Braces in Childress, TX
Achieve a Healthy Bite & Straight Smile
Braces are orthodontic devices that move teeth into their proper positions, correct bite misalignment, and help you feel more confident about your smile. At Full Smile Orthodontics, many children, teens, and adults wear braces and experience a surge of self-confidence after they achieve a beautifully straight and healthy smile. Our board-certified orthodontist, Dr. Steve Astuto, understands the unique needs of every patient and will create a custom treatment plan for you or your child. To begin your orthodontic journey in Childress, TX, contact our practice to schedule a consultation.
How Do Braces Work?
Dental braces consist of brackets and wires that put pressure on teeth to move them. As we tighten the wire throughout treatment, teeth are forced to move to adjust. Over time, this gradual pressure aligns the teeth, creating a beautifully healthy and symmetrical smile when braces come off.
Many orthodontic issues can be corrected with braces, including:
- Crowding
- Crooked teeth
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Crossbite
- Open bite
- Gap teeth
- Misaligned jaw
- Difficulty chewing or speaking
After we put your braces on, you can expect to visit our office for follow-up appointments about every 4–8 weeks. At these visits, we will tighten the arch wire and ensure your braces are functioning properly and feel comfortable.
Life With Braces
Braces require some slight adjustments to your diet in order to protect them from damage. Here are examples of some foods you should stay away from and foods that are safe for braces.
Foods to Avoid With Braces
- Caramel, fudge, toffee, and chewy candy
- Popcorn, nuts, and hard candy
- Chewing gum
- Pizza crust, bagels, and hard bread
- Pretzels and chips
- Reduce your intake of sweets, sodas, and sugary foods that increase your risk for cavities
Foods to Enjoy After Getting Braces
- Mashed potatoes
- Yogurt and smoothies
- Soups
- Scrambled eggs
- Oatmeal
- Seafood
- Soft fruits
- Soft cheese
- Pasta
- Cooked or soft vegetables
As you become comfortable wearing your braces, you can enjoy many types of foods, as long as they do not risk damaging your braces. Cut food into smaller pieces and avoid biting directly into apples, carrots, corn on the cob, or other hard fruits and vegetables. You must also take special care to keep your braces clean. Brush and floss between teeth and around brackets to avoid decalcification, or permanent stains, and protect against tooth decay.
Types of Braces
We offer many types of braces to fit your orthodontic needs and preferences. Dr. Astuto will take 3D scans of your mouth, explain your treatment options, and determine the right type of braces for your needs.
- Traditional Metal Braces. Traditional brackets are made of stainless steel and bonded to the front of your teeth. Some patients require additional pieces, like rubber bands or metal ties, to apply pressure to certain teeth and align the jaws.
- Ceramic Braces. Ceramic braces are made of a tooth-colored ceramic material instead of metal and are less noticeable because they blend in more naturally with the color of your teeth.
- Lingual Braces. Lingual braces are metal but are bonded to the backs of your teeth instead of the front, facing your tongue. They are significantly less noticeable, but it can be difficult to maintain good oral hygiene because they are harder to see and clean.
- Clear Aligners. Clear plastic aligners, like Invisalign®, straighten teeth using custom-made trays. The aligners are removable, giving you the freedom to eat the foods you want and maintain good oral health without having to work with brackets or wires.
Should I See a Dentist or Orthodontist for Braces?
Orthodontists are experts at aligning teeth and correcting bite problems. They complete several additional years of training after dental school, where they learn about teeth and jaw development and how to manage misalignment with orthodontic appliances. Some general dentists offer basic alignment treatments, like clear aligners, but their primary focus is on achieving and maintaining oral health. Orthodontists, on the other hand, focus solely on the alignment of teeth and are the dental experts to see when it comes to straightening teeth and managing a bad bite.
Braces in Childress, TX
Full Smile Dental proudly offers braces to children, teens, and adults in the Texas Panhandle. We take the time to get to know our patients beyond their orthodontic needs and make appointments fun and enjoyable. If it's time for you or your child to start wearing braces, we invite you to contact us in Childress, TX, to schedule a consultation with our board-certified orthodontist, Dr. Steve Astuto.
Hear From Braces Patients
These patients can tell you about their firsthand experience undergoing braces at our office.
Reviews From Our Braces Patients
"As a patient here, I feel excited to be here. It's good to see the staff and have them have smiling faces. Dr. Astuto, as a person, is a very straightforward person, which I enjoy—someone who's very meticulous and well-studied in knowing his art. The day I got my braces off, walking out of here, I was so excited to take some new pictures. Having a new smile that things fit together correctly, that alone just helps me feel better on a day-to-day basis. My overall experience with Full Smile Orthodontics has been a good one. I would highly recommend Full Smile Orthodontics. I think that they are just the best place in town."
"Whenever I come into Full Smile Orthodontics, I feel comfortable and I just feel like part of the team, and I just fit in. The staff at Full Smile Orthodontics is just welcoming. Dr. Astuto is, to me, I feel like he's just an artist. He just sculpts people's teeth and just he changes their whole facial structure. I'm looking forward to having a better smile than I did before. I would 110% recommend Full Smile Orthodontics. They take you in and they change your whole smile and they boost your confidence."
" When I first walked into this practice, it felt very comforting. The staff here was very friendly. They were very welcoming. Dr. Astuto was kind of a father figure, really. It was like he was there to give you advice. It was just really easy to talk to him and it was really easy to come here and work with him. When I got my braces off, I was extremely happy with the results. I just felt like a new person and I felt more confident because I knew it looked good. I would highly recommend Full Smile Orthodontics."
"Every time we come in, the kids are excited to be here. The staff and Dr. Astuto are incredible. They hold themselves and their patients to a high standard. The feeling of seeing both Luke and Lily out of braces was pretty sweet. It's a beautiful smile, and they'll have it for the rest of their lives. Our overall experience with Full Smile Orthodontics has been fantastic. I would absolutely recommend Full Smile to any parent out there looking for a beautiful smile for their child. We're forever grateful to Dr. Astuto and his staff."
"When I first walked into this office, I felt excited because I was pretty happy about getting braces. When I was younger, my sisters got their braces done here as well. My experience with the staff whenever I first came here was pretty good. Dr. Astuto, he's super nice, and he likes to explain what he's doing when he is putting braces on, so it makes you more comfortable. I wanted to get braces, so when I get them off, I will have a pretty smile for whenever we compete in cheer. I would highly recommend Full Smile Orthodontics."
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do braces cost in Childress, TX?
The cost of braces is a little different for everyone. The length of treatment, type of braces, and details of your insurance will determine the final cost. We will provide a cost estimate for your braces at the first appointment and discuss your payment options, including financing.
Is Invisalign the same as braces?
Like braces, Invisalign corrects orthodontic issues like crooked teeth, gap teeth, and bite problems. However, Invisalign is different from braces because there are no brackets or wires involved. Instead, you wear clear trays that fit over your teeth. These trays place pressure on the teeth to move them, similar to braces, but without brackets. Invisalign and braces both provide excellent orthodontic outcomes and can straighten your smile, and the right choice for you will depend on your preferences and conditions requiring treatment.
Do braces hurt?
Braces are not painful to wear, and they do not hurt. You can expect to feel some pressure after they are put on and after they are tightened. Once they adjust to the new pressure, you will quickly get used to the way they feel.
What is the right age for braces?
Braces are especially beneficial for children during the early pre-teen years because they can prevent future dental complications from arising as the jaws continue to develop. However, braces are an excellent orthodontic treatment for all ages.
Creating Beautiful Smiles Is Our Passion
We look forward to helping you and your family achieve healthy, beautiful smiles. To begin your orthodontic journey, contact Full Smile Orthodontics today for a consultation.