braces

• Braces: The Best Treat for Your Kid This Halloween

  The most frightening time of year (sort of) is coming up: Halloween. So there will be a lot of trick or treating going on. One of those treats should be braces. Of course, not in the bowl of candy being doled out, but for your kids at our awesome dental office in Bellaire.

  Let the end of October be the time where your child received their best treat: a beautiful and healthy smile. This can easily happen with braces.

  Braces at Centra Dental are very reasonably priced and are the strongest available. Our dentists are able to thoroughly analyze your child’s teeth and see exactly how long the braces will take to straighten their teeth. The average time is between 12 and 24 months, but it all depends on the extensiveness of the case.

  KIDS BRACES AT CENTRA DENTAL

  At our southwest Houston dental office, our dentistry staff understands the importance of having straight and aligned teeth. Having a straight smile ensures that food particles, like Halloween candy, have a hard time getting stuck in hard to reach places or between teeth. This helps fight against plaque buildup, which directly leads to cavities and gum disease (periodontal disease).

  When parents choose to get their children braces, there always plenty of questions that need to be answered. Our dentists have heard and answered them all and are more than willing to provide all the information required. We want every patient to go into the procedure of receiving Houston braces with as much knowledge and understanding as possible.

  So once the bag of candy has been filled to the top, come to Centra Dental to get the best treat of the year. This is one treat that will last much longer than chocolate and will also provide way more smiles. Contact our dental office in southwest Houston today. We look forward to providing your child with a straight and healthy smile.

• Do All Houston Braces Patients Need Rubber Bands?

  Houston braces can be a cumbersome and uncomfortable experience. While our staff at Centra Dental try our utmost to ensure that your visits and treatments with us are as pleasant and stress-free as possible, the truth is that rubber bands may be a necessary part of a patient’s treatment. It makes sense that patients with braces would like to minimize the number of parts and components in their mouth that they need to take care of and clean. That’s why one of the most common questions asked by Houston braces patients of their South Houston family dentist is whether or not they need rubber bands, also sometimes called elastics, installed on their braces. The short answer is: It depends.

  Why Do Houston Braces Have Rubber Bands Anyway?

  Houston braces work through the firm and constant application of pressure on your teeth and jaw to correct misalignments, straighten crooked teeth, and resolve tooth crowding issues. Most of the work is done through wires and brackets, but sometimes, these are not enough. Your South Houston dentist must resort to adding strategically located rubber bands among your braces in order to add a little more force and pressure in the right direction. This additional hardware is understandably a source of discomfort and inconvenience to patients, as these rubber bands can make eating more difficult and make cleaning their braces more complicated. However, South Houston pediatric dentistry experts say that the discomfort from braces and rubber bands tends to go away within 2-3 days, and while cleaning braces will always be tedious, they will teach patients to better clean and care for their teeth.

  When Are Rubber Bands Not Needed With Houston Braces

  In general, rubber bands are employed in Houston braces to correct misaligned jaw conditions such as overbite, underbite, open bite, and crossbite. If you do not suffer from any of these conditions, you may not need rubber bands at all on your braces. Additionally, even in the case that you do need rubber bands installed on your braces, your Houston family dentist may determine that they only need to be part of your treatment for only a few months of the one to two years of the total time that you are wearing braces.

  Get Your Houston Braces Stress-Free From the South Houston Family Dentist You Can Trust

  At Centra Dental, we’re fighting the perception of visits to your South Houston Dentist being occasions of fear and dread. Our staff puts in the utmost effort to make each visit a relaxing and productive affair. We also accept most PDP, DPPO, and PPO dental insurance plans, as well as CHIP and both Adult and Children's Medicaid, making us your trusted source for affordable braces. Give us a call and let’s schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience!

• 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 bracesor 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 Your Houston Braces Before Year End

  As the year comes to end, now is the time to consider all that you may need for dentistry. At Centra Dental, we provide every type of dental procedure. One of our specializations is orthodontics, also known as braces.

  Our south Houston dental clinic has provided great orthodontics to patients from all over the city. For those suffering from crooked, misaligned or gapped teeth, receiving braces is the best option for achieving a straight and beautiful and healthy smile.

  THE PROCESS OF RECEIVING BRACES IN HOUSTON

  At our dentist office in the southwest Houston area, each patient is provided a thorough evaluation of their teeth. Our dentist will examine each tooth and prescribed precisely what is needed to straighten the teeth. This is the best time for patients to ask any questions or have any of their concerns addressed.

  There are always varied questions from the patient. Here are some of the more common questions we receive from braces patients at our Houston office:

  • How long will the braces take to straighten my teeth?
  • How much will the braces cost?
  • What will it feel like to wear braces?
  • How often do I have to come in for a braces adjustment?
  • Will I have to wear a retainer after the braces come off?
  • How do I conduct upkeep of my teeth while the braces are on?

  All of these questions will be answered by our dentist and in thorough detail. Not all of these questions come with the same answer because all teeth are different. So be ready to ask any question regarding braces.

  GET YOUR HOUSTON BRACES TODAY

  Come to Centra Dental for the best price and service in braces. We promise that you will be satisfied with the outcome and we ensure that you will always have someone to provide answers and assistance every step moving forward to a great smile. So come in today before the 2017 year comes to a close and get your braces at our dental clinic in southwest Houston.

• Health Benefits of Braces

  Braces are often solely viewed as a cosmetic dentistry method to improve one’s appearance. A great smile leads to feeling good about your appearance and greater self-confidence. As important as appearance may be, however, what is often overlooked are the many health benefits of braces. Let’s take a look at a few of them:

  Braces Lead to a Healthy Mouth

  In addition to the obvious cosmetic improvement of your teeth and smile, straighter teeth are easier to clean, hence better periodontal health. Crooked or gapped teeth make properly brushing and cleaning more difficult, resulting in cavities and tooth loss. In addition, misaligned or crowded teeth make flossing difficult. When teeth are not properly flossed, periodontal disease is likely to manifest.

  Braces from Centra Dental in southwest Houston resolves these issues by aligning and spacing teeth out properly. Dental maintenance is greatly improved because brushing, cleaning, and flossing become easier. The result is a clean, healthy mouth.

  Braces Correct Jaw Issues

  Misaligned teeth cause an improper bite that can lead to jaw issues such as temporomandibular (TMJ) disorders. TMJ disorders affect the muscles and joints surrounding the jaw, often causing headaches and pain around the face and ears. People suffering from TMJ disorders may also experience dizziness and a ringing in their ears.

  TMJ disorders often make biting and chewing difficult. This can lead to improper digestion and increasing the chance of large chunks of food getting caught in the teeth and gums, thus leading to bad breath and gum disease.

  Braces from our Houston dentists will move your teeth back into their correct position. Once this happens, the TMJ will shift back to its proper alignment, thus relieving you of your symptoms. In addition, you will be able to bite, chew, and even speak better.

  Contact Centra Dental for Your Braces Consultation

  Our greatest concern at Centra Dental is your overall health. Obviously, a great smile is an added bonus. Straight teeth greatly contribute to both of these things, so contact our office in southwest Houston today for a braces consultation. Let us help give you a great smile and better oral health!

• Is It Too Late For Adults To Wear Houston Braces?

  As a South Houston family dentist that specializes in Houston braces, many of our pediatric patients’ parents ask us if it’s too late for them to wear dental braces. The truth is that it’s never too late. In fact, we highly encourage adults to wear dental braces if they have crooked teeth and/or a malocclusion, otherwise known as a “bad bite”.

  Adults May Have A Bad Bite Since Childhood

  There are different kinds of malocclusions, including overbites and underbites. If you had a malocclusion as a child, then chances are you still have a similar problem today. If you don’t fix your bad bite, this will cause a multitude of dental health issues, such as:

  • Headaches
  • Tooth decay
  • Gum disease
  • Speech impairment
  • Difficulty chewing
  • Difficulty digesting

  Getting Braces Young Is Better Than Waiting, But Adult Treatment Is Still Just As Effective

  Although we recommend getting braces as a child because children's teeth are more moldable, this doesn’t mean adult treatment is out of the question. It may take longer, but adults who undergo Houston braces treatment will also benefit from a straight, beautiful smile. Our South Houston braces dentist offers different types of dental braces:

  • Metal Houston Braces, which are the most common method of orthodontic correction and are especially efficient at correcting even the most severe case.
  • Ceramic Houston Braces, which are increasing in popularity due to their tooth-like color and impressive strength. This makes them a viable alternative to metal dental braces for patients who dont want to draw attention to their mouths while they undergo treatment.
  • Invisalign Clear Aligners, which are the most subtle method of malocclusion correction because clear aligners are nearly invisible and offer more flexibility in terms of wear.

  Get Adult Houston Braces With Our South Houston Family Dentist At Centra Dental

  If you’re an adult and are worried about your smile, don’t fret. We want you to feel confident in your beautiful smile. If you think dental braces might be an option for you, then please book an appointment with us. We will begin with the initial dental braces consultation to address your concerns and then design the best treatment plan for you. With our braces starting at $99 a month, we look forward to embracing your smile, affordably.

• Pros and Cons of Traditional Orthodontic Retainers After Houston Braces

  You’re approaching the end of your Houston braces treatment and whether you’re wearing Invisalign Clear Aligners, metal Houston braces, or ceramic dental braces, you are going to need to wear retainers after your treatment. You may wear them with reluctance, but you must wear your retainers in order to protect your investment in South Houston braces and keep your teeth straight. However, there are different types of orthodontic retainers that will meet different needs. In this blog post, we will discuss traditional retainers, otherwise known as Hawley retainers. 

  What Are Hawley Retainers

  Hawley retainers are also referred to as removable retainers or wire retainers. They are made of two parts and two components–the acrylic plastic and the metal wire components. The acrylic plastic is shaped to fit the roof up your mouth and behind your lower teeth. The wire component runs across your teeth. Together, these retainers hold your teeth in place while your teeth settle in the soft tissues of your mouth. How long you wear it will depend on your particular case, but our South Houston family dentist will recommend what works best for you.

  Pros and Cons of Wearing Hawley Retainers

  As with our Houston braces, there are pros and cons associated with each option.

  Pros of Removable Retainers

  • Hawley retainers can be adjusted in case you need a better fit or if your teeth need a slight touch up in their alignment. 
  • Much like the wire that is placed across your Houston braces may break sometimes, Hawley retainers may break on a rare occasion as well, but the good news is that they are easily reparable. 
  • Both rows of your teeth will touch naturally, which makes this option a more comfortable one. 

  Cons of Removable Wire Retainers

  • Because these retainers feel slightly bulky, your speech may sound off when wearing them.
  • The way the wire is laid across your teeth makes it rather noticeable when you speak
  • The wire may irritate your lips or cheeks when you first wear a removable retainer after your Houston braces treatment.

  Our South Houston Family Dentist Will Determine Whether Traditional Removable Retainers Are Suitable For You

  As you near the end of your Houston braces treatment, our South Houston family dentist will take impressions of your teeth so our lab can make your retainers. If we determine that Hawley retainers will work best for you, we will provide you with wearing guidelines. Please book an appointment with us for your next dental check-up so we can make the appropriate recommendation.

• The Importance of Proper Hygiene and Dental Check-Ups When Wearing South Houston Braces

  Dental braces are an effective way to achieve a more beautiful smile that will give you a boost of confidence. They correct crooked teeth, bite issues, and spacing problems that may be making you conscious of your smile. While your South Houston braces are doing their part, you should also be doing yours by practicing good oral hygiene. Having braces means it’s easier for food to get lodged in your mouth, which can lead to tooth decay. At Centra Dental, we embrace your smiles, so we constantly remind our patients of the importance of maintaining your braces.

  Prevent Dental Caries

  Metal and ceramic braces involve brackets and wires that will be permanently cemented onto your teeth. This means that food will get stuck more often in your mouth than someone who’s not wearing South Houston braces. Trapped food leads to bacteria growth. Bacteria leads to plaque buildup, which is how cavities are formed. Without proper hygiene, cavities can lead to tooth decay, a serious dental problem.

  Prevent Teeth Staining

  If you’re fond of coffee and other dark-colored beverages, your teeth are more prone to staining. You should be extra diligent about brushing your teeth if you have South Houston braces. It’s harder to reach your teeth because of the brackets and wires. A good rule of thumb is to properly brush twice a day and floss at night. This way, you can prevent teeth staining and be happier with the results when your treatment is done.

  Ensure Your Treatment Progress

  Aside from oral hygiene, regular trips to your South Houston dentist are also important. You should still get teeth cleaning twice a year to get rid of stubborn plaque. Your dentist will also ask you to come in at least once a month so they can make adjustments to your Houston braces. Skipping your dental checkups will derail your progress or extend your treatment period. Get that new and improved smile in the shortest time possible by being diligent about your trips to the dentist.

  How to Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

  Aside from regular brushing, there are other ways to maintain your teeth while wearing South Houston braces. Avoiding certain food can also make proper hygiene easier. You can read more here.

  Schedule a Visit for South Houston Braces Today!

  Do you have more questions about South Houston braces? Feel free to contact Centra Dental, where we embrace your smiles. Our top-rated Houston dentists will gladly answer any questions you have about your treatment. At our facility, we have surgically clean air circulating the entire time because we prioritize your safety. We also strive to make your dental experience as stress-free and pleasant as possible. You and your family can watch movies, play with toys, or use the WiFi while in the waiting room. We also accept dental insurance. Book an appointment with Centra Dental today!

• Want Braces? So Do the Celebrities

  Receiving braces has become one of the most common dental procedures in the US. There are more than 4 million Americans who currently wear braces and there has been a 25% increase of people wearing braces over the past 25 years. At Centra Dental, we believe that this popularity with braces is a very big positive because it lets us know that more people are taking their oral health more seriously.

   

  It can often be mistaken that braces are worn merely for superficial reasons. But beauty isn’t the sole purpose behind straightening teeth. Metal braces can correct or even prevent future problems in teeth, such as malocclusion. This can lead to food particles becoming hard to reach, which can cause cavities and other more severe oral problems.

   

  When it comes to metal braces, however, most people get them for one particular reason: beautification. The smile is arguably the most memorable part of a person’s face, so there’s no shame in wanting braces for the mere reason of wanting to look your very best. You definitely aren’t alone, as we mentioned before about the 4 million currently wearing braces. But of those millions, there are plenty of big name celebrities, globally, who have braced their face. No, not even the celebrities are born with perfectly straight teeth.

   

  This Buzzfeed article does a fine job of pointing out the celebrities who have had braces, including some of the biggest names like Prince Harry, Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, and Gwen Stefani.

   

  If you’re looking for more proof (or encouragement) of who has received braces and come out looking fabulous, then check this article with other Hollywood celebrities who took the metal braces plunge. Many of them decided to have their teeth straightened later in life, like in their 30’s. But you won’t find them complaining.

   

  The average time it takes for braces to work can range between 12 and 24 months. But, as made obvious in these articles, it is definitely worth the wait.

   

  If you are considering braces because you want your teeth to be straightened or are suffering from malocclusion, then contact our dental office today in South Houston. We will provide you with a thorough oral examination and advise you on what you need to get your teeth exactly where you want them to be.

• Who Can Get South Houston Invisalign

  Advancements in orthodontics through the years brought with them improvements to the traditional metal Houston braces as well as other dental braces alternatives that are less bulkier and more comfortable to use such as Invisalign clear aligners. Have you heard about Invisalign clear aligners? Are you wondering if your dental issues can be corrected by this type of retainer? As part of our commitment to educate our patients on how to best take care of their teeth, our South Houston Family Dentist will discuss in this article how Houston Dental Braces work and who are the candidates for getting a South Houston Invisalign.

  How Traditional Houston Dental Metal Braces Work

  Traditional metal dental braces are devices used by your South Houston Dentist to align and straighten teeth to improve a person’s bite. It addresses usual dental problems such as crooked teeth, underbites, overbites, and other bite problems stemming from flaws in the teeth and jaw. Dental braces work by moving teeth as a result of force and pressure. The constant force and pressure over time slowly move the teeth to their desired position. Brackets are installed on each individual tooth that will serve as anchor points. The anchor points are attached to an arch wire using ligature elastics. The force that would eventually move the teeth comes from the interaction of the brackets and the arch wire. As the teeth move toward the desired position, the arch wire is adjusted by your South Houston Family Dentist.

  How Invisalign Clear Dental Aligners Work

  Invisalign clear retainers also work in the same way as a traditional metal Houston dental brace that slowly coaxes the teeth through a constant application of force. However, the constant force comes from the wearing of a series of custom-fit aligner trays. As the teeth are moved towards the desired position, a new aligner tray is produced by your South Houston Dentist and made to be worn by the patient. The number of aligner trays used would depend on the required treatment time. Most patients receive new aligners roughly every two weeks.

  Who Can Use Invisalign Dental Aligners

  Invisalign is perfect for patients who have mild to moderate dental issues such as misaligned teeth, large overbite, and those who have gaps in their front teeth. Our South Houston Family Dentist does not recommend Invisalign for individuals with jaw alignment problems and severely crooked or rotated teeth. Part of the Invisalign treatment is wearing the aligners regularly. If a patient has an issue with or has a lifestyle that prevents him from wearing aligners for long periods of time then he should consider other options.

  Consult Your South Houston Family Dentist

  The points discussed above by our South Houston Dentist are general guidelines regarding dental braces and Invisalign. A consultation in person following a dental checkup would still be best so that a patient can make an informed decision about a treatment plan that is appropriate for him. If you have reservations because of the ongoing pandemic, we have taken extra steps to ensure a clean and safe environment. Aside from the mandatory wearing of masks, shields, and gowns, and the sanitizing of equipment before and after sessions, we have installed a system that surgically cleans circulating indoor air. Call us now and book an appointment with our top-rated dentist!

• Why You Should Get Braces Early

  Braces are extremely common in the US. When you see someone who has very straight teeth, chances are they had braces at one point in time.

  Since braces are so common, it is obvious that crooked, misaligned, or gapped teeth are even more common. Currently there are about 4 million Americans that have braces. About 3 million of these people are less than 18 years old.

  REASONS TO RECEIVE EARLY ORTHODONTICS

  Receiving braces early can be very beneficial. Here are some reasons why you should consider early orthodontics:

  Oral Health - If your teeth or your child’s teeth are crooked, gapped, or misaligned, also known as malocclusion, this can create oral health issues. Food particles can become stuck in hard-to-reach places, which can lead to cavities and other serious problems. When food and plaque buildup isn’t removed in a timely manner, it can lead to gum disease and the decaying of teeth. Tooth decay and gum disease can lead to dental procedures, like root canals, crowns, dental implants, and other expensive oral surgeries.

  Self-Confidence - You understand the importance of confidence. If you are confident, then you are more apt to try new things and take on challenges, like leadership roles. Kids and teenagers are no different and should always feel confident as they grow up. Crooked teeth shouldn’t be what holds them back or creates a lack of self-esteem. Ensure your child is able to smile freely by giving them a beautiful smile with braces.

  Great Price - At Centra Dental in South Houston, we offer all of our dental clients a great price on braces. Starting at only $1995, our braces are very affordable. We work with all of our patients on payment plans and we also take most PDP, DPPO, and PPO dental insurance plans.

  CENTRA DENTAL: YOUR EARLY ORTHODONTICS CHOICE

  Whatever your reason for needing braces, our dental office in South Houston can ensure you receive the best dental treatment. Most braces are worn anywhere between 12 to 24 months. No matter how long you have to wear braces, we will be there for you every step of the way to make sure your teeth come out looking amazing. At Centra Dental, we want you to always have a beautiful and healthy smile.

  Contact our office today and schedule your appointment to see what kind of braces would work best for you.