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Dental Braces Center - Hickory, NC

WebMD Physician Directory

Hickory, North Carolina

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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  • Traditional bands: These are the generally outdated "full metal-mouth" look, which consists of the use of metal brackets soldered to metal bands that wrap around each tooth.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

Toothache »

What is a toothache?

"Toothache" usually refers to pain around the teeth or jaws primarily as a result of a dental condition. In most instances, toothaches are caused by tooth problems, such as a dental cavity, a cracked tooth, an exposed tooth root, or gum disease. However, disorders of the jaw joint (temporo-mandibular joint) can also cause pain that is referred to as "toothache." The severity of a toothache can range from chronic and mild to sharp and excruciating. The pain may be aggravated by chewing or by cold or heat. A thorough oral examination, which includes dental X-rays, can help determine whether the toothache is coming from a tooth or jaw problem and the cause.

Sometimes, a toothache may be caused by a problem not originating from a tooth or the jaw. Pain around the teeth and the jaws can be symptoms of diseases of the heart (such as angina or heart attack), ears (such as inner or external ear infections), and sinuses (air passages of the cheekb...

Emergency Contact for Hickory

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Hickory Hospitals *

Frye Regional Medical Center
420 N Center St
Hickory, NC 28601
(828)322-6070

Catawba Valley Medical Center
810 Fairgrove Church Rd SE
Hickory, NC 28602
(828)326-3000

Valdese General Hospital
720 Malcolm Blvd
Rutherford College, NC 28671
(828)874-2251

Frye Regional Medical Center Alexander Campus
326 Third St SW
Taylorsville, NC 28681
(828)635-4000

Caldwell Memorial Hospital
321 Mulberry St SW
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828)757-5100

Grace Hospital
2201 S Sterling St
Morganton, NC 28655
(828)580-5000

Broughton Hospital
1000 S Sterling St
Morganton, NC 28655
(828)433-2111

Carolinas Medical Center Lincoln
200 Gamble Dr
Lincolnton, NC 28092
(704)735-3071

Iredell Memorial Hospital
557 Brookdale Dr
Statesville, NC 28687
(704)873-5661

Davis Regional Medical Center
218 Old Mocksville Rd
Statesville, NC 28625
(704)873-0281

Lake Norman Regional Medical Center
171 Fairview Rd
Mooresville, NC 28117
(704)660-4000

Wilkes Regional Medical Center
1370 West D St
North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
(336)651-8100

Cleveland Regional Medical Center
201 E Grover St
Shelby, NC 28150
(704)487-3000

Kings Mountain Hospital
706 W Kings St
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704)739-3601

Gaston Memorial Hospital
2525 Court Dr
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704)834-2000

Blowing Rock Hospital
418 Chestnut Dr
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
(828)295-3136

Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville
10030 Gilead Rd
Huntersville, NC 28078
(704)316-4000

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