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How to Know When it’s Time for Braces

If you are the parent of a growing teen or are an adult and have never had braces yourself, but are considering them, it’s sometimes hard to know if it’s a good time to receive braces. Here are some signs that it might be time to schedule an orthodontic consultation at our orthodontist office in Irving, Forth Worth, or Farmers Branch Texas.

You Feel a Strong Overbite or Underbite

This is one of the biggest clues that tell you it may be time for braces. When biting down all the way, your front teeth should not go far past your bottom teeth, and vice versa. Braces not only straighten your teeth but can also fix an under or overbite.

Missing or Extra Teeth

Perhaps you’ve noticed your child lost a tooth but their adult tooth never grew in, or they have an extra tooth or two. Those are both signs that braces might be beneficial, as having too little or too many teeth can cause one’s smile to become crooked.

Pain or Discomfort Chewing Food

While there are many causes for having pain when chewing food, needing braces could be one of them. Braces not only fix alignment problems and bites, but they can fix jaw issues as well. If you have overcrowded teeth, it’s not uncommon to experience jaw pain. Chewing on food should not be painful, and if it is, there might be some sort of developmental or gradual issue with the jawline or jaw position.

Difficulty Flossing

It’s extremely important to floss between each and every tooth to avoid gum disease and get rid of plaque buildup. If your teeth are overcrowded in your mouth or overlapping each other, you might not be able to floss as easily or get between every tooth. If you’re not able to, and food and or/plaque continues to build up in areas where you can’t fully floss or brush, this is a sign that an orthodontic consultation could benefit you.

Teeth That Are Too Far Apart

Overcrowded teeth aren’t the only type of teeth pattern that causes problems; big gaps can negatively impact your bite as well as your jaw alignment. Spacing can easily be addressed by braces. Especially if the big spaces between your teeth affect your chewing or cleaning habits, it’s something that should get addressed.

Boosting Self-Confidence

If you are insecure about anything related to your teeth alignment, whether it be having crooked teeth or large gaps or a noticeable underbite or overbite, braces are a great way to boost your confidence about your looks. Your smile is often the first thing people see when they look at you, so if your smile is perfected, you’re bound to be more confident about your look!

Contact us Today

The best way to know if it’s time for braces or not is to visit our office for a consultation. Whether it’s for your child or for yourself, our dedicated team will assess your needs to determine if braces are the right fit for you at this time. It’s never too early or too late to start working on your dream smile. If you’re looking for a family dentist near Irv We look forward to hearing from you!

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You can play a part in preparing your child for his or her first visit to our office. Informing your child of the visit as an exciting experience for both of you can ease any hesitations. As a parent try to act relaxed, since your child may sense any anxiety on your part.

Explain to your child that the doctor will “count, brush, and maybe take pictures of their teeth”. We also ask that you assume the role of a silent observer. Cooperation and trust must be established directly between the doctor, staff, and your child and not through you. Your child may become confused if receiving instructions from multiple sources.

We recommend bringing your baby in for their first dental appointment by their first birthday, or within 6 months of their first tooth appearing (whichever comes first). During this appointment, we will examine your baby’s mouth to track their dental development and discuss age-appropriate dental care.

It’s easy to make appointments to visit our office online or over the phone. Rio Dental sees patients both for checkups and dental emergencies. Using our online scheduler, you can select the location and time slot that works best for you for either type of appointment. If you have any questions regarding our practice, or simply prefer to make your appointment with a live member of staff, please don’t hesitate to call!

Rio Dental Group accepts most PPO insurances. We recommend that new patients and returning patients with new insurance policies reach out to us before their appointment to confirm coverage. Our Fort Worth location also sees patients who are covered by Medicaid and CHIP programs.

We don’t like surprises, either! Our staff is prepared to discuss the cost of dental services before you undergo treatment so that you know what to expect in terms of fees. The cost of your services will be due at the end of your appointment. Our office accepts payment by cash, credit card, or check.

Rio Dental Group allows patients to pay with their CareCredit card. CareCredit is a healthcare credit card designed to cover out-of-pocket costs at over 225,000 providers nationwide. After leaving the office, card holders will be able to make convenient monthly payments towards their balance. To learn more, visit the CareCredit website.

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    Farmers Branch

    2740 Valwood Pkwy #144
    Farmers Branch, TX 75234

    (972) 746 2533

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    1111 W Airport Fwy #201
    Irving, TX 75062

    (972) 793-0735

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    1114 N Beach St
    Fort Worth, TX 76111

    (817) 768-3838

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    9310 E R L Thornton Fwy.
    Suite 100, Dallas, TX 75228

    (972) 885-8089
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