Cedar Park Braces & Clear Aligners
Find a Treatment Choice for Every Smile
If you live in the Cedar Park/N. Austin area and want to level up your smile, you’re in luck! At SmileOn Orthodontics, we’ve got options for every smile.
Whether it’s braces, clear aligners, or the best of both worlds, Dr. Pandya and the team have you covered!
Clear Aligners
Get the smile of your dreams without a single wire. Check out the benefits of clear aligners here.
Metal Braces
Find out why metal braces are still Cedar Park’s most popular treatment option. Lightweight, effective, and affordable!
Clear Braces
Clear braces are an exciting development in orthodontics that uses transparent, ceramic brackets for a more natural appearance.
Orthodontics for All Ages
Doc Ak believes there is no age limit on happy, healthy smiles.
The Daily (Living With Braces)
Eating With Braces
We know you’re thinking about it, so let’s cover some of the foods you will need to avoid with braces. Steer clear of any foods that are sticky, gooey, chewy, or hard. (Think gummy bears, hard candies, pretzels, nuts, pizza crust, apples, etc.) Our rule of thumb is if it’s harder than a banana, don’t use your front teeth to bite into it. Cut your food up into small bites and chew with your back teeth, instead.
How about some foods that are great to eat? Turns out what’s good for the rest of your body, is also good for your teeth. We encourage healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, just be sure to cut them up into small pieces. Meats are okay too, as long as you cut the meat off the bone prior to eating. (Especially ribs and chicken wings!) Try to eat well-balanced meals and snacks for a keen mind, a healthy body, and a beautiful smile!
Playing Sports with Braces
Game, Set, Match – we have great news for athletes! You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! We strongly encourage a mouthguard to be worn during all interactive sports activities.
Sports-related injuries to the mouth and jaw are some of the most common injuries received by athletes. Protecting your smile while playing sports is essential when you have braces. Mouthguards help protect your teeth and gums from injury.
Talk to Doc Ak and the SmileOntourage so that they can hook you up with the proper mouthguard!
Brushing & Flossing With Braces
Doc Ak recommends following his 4-3-2-1 rule while in braces. Visit your general dentist 4 times per year for a cleaning, brush your teeth 3 times per day, rinse with mouthwash 2 times per day, and floss your teeth once per day. We suggest using a soft-bristled toothbrush and Platypus flossers (available to purchase in the office or on Amazon). In addition to brushing and flossing, you can also use a proxy brush (provided in office) or a Waterpik to help keep things extra clean!
Caring for Orthodontic Appliances
Damaged appliances/brackets can increase the length of your treatment process. Please make sure you’re taking the absolute best care of your appliances to keep your treatment on track and running smoothly.
Likewise, uncompliant elastic/aligner/headgear/retainer wear can also significantly increase treatment time. Bite correction will only happen if you’re giving 100% in all these areas, so make sure you’re wearing appliances/elastics exactly as prescribed by Doc Ak.
The Occasional Emergency, AKA Orthodontic First Aid
Doc Ak and the SmileOntourage are always here for you, even on the weekends. In the rare event an orthodontic “emergency” (anything causing pain/discomfort) should come up, simply text us a picture of the issue at 512-982-9330 and we will respond with next steps.
Below are examples of common issues related to orthodontic care along with effective remedies.
Soreness
You will feel some discomfort and soreness the first several days after getting your braces on and after routine adjustments. This is totally normal and will eventually pass! Doc Ak recommends acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol), as long as you are not allergic to this medication. (Ibuprofen decreases inflammation, which slows the tooth moving process down, so try to stick to acetaminophen.)
For any open sores, rinse with warm salt water to soothe the area.
Loose Teeth
If your teeth begin to feel slightly loose, no worries. This is totally normal! For teeth to move into their proper position, they must initially loosen up.
Braces and wires put the perfect amount of pressure on your teeth to make that happen. Once your teeth are in their correct positions, the tissue around them will tighten up, and they will no longer be loose.
Loose Appliance
If you have a loose expander/appliance or trauma to the mouth, please contact us immediately so that we can bring you in to have it repaired.
Poking Wire, Loose Wires and Bands
Occasionally, a long/pokey wire can cause minor irritation. This can be remedied at home by using the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil to carefully and gently push the wire back into place.
If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks you can put wax or an OrthoDot (sold in the office and on Amazon) directly on the area that is poking you to relieve the pain. You can also use a small wire cutter or nail clipper to cut the wire that is sticking out. If you are unable to resolve the issue at home, give us a call or shoot us a text for an appointment.
Loose Bracket
If a bracket (aka brace) comes loose from a tooth, it will usually remain connected to the wire and is not cause for an emergency visit. If it flips around the wire and becomes a source of irritation, tweezers can be used to reposition the brace around the wire.
Call our office at your earliest convenience to schedule a separate visit to repair the loose bracket because these types of repairs usually take additional time.