How is your bite? When you bite down and feel how your teeth fit together, are there gaps? Can you put your tongue between your upper and lower teeth? If your bite has any of these problems, you may be a candidate for braces.
Pure Smiles Orthodontics in Austin, Texas provides braces to patients in need of smile correction. They’re an excellent method for correcting teeth that are crooked, crowded, misaligned, protruding, or irregularly spaced.
Looking to go wireless? Invisalign uses a series of aligners customized to your smile that gently move teeth into position. Many patients love the flexibility of being able to remove their aligners so they can brush and floss normally. Want to learn more about Invisalign? Check out our Invisalign page for more info.
Self-ligating braces use special metal brackets that do not require the use of elastics, meaning fewer appointments and less friction being placed on the tooth which adds to patient comfort. They are the same size as metal braces, but use a specialized clip in place of elastics to help the archwire guide teeth into place.
With the new Self Ligating Braces, we can achieve terrific results and finish your treatment faster. Depending on your case, this may mean a savings of many months. After a complimentary consultation and a discussion about what you expect to see, we will be able to provide you with a treatment plan that will have you smiling soon!
Self Ligating Braces are very precise and effective. With this system, we can reduce the need for many of the time-consuming and complicated procedures that are used with traditional braces.
Additionally, Self Ligating Braces work more efficiently and fewer adjustments are required. As a result, your appointments will be faster and fewer in number.
Due to the unique design of this new system we can move your teeth into their correct positions with much less discomfort than traditional methods. Also, Self Ligating Braces are small, very comfortable, and easy to keep clean.
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 cosmetic concerns. Ceramic braces are “harder” than enamel, which is the outer layer of tooth. If the upper teeth rub on lower ceramic braces, it can wear the upper teeth down. For this reason, ceramic braces tend to be used more on upper front teeth than on lower teeth.
When the brackets are being applied to the teeth, it is a painless process. There may be some mild soreness or discomfort after the archwire is installed into the brackets. This is natural, and may last for a few days up to a week.
Depending on your type of insurance, the price of braces can range widely. Common prices for braces range from $3,500 to $8,000, with a variety of payment options and financing available. If you have questions about the cost of braces for your orthodontic treatment, we are happy to answer them.
There is not a specific “best” age to get braces. For younger patients, orthodontic treatments like braces are most effective between ages 10 and 14. This gives us a chance to straighten their teeth before their jaw is finished growing and while some of their permanent teeth may still be growing.
The length of your orthodontic treatment plan depends your unique needs. Braces may be worn for a time of 6 months up to 3 years.
A variety of factors can contribute to a misaligned smile. These include missing or extra teeth, thumb sucking, jaw function issues, and others.
No. As a courtesy to you and your family dentist, we will always discuss the feasibility of braces or tooth straightening without charging a fee for the initial consultation
As a rule of thumb, we like to evaluate young patients after the 6-year molars erupt and the front permanent teeth just start to appear. This is usually between the ages of 6 and 8. The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that all children be seen for the first time by age 7.
The purpose of early evaluation is to inform and observe, more than to start treatment. At this early age, the eventual needs may be identified and discussed. A small percentage of this young group may need some form of intervention. Habits are evaluated, medical issues are discussed and an observation schedule is arranged until the patient is ready to begin treatment.
The first visit will last 1 hour. We will take pictures and x-rays, review the proposed treatment, and help come up with a plan to make treatment affordable. If treatment is not yet indicated, your child will be enrolled in our Growth Guidance program, and we will monitor jaw growth and development and teeth eruption until the decision is ready to be made regarding their treatment.
Yes, we do. We handle a patient transferring into our office from another city just like a new patient. We gather complete diagnostic records to show the current status and propose treatment to complete the work that has been started.
Absolutely. A growing percentage of our patients are adult. New, more cosmetic appliances are making adult treatment much more comfortable and convenient. Learn more here.
An orthodontist is a general dentist that has had at least 2 more years of full-time training in orthodontics resulting in a nationally accepted specialty certificate. The orthodontist then limits their practice to straightening teeth and dentofacial orthopedics.
In order to have early and late appointments available for the majority of patient appointments, some procedures need to be accomplished during the hours of 9 and 3. We will do our best to work with your schedules and accommodate your family needs.
Yes, our contact information for an emergency is posted on the website. Feel free to visit our contact page for more information.
Yes. Whether or not you have insurance or a dental plan, we will structure a convenient payment plan that will allow you to pay for orthodontic services over a period of time that usually coincides with your treatment plan. Learn more here.
After verification of coverage, we will agree to bill and collect from an insurance carrier. However, we ask patients to understand that if coverage ceases or changes, the patient is still responsible for the agreed upon fee.
We accept all major credit cards for payment in full and initial payments for treatment.
No, we do not.
We have special programs and fees for multiple patients from the same family.
Yes, in certain circumstances. Please check with the office during your visit.
Yes.
Teeth move throughout life whether you have worn braces or not. It is part of the natural aging process. This is why retainer wear is recommended indefinitely to maintain your orthodontic results over your lifetime.
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