Invisible Braces

Pedodontics, P.C. proudly offers quality orthodontic and dental care for children and teenagers in Omaha, NE. Our doctors and staff are dedicated to helping patients achieve beautiful, healthy smiles. We feature many types of braces and treatment options to suit your child’s orthodontic treatment needs, from traditional metal braces to clear braces. We want you to know more about our invisible ceramic braces!

What Should I Know About Invisible Braces?

More Discreet and Comfortable

Ceramic braces are similar to traditional metal braces, except the brackets are made of a translucent material that resembles the natural color of your teeth. Since the ceramic material blends in with the tooth, the hardware is much less noticeable. We recommend them for older teenagers and adults who want a more subtle treatment option compared to metal braces. Though you may experience some minor discomfort after your initial fitting, you’ll find invisible braces much more comfortable compared to traditional braces. The ceramic material eliminates the metal-on-metal effect that can cause discomfort when eating with metal utensils. The greatest benefit of ceramic braces is they help you maintain a beautiful smile discreetly, so you can feel confident both during your treatment and once you’ve achieved a new smile.

Give Extra Attention When Brushing and Flossing

Since they are not removable during treatment, both metal and ceramic braces require more time and care when brushing and flossing as food debris and plaque have many places to hide. Invisible braces require extra attention in your oral hygiene routine since they are more fragile than metal braces and elastic ties can become discolored, but the ties will be changed at every orthodontist visit.

Make sure to thoroughly clean every tooth and brush as you would normally, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, for at least two minutes at least twice per day. We recommend special tools like a bristled interdental toothbrush (proxabrush) or water pick (oral irrigator) that can help you to more thoroughly clean the tiny spaces around bands, wires, and brackets. Floss at least once per day to remove any leftover debris you may have missed with brushing. To get into the small nooks and crannies, we recommend a floss threader.

You should brush and floss after any meal or large snack—this prohibits food from becoming trapped and keeps harmful bacteria from forming in the brackets. It’s important to keep on top of your oral hygiene routine to avoid extra trips to the dentist for cleanings and adjustments.

Use Even More Caution with Your Braces

It is important to always use caution with hard or tough foods—but there are foods that can be even more damaging when it comes to braces. Harder foods like popcorn are commonly known as off limits, since kernels can damage brackets. Softer foods are usually a safer choice, as they are easier to consume during your orthodontic treatment. We recommend maintaining a diet high in fiber-rich foods, fruits, and vegetables and avoiding anything sticky (gum, candy), hard (ice, nuts, corn, apples, bagels, chips), overly sugary (cake, ice cream, cookies, pie, candy, soda), or large pieces of food that are difficult to chew and break down.

Just like you want to protect your braces from tough foods, you’ll also want to protect them from harsh contact. Mouth guards are always recommended for contact sports. You should also never use your teeth or braces as a tool to open bottles, packaging, or other items—this can cause severe damage, and may result in an emergency visit to the dentist. Damaging brackets can also be extremely painful, and can impact your treatment time frame. We always recommend being as gentle as possible with your braces, to help you complete your treatment as soon as possible and achieve your best smile even faster!

Follow Your Orthodontist’s Advice

Remember to follow any and all instructions your orthodontist provides you. If you have any questions about taking care of your braces, your diet, or any other questions or concerns, always be sure to ask your doctor. We are here to help you with your treatment, and invisible braces are an important step towards achieving a beautiful healthy smile for life!

Contact Pedodontics, P.C. for Omaha Braces Today!

Pedodontics, P.C. is here to answer any questions you may have about invisible braces, metal braces, or any other orthodontic treatment options we offer. You can contact our office directly by phone at 402-330-5913 or via email. We can’t wait to help get your child started on their new smile today!