Braces FAQ

How Long Will I Wear Braces?

At Elite Orthodontics, we never cut corners when building beautiful smiles that last a lifetime. While we’ve optimized all our treatments so they’re quicker than ever before, we will always take the time to address each of your orthodontic needs and goals. We customize braces treatment plans to meet your unique needs, but most patients complete their process within one to two years.

What Foods Will I Have to Avoid When Getting Braces?

We don’t want anything to come in between and your desired results, so we suggest you avoid hard, sticky, or chewy. Wearing braces is an investment of time and money, and we want to protect your investment, so you don’t have to worry about prolonging your treatment with broken brackets or loose wires. Dr. Aliu recommends you stick to soft and easy-to-chew foods while wearing braces, so there’s no chance of an orthodontic emergency.

How Do I Care for My Teeth While Wearing Braces?

To achieve a healthier smile that lasts a lifetime, you must maintain excellent oral health throughout treatment. It may take time to adjust to brushing with your braces on, so we suggest taking a few extra minutes to work your floss and toothbrush under your wires and around your brackets during your dental hygiene routine. If you’re not careful, harmful bacteria and food debris could hide around your appliance and cause tooth decay or even loss.

We also encourage you to continue seeing your general dentist for cleanings and regularly scheduled appointments. While Dr. Aliu has the training of a dentist, orthodontists focus on a special area of oral health. Together, general dentists and orthodontists are the dream team to help you achieve the stunning results you deserve.

Treatment Options

Self-Ligating Braces

Self-ligating braces are the latest technology in braces that have taken the field of orthodontics by storm. Compared to traditional metal braces, self-ligating braces are more sleek and effective. These braces use sliding door technology rather than traditional steel brackets with rubber bands, so the archwire slides through the brackets with almost no friction. We will still have you come in for adjustments like you would in traditional braces, but the appointments are much quicker. Rather than replacing individual ligatures, we can take advantage of the opening and shutting of the self-ligating brackets to make adjustments faster. We will tighten the wire throughout treatment and make changes to your appliance to ensure your teeth and jaw have consistent pressure.

Gold Self Ligating Braces

While there aren’t any colored elastics for you to choose from, we offer self-ligating braces in gold so you can still show off your personality during treatment. This appliance is just as sleek and effective as the silver version, but it allows you to pick your favorite finish. No matter which type of braces you choose, our team of highly-skilled orthodontic experts is ready to help you begin your journey to an elite smile.

Ceramic Braces

We understand that some patients love the consistently stunning results of braces but prefer an appliance that is a little more discreet. Ceramic braces are the perfect blend of effective braces and natural aesthetics so you can get the best of both worlds with your appliance. Instead of using steel brackets for these braces, we use clear ceramic brackets that blend with the look of your natural smile. This way, you can enjoy a less visible treatment without sacrificing the fantastic results you deserve. One important thing to remember about ceramic braces is that they’re less durable than traditional metal brackets, making you more likely to experience breakage.

Traditional Braces

We attach steel brackets to each of their teeth for this classic orthodontic treatment and thread a metal wire through each bracket. Then, we use elastics to fasten the wire to brackets. We’ll adjust the wire throughout the treatment process, so there is consistent pressure on your teeth to move them into the perfect positions. You can color coordinate the elastics to holidays, their favorite sports teams, and more. While these braces are the most noticeable appliance, they’ve stood the test of time because they help patients like you get happier and healthier smiles that last a lifetime.