Dental braces
For teens and adults whose teeth need moving further than a removable tray can manage.
Fixed braces bond a small bracket to each tooth and move them with a wire Dr. Malik tightens every few weeks. They handle the crowding, rotation and bite problems that removable trays cannot, and every adjustment happens in this building.
Any of these sound familiar?
- Teeth overlap or twist so far that floss will not pass between them.
- Your top and bottom teeth do not meet properly when you bite down.
- A tooth is drifting into a gap where one was lost.
- Your teen's adult teeth have come through crowded or crooked.
- You were told aligners would not move your teeth far enough.
Start to finish.
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01
Assessment
Dr. Malik examines your teeth, bite and jaw and takes X-rays. He tells you whether braces or aligners fit your case, or whether you need neither.
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02
Scan and plan
We scan your teeth and Dr. Malik maps how each one needs to move. You see the plan and the expected number of months before anything is fitted.
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03
Fitting
Braces are bonded to the teeth in one visit, no needles needed. With aligners, you leave with your first trays and clear instructions on how many hours a day to wear them.
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04
Adjustment visits
You come back every several weeks so Dr. Malik can adjust wires or hand you the next trays. Treatment usually runs many months, often more than a year.
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05
Retainers
When the teeth are in position, the braces come off or the last tray is finished. You wear a retainer afterwards, mostly at night, to keep the teeth from drifting back.
What it costs, and who pays.
Braces and aligners are priced as one course of treatment, not visit by visit, and the course usually spans a year or more. Many dental plans have a separate orthodontic benefit, often with a lifetime limit, and some cover adults as well as children.
Ask for a written estimateDental braces, answered.
Am I too old for braces?
No. Teeth move at any age as long as the gums and bone around them are healthy. Many adults choose aligners because they come out for meals and for a photo or a meeting.
Braces or Invisalign: which is better?
Neither is better; they suit different problems and different people. Aligners work well for mild to moderate crowding and spacing, but only if you wear them about 22 hours a day. Braces handle bigger movements and bite corrections, and they cannot be left in a lunch bag.
How long do braces take?
Usually many months, and often more than a year. Dr. Malik gives you an expected range after the scan; it depends on how far the teeth must move and, with aligners, on how consistently you wear them.
Do braces hurt?
Teeth feel tender for a few days after each adjustment or new tray; over-the-counter pain relief and soft food get you through it. If a wire is poking your cheek, call 647.479.3151 and we fix it.
