Traditional Braces – Pelham, NH
Reliable & Fun Orthodontic Treatment
Even with discreet Invisalign treatment, traditional metal braces are often the best choice when it comes to achieving dramatic orthodontic results for teens. Not only are they durable, but they can address mild, moderate, and even severe misalignment and crowding problems that keep many teens from reaching their full social potential in middle and high school. Metal braces in Pelham are a cost-effective, fun, and subtle treatment that can help your teen achieve their smile goals.
Why Choose Us For Traditional Braces?
- Happily Accepting Dental Insurance
- Convenient Appointment Hours
- Board-Certified Orthodontist
The Process of Getting Braces
Once we’ve examined your teen’s smile and you’ve both decided that traditional braces are the right choice, we’ll move the rest of the process along. Getting braces involves five basic steps that we’ve outlined below for you:
- Take impressions of your child’s teeth to create their treatment plan.
- Bond the metal brackets to their teeth and secure the arch wires to them.
- Visit our office every six to eight weeks so we can adjust the tension of their arch wire.
- Remove the brackets and wires at the end of their treatment and talk about their retainer options.
- Show your teen how to wear their retainer to prevent their teeth from shifting back into their original positions.
Benefits of Traditional Braces
Getting your child’s teeth straightened with traditional orthodontics in Pelham offers a variety of benefits. Some of these include:
- Improved oral health due to the elimination of hard-to-clean nooks and crannies caused by crowding and misalignment.
- An average treatment time of between 14 and 18 months.
- Proven and perfected results.
- Can address orthodontic issues ranging from mild to severe.
Tips for Maintaining Braces
Once we apply the oral appliance to their teeth, our orthodontist in Pelham, Dr. Naz, will walk them through how to take care of their smile during their treatment. Here are some braces tips that we often recommend:
- Brushing after meal times.
- Flossing every day, including between the arch wire.
- Coming to their follow-up visits.
- Visiting us every six months for a checkup and cleaning.
- Avoiding hard and sticky foods.
Our team will be more than happy to answer any other questions that your child has about taking care of their braces. If they accidentally break a bracket or wire, don’t worry! We’ll help repair it quickly so they stick to their treatment timeline.
Understanding the Cost of Traditional Braces
If you’re considering starting orthodontic treatment for your child, you’ve probably got the cost on your mind—and rightfully so. Traditional braces in Pelham are a significant investment in your child’s long-term oral health. However, the good news is that modern braces are more accessible than ever before, not to mention that there are numerous ways to pay. Understanding what goes into the cost of treatment can also help you plan ahead and make the most informed decision possible. With that in mind, here’s what you need to know:
Factors That Affect the Cost of Traditional Braces
The total cost of traditional braces varies depending on several factors specific to your child's needs, including:
- Severity of the case: More complex alignment issues, such as significant crowding, spacing, or bite problems, typically require longer treatment times and more frequent adjustments, which can increase the overall cost.
- Length of treatment: Most children wear braces for 18 months to 3 years. The longer the treatment duration, the more visits and care are involved.
- Post-treatment costs: The cost of retainers and follow-up visits after braces are removed may be included in your initial quote.
- Additional pre-treatment needs: Some children may need palate expanders, tooth extractions, or other preliminary work before braces can be placed, which can affect the total investment.
Professional Braces vs. “DIY” Braces: Which Costs More?
Many DIY solutions often advertise low upfront prices, making them tempting, but they lack the in-person supervision and individualized treatment planning that our team provides for every case. Without professional oversight, problems with your child’s braces or smile can go undetected, leading to complications that require costly corrective treatment down the road. When you factor in the potential for harm and the cost of fixing it, professional braces are not only the safer choice—they're often the smarter financial choice in the long run.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Braces?
Many dental insurance plans do include benefits for orthodontic treatment; however, as with other types of services, coverage can vary greatly from plan to plan. Many offer a lifetime maximum that applies to orthodontic treatment for children, and some cover a percentage of the total fee rather than a flat amount. All of that said, it’s important to review your specific policy carefully and confirm your benefits before starting treatment. Our team is happy to work with your insurance provider directly to verify your coverage and help you understand exactly what your plan will contribute toward your child's treatment!
Options for Making Braces Affordable
If you don’t have dental insurance, don’t worry; there are still ways you can make the cost of your child’s braces more affordable. Our office is proud to partner with Chewsi and CareCredit, two third-party financers that offer flexible payment options for qualifying patients. We’re also excited to offer various specials to help cover the cost of care, including free braces through MassHealth. Just contact our front desk to learn more about your options and to start saving!
Traditional Braces FAQs
Do Traditional Braces Hurt?
This is hands-down one of the most-asked questions about traditional braces. To be honest, it is normal to experience some soreness and pressure, particularly in the hours following the adjustment appointments. However, symptoms like these can easily be managed by sipping on cool water, sticking to soft foods, and taking OTC pain medication as directed.
How Long Do Traditional Braces Take?
Although traditional braces usually take 2-3 years, your child’s treatment timeline may be shorter or longer. After all, there are several factors that play a role, including how severe their misalignment is. During their initial consultation, we will complete a comprehensive oral exam, create their custom treatment plan, and provide an overview of the teeth-straightening process. We will also share the steps they can take to avoid lengthy delays, starting with abiding by the dietary restrictions.
Is There Anything My Child Can’t Eat with Traditional Braces?
Speaking of dietary restrictions, there are some foods that your child will need to avoid with braces in Pelham. A few examples include hard pretzels, popcorn, tortilla chips, corn on the cob, and croutons. They also need to steer clear of sticky sweets, like taffy, since they have the potential to damage a bracket or wire.
The good news is that there are far more foods that they can eat. We recommend sticking to nutrient-dense ones that have a softer consistency, like plain yogurt, oatmeal, cooked sweet potatoes, and steamed carrots. This will help keep your child’s smile healthy throughout their orthodontic treatment.
What Happens After My Child Gets Their Braces Off?
Have you heard of “orthodontic relapse”? If not, it’s the phenomenon when teeth gradually drift out of alignment in the years following orthodontic treatment. To prevent that from happening to your child, we will have a custom retainer made. We will also provide instructions on how often to wear it to keep their teeth in their ideal places (usually every night while they sleep).
Important reminder: If your child’s retainer breaks, you should get in touch with our team at Simply Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics right away! That way, we can begin the process of having it repaired or replaced.
How Can I Reduce the Cost of Traditional Braces?
Good news: there are several ways you can make the cost of traditional braces more affordable, starting with dental insurance. Our Pelham team is proud to accept PPO dental insurance plans and will do our part to make utilizing your available benefits easy. We also welcome payment plans with trusted third-party financiers like CareCredit, which allows you to break up the total cost into smaller, more budget-friendly chunks. If you’d like more details, then get in touch with a friendly member of our team so they can provide additional information and answer any questions you have!