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What Should You Expect in Your First Week With Invisalign? Expect a few days of pressure and tenderness, a slight lisp that usually fades quickly, and some practice getting aligners in and out. By the end of the first week, most people have settled into a routine and barely notice…

What Is a Palatal Expander? A palatal expander is a small appliance that gently widens the upper jaw. Attached to the upper back teeth, it spans the roof of the mouth and gradually separates the two halves of a growing child’s palate, making room for teeth and a better bite.…

What Is the Difference Between Ceramic and Metal Braces? Ceramic and metal braces work the same way: brackets bonded to your teeth, joined by a guiding wire. The difference is the bracket material. Metal is stainless steel. Ceramic is tooth-colored and far less noticeable, with some trade-offs in care and…

How Can You Make Braces Affordable? Most families make braces affordable by combining four things: orthodontic insurance benefits, an in-house monthly payment plan, tax-free HSA or FSA dollars, and starting treatment at the right time instead of the most expensive one. At Zaidi Orthodontics we do not want financial considerations…

How Often Do Braces Get Tightened? Most patients in braces have an adjustment every four to eight weeks. The visit usually takes 20 to 40 minutes, and soreness afterward peaks within a day or two and fades within about three to five days. Adjustment appointments are the engine of orthodontic…

What Should You Do When a Permanent Retainer Breaks? A broken permanent retainer is urgent but not an emergency. Leave the wire alone, cover any sharp edge with orthodontic wax, keep wearing your removable retainer if you have one, and call your orthodontist to be seen within a few days.…

Can You Get Your Braces Off Before Prom, Graduation, or a Summer Wedding? Yes, braces can sometimes come off slightly before prom, graduation, or a summer wedding, but only when your teeth have reached a stable final position. Braces are never removed temporarily and re-bonded after an event. If your…

An orthodontic emergency while traveling has a way of showing up at the worst possible moment: the night before a flight home, halfway through a road trip, or the morning of a tournament. The reassuring news is that a poking wire, broken bracket, or lost aligner almost never requires you…

Yes. If you wear braces, you need an orthodontic mouthguard made from softer, thicker silicone with extra room for brackets and wires. If you wear Invisalign, you remove your aligners and wear a standard or custom mouthguard over your natural teeth, because aligners are not mouthguards and provide no impact…

What a Summer with Braces Really Looks Like Tips for Having the Best Summer with Braces start with one simple idea: a little planning protects your treatment during the busiest months of the year. Summer brings travel, sports camps, backyard cookouts, and frozen treats, which all create new challenges for…