long island orthodontist

Traditional Orthodontics and Metal Braces

Today’s metal braces offer straightforward orthodontic results for people of all backgrounds. From children to adults, minor tooth misalignment to severe crowding, traditional orthodontics are easily the most sought-after solution for addressing functional and aesthetic bite concerns.

The Placement of Metal Braces

Conventional orthodontics involve placing fixed brackets at strategic points throughout your entire mouth. Nearly each of the teeth will have its own bracket, with a few exceptions.

Getting braces placed on happens fairly quickly once you’ve decided to move forward with treatment. For instance, if you’re visiting Sachem Dental Group for an orthodontic consultation and after reviewing your care plan you decide you want to start treatment right away, we can usually place metal braces at the same appointment. (That’s not always the case for other types of orthodontic systems, such as Invisalign, which may not be ready until about two weeks later.)

We place your braces with a small amount of tooth-colored cement — or bonding agent — to firmly attach the bracket to your enamel. The entire process takes about 30-60 minutes to complete. Once all of the brackets are placed, we’ll attach any necessary wires, springs, or other appliances.

As soon as everything is in order, you’ll go home with a care kit and instructions on how to manage day-to-day life in braces.

Benefits and Risks of Metal Braces

Traditional metal braces have long been the go-to source for effective and budget-friendly orthodontic treatments. Our Long Island dentists continue to offer metal braces as an option for adults, teens, and young children.

The biggest benefits of traditional braces are their effectiveness and cost. For one, conventional orthodontics work on everything from mild to severe tooth misalignment cases. That means if you have a cross bite open bite, or other issue that can’t be corrected with other types of braces, metal appliances can help in an accurate, predictable manner.

Cost-wise, metal braces have always been the most affordable option when it comes to orthodontic therapy. The great thing is that at Sachem Dental Group, our other types of braces are now competitively priced so that the cost difference isn’t as significant as it used to be.

Occasionally there are risks that can cause issues from time to time. For instance, although metal braces are made of hypoallergenic materials, some individuals with severe metal allergies may in rare circumstances need to have their appliances removed.

Broken appliances or irritating wires can also cause temporary discomfort. Fortunately, a quick trip to our Suffolk County office or the use of orthodontic wax can offer relief. If a bracket pops off or wire is poking into your mouth, call our office for advice on what to do.

In general, moderate irritation is normal as your mouth adjusts to having new metal braces. Although they’re small, the fixed appliances do require a type of callous to develop inside of your cheeks before they stop irritating your mouth. This process can take some time but is completely normal.

Costs of Treatment with Metal Braces

If you’re looking for affordable braces in Long Island, your best bet is conventional (traditional) orthodontics. Prices are affected by things like:

  • The length of your treatment
  • Additional therapies (such as appliances)
  • How compliant you are with your home care
  • Upgrades, such as ceramic braces
  • Complexity of your bite

The only way to give a firm estimate on the cost of your braces is to schedule a consultation at Sachem Dental Group for us to physically evaluate your teeth. Although metal braces are the least expensive of all orthodontics, their cost still fluctuates from person to person. Our metal braces start at $6,000 for 24 months[SB1] .  Each patient is different so it is best to come in for a consultation.

Candidacy for Treatment with Metal Braces

One of the great things about metal braces is that practically anyone in Suffolk County can wear them! Treatments start on children as young as age 7 (for early intervention treatments) all the way up to people in their 70s and beyond.

Before starting your orthodontic therapy, you’ll need to make sure that you don’t have any active cavities or gum disease. If you do, we can provide in-house treatments to help you stabilize your oral health before getting your braces put on.

Children will need to have lost all of their primary (baby) teeth for conventional treatment, otherwise the process will be separated into Phase I and II stages of care.

Treatment Timelines for Metal Braces

Again, the length of time needed for braces to straighten your teeth will depend on your specific bite. A simple, straightforward case usually takes about 12 months from start to finish. Moderate to more severe tooth misalignment may need up to 18 months or more to complete.

To limit the time spent in braces, be sure to follow your home care instructions properly and keep your regularly scheduled follow-up appointments. Not using prescribed aids such as rubber bands, adjusting your expander, or skipping visits can lead to delayed results (and more time in braces overall.)

Retainers and Appliances

Once you complete your time in braces and have your appliances removed, you’ll need to stick to a regular retention program. Retainers preserve your tooth spacing and reduce the chance of relapse. Without them, teeth will almost always drift back to their previous position.

In the beginning you’ll wear your retainer full time, only removing it for meals and hygiene. As time goes by, you’ll wear your retainer while you sleep or as needed.

Some retainers are made of an acrylic base with a wire wrapped around the outside (Hawley) while others look more like an Invisalign tray. The clear retainer design can also double as a whitening tray, if you choose to brighten your teeth at home.

Request Your Orthodontic Consultation Today

Orthodontic evaluations are the only way to get the answers you need about time in braces, braces cost, and the types of braces you qualify for. We invite you to reach out to Sachem Dental Group today for more information. We’ve helped families like yours for over 30 years!