Tried & True Treatment
People around Nolensville have worn braces for decades, but today’s modern metal braces aren’t the same ones worn by your grandparents. The McClaran team are experts on this appliance and are ready to outfit you on your journey to a better smile today.
Nolensville Braces
At McClaran Orthodontics, we offer the best treatment plans that orthodontics has to offer, and we’re passionate about staying up-to-date on the latest processes to make your orthodontic treatment more efficient.
However, as the field evolves, it’s impossible to ignore the most tried and true form of orthodontics: metal braces. Metal braces have been around for a while, but they haven’t stayed the same.
They’ve been tweaked to perfection for ultimate results with sleek designs. While they’re still one of the more noticeable treatments, they’ve been re-engineered to have a more sleek appearance with thinner wires and less bulky brackets.
This way, you can get the results you want without anything clunky taking up extra space in your mouth. So if you’re looking for an efficient way to get a beautiful smile, this is the appliance for you.
What Are Braces Made Of?
These braces consist of metal brackets that are glued to your teeth and connected with thin metal wires that can be easily adjusted.
Plastic bands encircle the brackets and help keep consistent pressure on your teeth so that they shift in a desirable fashion. Metal braces are the most common form of braces and are created using durable, effective stainless steel.
What to Expect
- Check-ups: Throughout your or your child’s time in braces, you’ll have appointments that allow us to make necessary adjustments to optimize your progress.
- Treatment time: Treatment length varies from patient to patient, depending on the extent of the issues that need to be corrected. Typically, treatment ranges from one to two years. To get the most accurate timeline for your specific case, Dr. McClaran will need to see what your needs are and figure out how long you will need to be in corrective treatment.
- Mild discomfort: Traditional metal braces may be accompanied by a slight initial discomfort as you get used to having the appliance in your mouth. After a while, however, you won’t even notice they’re there. If there is any pain, it may come from the shifting of your teeth into the correct position to acquire your dream smile. If you do experience this discomfort, we suggest any over-the-counter pain medication or braces wax.
- Cost: The price of metal braces depends on the time you spend in braces and the extent of the issues that need to be corrected. At McClaran Orthodontics, we work hard to partner with your insurance provider and design flexible financing plans that are created with you in mind. By these methods, we are typically able to offer treatment plans that boost your quality of life at a price that makes you want to smile.
No one understands your lifestyle the way that you do, so we give you an array of options for you to choose from along with our doctor’s professional opinion.
To see if traditional braces are the best option for you, we suggest you come in for a free first visit so we can accurately assess your needs and figure out a plan that works for you!
Braces for Kids
Braces are a wonderful option for patients of all ages, and that includes your little one! You may have heard that braces are meant for older teens, but this treatment can be just as effective, if not more so, on young children.
While your child’s mouth and jaw are still forming, we can make changes more effectively to areas that may experience issues later on. At McClaran Orthodontics, we treat your young children with the same care we would give our own, and we want you to feel comfortable in the knowledge that we are the best team for your child’s needs.
When Should My Child Get Braces?
There’s no exact age for when your child should get braces — it all depends on your child’s orthodontic needs.
We usually begin to see young children around the age of seven because this is when permanent teeth begin to come in. However, if you or your dentist begin noticing problems before that, you should feel no need to wait.
As long as your child has a healthy mouth — meaning no gum disease or rotting — they can be a candidate for braces. Our first visits are free, so we suggest bringing your child in whenever you notice issues so we can begin assessing their current and future treatment needs right away.
How Do I Know If My Child Needs to See an Orthodontist?
Orthodontics covers a wide range of issues relating to the mouth and jaw. As your child’s mouth is forming, certain problems may begin to arise and worsen as the years go by. We like to see your child early on so that we can solve problems before they get worse and help your child have a smile they’re proud to wear.
Whether your child has orthodontic issues caused by thumb-sucking or something they’ve inherited, we can help!
Your child’s dentist may also refer you to an orthodontist. Your general dentist should be able to spot potential problems during your child’s regularly scheduled cleanings and checkups.
However, we also want to empower you to reach out to us first if you have any personal concerns about your child’s oral health. No one spends more time with your young children than you, so you’re the one who’s most likely to spot problems as they arise.
If you aren’t sure what problems merit concern or are unsure what to look for, here are a few orthodontic issues your child may face:
- Crooked teeth
- Overcrowding
- Overlapping teeth
- Malocclusion, or a bad bite (over or under)
If your child is having pain when chewing or biting down, this may also be a sign they need to come and see us at McClaran Orthodontics. Dr. McClaran is an expert in treating kids and can ease any anxiety they may experience with a warm and inviting personality that calms even our most antsy patients.
What to Expect When Getting Braces for Kids
You and your child will experience less stress around their orthodontic treatment when you know what to expect.
Let’s look at some important information to help you understand the basics of your child’s smile journey.
Observation Period
In order for us to make knowledgeable suggestions and accurately assess your child’s needs, most kids will first begin in an observation period. During this observation period, Dr. McClaran will monitor how your child’s face and teeth develop over time.
We don’t want to rush treatment, so it’s critical to take this time to plan for future needs for corrective measures. This observation period is free and considered to be a part of the treatment process.
Phase 1 Braces
When it comes time for their actual treatment to begin, your child may be fitted with something called Phase 1 braces.
These braces consist of a few brackets on their front teeth to make room for their permanent teeth. These braces can be used to correct issues such as crossbite or other mouth and jaw issues.
This treatment is typically followed by a full set of braces once the child is ready for them. Phase I braces are not always necessary, and Dr. McClaran will only recommend this treatment if she believes it is a necessary step for your child’s oral health.
Full Braces
Once your child is ready for full braces, the process is quite simple. Dr. McClaran places metal or ceramic brackets on your child’s teeth, connecting them with thin metal wires.
The wires and brackets are bound by plastic rubber bands. These bands can be changed by your child’s preference to whatever color they prefer. This allows your child to show a little bit of their personality, even in orthodontic treatment.
After we put on your child’s braces, it’s important to keep the braces clean. On top of brushing twice a day and regularly flossing, we suggest spot-checking to make sure no food debris remains stuck behind the brackets.
Food can hide easily, so it’s important to take a little extra precaution to maintain their oral health and keep their progress steady.
Cost of Braces
The cost of braces depends on how long your child will need to wear them. This can vary based on the extent of the issues being fixed and how well they take care of the appliance.
Braces are an investment in oral health and beautiful smiles, and we want your child to look in the mirror and see a smile they love. For this reason, we work hard to partner with your insurance providers and design flexible finance plans made with your needs in mind.
The McClaran team wants to help mitigate any out-of-pocket costs that accompany treatment so that you can give your child a beautiful smile without breaking the bank.
Confident Smiles to Face the World
At McClaran Orthodontics, we’re committed to giving your teen a smile that gives them the confidence to face the world bravely. One of the best ways to earn this smile is through metal braces.
So if your teen is experiencing issues that are harming their oral health or the look of their pearly whites, let Dr. McClaran and our team of expert specialists outfit your teen with a treatment that works.
Benefits of Braces for Teens
Braces have been a staple of orthodontics for years — because they work! Here are some advantages your teen will enjoy with metal braces:
- Increased quality of life: As you know, braces straighten teeth to deliver a magazine-worthy grin, but that’s not all they do. Improving aesthetics plays an important role in orthodontic treatment because it helps increase your teen’s self-esteem.
- Improved oral health: Many health issues could be caused by overcrowding or a misaligned jaw, and braces help fix these issues before they cause permanent damage to your mouth and jaw.
- Consistent, worry-free treatment: Unlike clear aligners, your teen doesn’t have to worry about forgetting to put in their braces or misplacing them. We all know teens are always on the go, and braces give them one less thing to worry about.
- Easy maintenance: Besides a consistent oral healthcare routine and avoiding a few foods, braces are relatively low maintenance. Your teen can get the smile of their dreams almost effortlessly.
What Foods Your Teen Should Avoid
When in braces, your teen may need to avoid a few foods to preserve their appliance. To prevent any broken brackets or loose wires, we strongly recommend avoiding any sticky, chewy, or hard foods. These types of foods are known for pulling at wires and lengthening treatment time. To avoid any unwanted breakage, stick to softer and easier-to-chew foods!
How Your Teen Can Maintain Healthy Teeth
Braces are an investment, and we don’t want anything to come in the way of your teen getting the beautiful smile they deserve in a timely manner.
To take care of this investment, we encourage your teen to maintain their current oral healthcare routine of brushing twice a day and flossing frequently. It can be a little harder to reach certain areas, so they may require extra attention to avoid any lost food particles and debris.
We want your teen to have a healthy smile in and out of braces, so make sure they keep their pearly whites pearly and white year-round.
Protect Your Teen While Playing Sports
Wearing braces doesn’t have to stop your teen from playing the sports their love! Whether it’s soccer or volleyball, your teen can protect their teeth while scoring the next point.
We offer orthodontic mouth guards that fit over their braces and keep the metal brackets from rubbing or mashing against their mouth and lips. This way, even if something hits your teen’s face, their appliance won’t get damaged or cause discomfort.
Beautiful, Healthy Smiles at Any Age
At McClaran Orthodontics, we believe you’re never too old to get the beautiful, healthy smile of your dreams. And if you’re looking for a time-tested corrective treatment that provides stellar results every time, braces may be all the smile magic you need.
Why Should Adults Get Braces?
Your mouth changes as you get older. Bones and teeth shift, and as this happens, new issues arise. While you may have had braces as a teenager, you may still need additional assistance maintaining your good oral health as you get older because of an accident, genetics, or another reason.
Braces have been around for years because they work. The treatment is a fan-favorite for consistently delivering amazing results without dramatically impacting lifestyles.
And because you have no aligners to remember or forget, all you have to do is wear the appliance for one to two years and enjoy a lifetime of straight teeth and improved oral health.
Our highly-skilled team is excited to begin this journey with you and can go more in-depth on all of the benefits of braces for adults during your first consultation.
But Aren’t I Too Old for Braces?
Of course not! Braces are an investment in yourself because have the obvious benefit of delivering gorgeous smiles that boost self-esteem and give you the confidence to face the world bravely.
Beyond improved appearance and increased confidence, braces also give you better oral health. Overcrowding and misalignments can cause a variety of health issues. For example, if your teeth overlap, they may not be cleaned properly, which could lead to problems like tooth decay or even loss.
With braces, you can get your teeth straightened and nip issues such as this in the bud.
