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Dental Braces Center - Alpharetta, GA

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Alpharetta, Georgia

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Braces and Retainers

What Types of Braces Are Available?

If braces are indeed the solution for you, your orthodontist will prescribe an appliance specific for your needs. The braces may consist of bands, wires, and other fixed or removable corrective appliances.

Generally, there are three types of braces:

  • Brackets: Made of stainless steel or clear or tooth-colored ceramic or plastic, brackets are bonded to the front of each tooth. Ceramic or plastic brackets are often selected for cosmetic reasons. Plastic brackets, however, may become stained and discolored by the end of treatment. Another disadvantage of ceramic or plastic brackets is that they cause more friction between the wire and brackets, which can increase treatment time.
  • Lingual-type brackets: These are brackets that attach to the back of teeth, hiding the bracket from view.
  • Traditional bands: These are the generally outdated "full metal-mouth" look, which consists of the use of metal brackets soldered to metal bands that wrap around each tooth.

Newer "mini-braces," which are much smaller than traditional braces, may be an option for some. Your orthodontist will discuss the various types of available braces with you and determine which might be the best option for you.

How Do Braces Work?

In their entirety, braces work by applying continuous pressure over a period of time to slowly move teeth in a specific direction. As the teeth move, the bony tooth socket reabsorbs and changes shape as pressure is applied.

Braces are made up of the following components:

  • Brackets are the small squares that are bonded directly to each tooth with a special dental bonding agent or are attached to orthodontic bands. Brackets act like handles, holding the arch wires that...

Recommended Reading Related to Braces and Retainers

Caring for Teeth With Braces or Retainers »

Special Brushing & Flossing Instructions

To floss your teeth, feed the short end of the floss through the space between the main arch wire and the upper portion of the tooth closest to the gum. Use a gentle sawing motion to work the floss on each side of the two teeth the floss is between. Be careful not to pull with too much force around the arch wire. Begin brushing your teeth by using a regular soft toothbrush. Brush down from the top and then up from the bottom on each tooth with braces. Next, brush your teeth with a proxabrush or "Christmas tree" brush. This brush is specially designed for cleaning between two braces. Insert the brush down from the top and then up from the bottom between two braces. Use several strokes in each direction before moving on to the next space between two braces. Repeat the procedure until all teeth have been cleaned.

Foods to Avoid While Wearing Braces

Most of the foods you like can still...

Emergency Contact for Alpharetta

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Alpharetta Hospitals *

North Fulton Regional Hospital
3000 Hospital Blvd
Roswell, GA 30076
(770)751-2500

Emory Johns Creek Hospital
6325 W Johns Crossing
Duluth, GA 30097
(678)474-7000

Gwinnett Medical Center Duluth
3620 Howell Ferry Rd
Duluth, GA 30096
(678)312-6805

Glancy Rehabilitation Center
3215 McClure Bridge Rd
Duluth, GA 30096
(678)312-6000

Peachford Behavioral Health System of Atlanta
2151 Peachford Rd
Atlanta, GA 30338
(770)455-3200

Northside Hospital Forsyth
1200 Northside Forsyth Dr
Cumming, GA 30041
(770)844-4000

Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta
5665 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30342
(404)851-7001

Children's Healthcare at Scottish Rite
1001 Johnson Ferry Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30342
(404)785-5252

Northside Hospital
1000 Johnson Ferry Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30342
(404)851-8000

Wellstar Windy Hill Hospital
2540 Windy Hill Rd
Marietta, GA 30067
(770)644-1000

Northside Hospital Cherokee
201 Hospital Rd
Canton, GA 30114
(770)720-5100

Wellstar Kennestone Hospital
677 Church St
Marietta, GA 30060
(770)793-5000

Gwinnett Medical Center
1000 Medical Center Blvd
Lawrenceville, GA 30045
(678)442-4321

Atlanta VA Medical Center
1670 Clairmont Rd
Decatur, GA 30033
(404)321-6111

Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital
1821 Clifton Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404)728-6200

Devereux Georgia Treatment Network
1291 Stanley Rd NW
Kennesaw, GA 30152
(770)427-0147

Children's Healthcare at Egleston
1405 Clifton Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30322
(404)785-6000

DeKalb Medical Center
2701 N Decatur Rd
Decatur, GA 30033
(404)501-1000

Emory University Hospital
1364 Clifton Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30322
(404)712-2000

Emory Adventist Hospital
3949 S Cobb Dr SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(770)434-0710

Ridgeview Institute
3995 S Cobb Dr SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(770)434-4567

SummitRidge Center for Psychiatry & Addiction Medicine
250 Scenic Hwy
Lawrenceville, GA 30045
(678)442-5800

Piedmont Hospital
1968 Peachtree Rd NW
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404)605-5000

Shepherd Center
2020 Peachtree Rd NW
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404)352-2020

Hillside Hospital
690 Courtenay Dr NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
(404)875-4551

DeKalb Medical
450 N Candler St
Decatur, GA 30030
(404)501-6700

Laurel Heights Hospital
934 Briarcliff Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
(404)888-7860

Emory Eastside Medical Center
1700 Medical Way
Snellville, GA 30078
(770)979-0200

Kindred Hospital Atlanta
705 Juniper St NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
(404)873-2871

Emory University Hospital Midtown
550 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
(404)686-4411

Select Specialty Hospital Atlanta
550 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, GA 30327
(404)686-2270

Atlanta Medical Center
303 Parkway Dr NE
Atlanta, GA 30312
(404)265-4000

Grady Health System
80 Jesse Hill Jr Dr SE
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404)616-4307

Wellstar Cobb Hospital
3950 Austell Rd
Austell, GA 30106
(770)732-4000

Georgia Regional Hospital at Atlanta
3073 Panthersville Rd
Decatur, GA 30034
(404)243-2100

DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale
2801 DeKalb Medical Pkwy
Lithonia, GA 30058
(404)501-8000

Piedmont Mountainside Hospital
1266 Hwy 515 S
Jasper, GA 30143
(706)692-2441

Regency Hospital of South Atlanta
1170 Cleveland Ave
East Point, GA 30344
(404)466-6250

South Fulton Medical Center
1170 Cleveland Ave
East Point, GA 30344
(404)466-1170

Cartersville Medical Center
960 Joe Frank Harris Pkwy
Cartersville, GA 30120
(770)382-1530

Northeast Georgia Medical Center
743 Spring St NE
Gainesville, GA 30501
(770)535-3553

Rockdale Medical Center
1412 Milstead Ave NE
Conyers, GA 30012
(770)918-3000

Northeast Georgia Medical Center Lanier Park Campus
675 White Sulphur Rd
Gainesville, GA 30501
(678)343-4000

Anchor Hospital
5454 Yorktowne Dr
Atlanta, GA 30349
(770)991-6044

Wellstar Paulding Hospital
600 W Memorial Dr
Dallas, GA 30132
(770)445-4411

Barrow Regional Medical Center
316 N Broad St
Winder, GA 30680
(770)867-3400

Wellstar Douglas Hospital
8954 Hospital Dr
Douglasville, GA 30134
(770)949-1500

Southern Regional Medical Center
11 Upper Riverdale Rd SW
Riverdale, GA 30274
(770)991-8000

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