Braces Bergen County NJ
You finally decided to fix your teeth and maybe you are searching for “braces Bergen County NJ” on the Internet. Stop your search and schedule a consultation at The Schulhof Center, which has been providing braces to patients for many years with great success. Braces are one of the most common treatments patients choose to correct many different teeth and jaw misalignments.
Perhaps you need to know more about braces before you decide to seek treatment. The more information you have, the more comfortable you will be when you make your choice.
How Do Braces Work?
Braces are orthodontic devices that gradually shift teeth into proper alignment over a period of time, fixing problems including open bite, crossbite, underbite, overbite, crookedness, gaps between teeth, and overcrowding. Brackets are bonded to the front or back of each tooth using a special adhesive. An archwire anchors the brackets and serves as the mechanism through which pressure is applied to your teeth to initiate shifting. Elastic bands provide additional support and pressure.
Your orthodontist will tighten the wire of your braces at each follow-up appointment to maintain pressure on your teeth. Upon completion of treatment, the braces will come off, but you will have to wear a retainer to prevent your teeth from shifting back. However, you’ll eventually only have to wear it at night.
Types Of Braces
Innovations in braces technology have come a long way over the last several decades, giving patients more choices that can make treatment much more tolerable. Each type of braces offers something different even though they work the same way to fix your smile.
Traditional Braces
Featuring smaller brackets today, traditional braces are made of stainless steel or titanium for maximum strength. This is the most popular type of braces. Not only can you choose fun colors to make your brackets more unique to your style, but the braces are also more effective with fewer drawbacks.
Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces feature larger brackets, but they can be clear or match your natural tooth color for a more invisible look. Even the wire can be clear or natural tooth color now. They are perfect for patients who want braces instead of clear aligners such as Invisalign but want braces that will not affect their appearance as much as traditional braces.
There are drawbacks, however. The brackets are more prone to staining, so patients must exercise caution when eating and drinking. For instance, you should avoid red wine. The material these braces are made of also makes them more vulnerable to damage.
Self-Ligating Braces
These braces are a truly innovative advancement. Self-ligating braces work the same way as traditional and ceramic braces, but instead of using elastic bands to anchor the wire, a special door built into each bracket clips it into place. This allows your orthodontist to have easier access to the wire to tighten it, shortening appointment times in the process. They are also available in metal and ceramic, making them very customizable as well as effective.
Lingual Braces
Lingual braces work the same as the other types of braces but are also very different. Unlike the other types, lingual braces are bonded to the back of your teeth. This provides patients with a more discreet braces option because the front of your teeth are appliance-free, leaving you free to smile during treatment without feeling self-conscious. Lingual braces are the least common choice, but that’s mostly because many orthodontists choose not to offer them because they have to become proficient with them on their own instead of as part of orthodontic training.
Fortunately, Dr. Adam Schulhof is one of those orthodontists who is proficient with lingual braces. He has spent years honing his skills treating patients with lingual braces, making them a viable option for people searching for “braces Bergen County NJ” to fix their teeth.
Patients should know that lingual braces can be more uncomfortable because they are installed on the back of the teeth. You could have a temporary lisp and may experience tongue irritation. Lingual braces are also more expensive.
Incognito Lite
An innovative form of lingual braces, Incognito Lite features brackets cast in gold, making them lighter. They are also more comfortable because they are custom-made for your teeth. The Schulhof Center proudly offers Incognito Lite to our patients.
How Long Do Braces Take?
The length of braces treatment typically takes 12-18 months or more to complete depending on the severity of your problem, how well your teeth and jaws respond to treatment, and how well you take care of your teeth and hardware throughout this time.
Patients with braces must take special care to properly and thoroughly clean their teeth and their braces because they are at a higher risk of developing cavities and gum disease due to sugar and other food particles becoming trapped in the hardware. Failure to do so could result in setbacks. A floss threader and oral irrigator can help.
Braces vs Invisalign
Invisalign is a series of clear removable aligners that are an alternative to braces for patients who don’t want to wear noticeable hardware for several months. There are no dietary restrictions with Invisalign and they are easier to clean. But you never have to remember to wear your braces so the treatment is always working to straighten your smile. Treatment time and cost are similar, and a patient’s choice usually comes down to convenience and aesthetics.
Cost Of Braces Bergen County
The cost of braces Bergen County ranges from $3,000 up to $10,000 depending on what type of braces you choose. Traditional braces are the least expensive option while lingual braces are the most expensive due to the difficulty of installation. The Schulhof Center offers affordable monthly payment plans, and dental insurance can reduce the cost to patients. We will gladly help you file insurance claims to potentially save thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs.
Contact Us For Braces Bergen County NJ
The Schulhof Center offers braces treatment to patients in Bergen County and surrounding communities. If lingual braces sound like the choice for you, you’ll definitely want to see us. To schedule an appointment, please contact our office by calling 551-231-5323 or 201-262-0231 today! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!