem, periodontal disease, and improper digestion can occur.

When to Check If Your Kid Needs Braces

There is no exact age for when a child should see an orthodontist for the first time. Some kids go as early as 6, while some go when they are teens. With the popularity of Invisalign clear braces, even adults are now seeing an orthodontist more than ever.

Many orthodontists believe a good time to start seeing an orthodontist is around the age of 7, as this is normally when their permanent teeth start coming in. Once your child’s permanent teeth start coming in, issues such as uneven bite and overcrowding will become apparent. Starting the process early doesn't mean a child will get braces right away. It just means the orthodontist will be able to find problems and decide the best time to start treatment.

Get Your Kid Checked for Braces at Our Southwest Houston Dental Office

Centra Dental is ready to resolve your child’s tooth and jaw issues through the use of 3M metal braces. When you bring your child to our southwest Houston office for a regular visit, our dentists will often be the first to notice any orthodontic issues your child may have. If the dentist feels there are issues that need to be addressed, your child will then see one of our expert orthodontists. The orthodontist will carefully examine your child’s teeth and determine whether or not kids braces are needed.

Centra Dental is committed to giving your child a healthy mouth and great smile. As providers of great dental and orthodontic services, our Houston dentists are ready to help. So contact our southwest Houston office today to book an appointment.