Cedar Park Braces & Clear Aligners
Find a Treatment Choice for Every Smile
If you live around Cedar Park 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 use see-through ceramic brackets for a more natural appearance.
Orthodontics for All Ages
Doc Ak believes there’s no age limit on healthy, happy smiles in Cedar Park.
The Daily (Living With Braces)
Eating With Braces
First of all, let’s cover some foods to avoid. Steer clear of foods that are sticky, chewy, gooey or really hard- this includes but is not limited to gummy bears, Now and Laters, caramel, Jolly Ranchers, hard pretzels, and pizza crust.
The rule of thumb is that you don’t want to bite into anything harder than a banana with your front teeth. Cut food into smaller pieces and chew with your back teeth.
How about some foods that are great to eat? Turns out that what’s good for the rest of your body is also good for your teeth.
We encourage you to eat healthy foods like apples and carrots (just remember to cut them into small pieces). Meats are ok, too, just not off the bone. Try to eat well-balanced meals and snacks for a keen mind, a strong 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
Brush for at least two minutes, three times a day and after meals. If you need help choosing the right toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss, please ask us and we can help you choose the right products for your teeth and your appliance.
Flossing is vital to healthy gums and teeth. For great health, floss at least once a day. We recommend Superfloss to make the process easier.
Alongside brushing, if food becomes stuck between your teeth, use your Waterpik or a proxy brush to dislodge the food.
Caring for Orthodontic Appliances
Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your appliances.
Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear the rubber bands, headgear, retainer, or other appliances prescribed by Doc Ak.
Remember to brush your appliances each time you brush your teeth. Remember to take out removable appliances when you eat, go swimming, play sports, or do anything else where they could break or get lost.
Never wrap your appliance in a napkin – It may accidentally get thrown out, and no one wants to go dumpster diving!
The Occasional Emergency, AKA Orthodontic First Aid
We’re here for you in the rare event of an orthodontic emergency. Call the office immediately if you are experiencing severe pain or cannot resolve an issue on your own.
Here are some examples of issues related to orthodontic care and some effective remedies.
Soreness
You may feel some discomfort and soreness for the first few days after you get your braces in and after you have routine adjustments. It always passes!
Feel free to take any meds that you would normally take for a headache, such as acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin) if you are not allergic to these drugs.
You can rinse with warm salt water to soothe the area for an open sore.
Loose Teeth
If your teeth begin feeling a little loose, don’t worry; this is normal! To move into the right position, teeth must first become slightly loosened.
Braces and wires put the appropriate pressure on your teeth to make that happen. Once your teeth have been repositioned, 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 may schedule an immediate appointment to fix it.
Poking Wire, Lose Wires and Bands
Sometimes a wire can cause irritation. You can temporarily fix the loose wire by using the back of a spoon, cotton swab 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, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the pain. If the wire is sticking you and wax does not help, the wire can be cut with a small wire cutter or nail clipper close to the back of the last brace.
If you cannot resolve the wire irritation, please call our office 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.
