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Dental Braces Center - Novato, CA

WebMD Physician Directory

Novato, California

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  • Traditional bands: These are the generally outdated "full metal-mouth" look, which consists of the use of metal brackets soldered to metal bands that wrap around each tooth.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

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Novato Hospitals *

Novato Community Hospital
180 Rowland Way
Novato, CA 94945
(415)209-1300

Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center
99 Montecillo Rd
San Rafael, CA 94903
(415)444-2000

Kentfield Rehabilitation & Specialty Hospital
1125 Sir Francis Drake Blvd
Kentfield, CA 94904
(415)456-9680

Petaluma Valley Hospital
400 N McDowell Blvd
Petaluma, CA 94954
(707)778-1111

Marin General Hospital
250 Bon Air Rd
Greenbrae, CA 94904
(415)925-7000

Sonoma Valley Hospital
347 Andrieux St
Sonoma, CA 95476
(707)935-5000

Doctor's Medical Center San Pablo
2000 Vale Rd
San Pablo, CA 94806
(510)970-5000

St Helena Hospital Center for Behavioral Health
525 Oregon St
Vallejo, CA 94590
(707)648-2200

Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center
975 Sereno Dr
Vallejo, CA 94589
(707)651-1000

Sutter Solano Medical Center
300 Hospital Dr
Vallejo, CA 94589
(707)554-4444

Napa State Hospital
2100 Napa Vallejo Hwy
Napa, CA 94558
(707)253-5000

Queen of the Valley Medical Center
1000 Trancas St
Napa, CA 94558
(707)252-4411

San Francisco VA Medical Center
4150 Clement St
San Francisco, CA 94121
(415)221-4810

California Pacific Medical Center California Campus
3700 California St
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415)600-6000

California Pacific Medical Center East Campus
3698 California St
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415)600-6000

California Pacific Medical Center Pacific Campus
2333 Buchanan St
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415)600-6000

Chinese Hospital
845 Jackson St
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415)982-2400

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Herrick Campus
2001 Dwight Way
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510)204-4444

Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center
2425 Geary Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415)833-2000

UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion
1600 Divisadero St
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415)567-6600

Saint Francis Memorial Hospital
900 Hyde St
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415)353-6000

St Mary's Medical Center
450 Stanyan St
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415)668-1000

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Alta Bates Campus
2450 Ashby Ave
Berkeley, CA 94705
(510)204-4444

California Pacific Medical Center Davies Campus
45 Castro St & Duboce Ave
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415)600-6000

Palm Drive Hospital
501 Petaluma Ave
Sebastopol, CA 95472
(707)823-8511

Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Main Campus
1165 Montgomery Dr
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
(707)546-3210

UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus
505 Parnassus Ave
San Francisco, CA 94122
(415)476-1000

Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland
747 52nd St
Oakland, CA 94609
(510)428-3000

Contra Costa Regional Medical Center
2500 Alhambra Ave
Martinez, CA 94553
(925)370-5000

Laguna Honda Hospital & Rehabilitation Center
375 Laguna Honda Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94116
(415)759-2300

San Francisco General Hospital
1001 Potrero Ave
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415)206-8000

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Summit Campus
350 Hawthorne Ave
Oakland, CA 94609
(510)655-4000

Kaiser Permanente Medical Center at Oakland
280 W MacArthur Blvd
Oakland, CA 94611
(510)752-1000

VA Northern CA Healthcare System at Martinez
150 Muir Rd
Martinez, CA 94553
(925)372-2000

St Luke's Hospital
3555 Cesar Chavez St
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415)647-8600

Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa Chanate Campus
3325 Chanate Rd
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
(707)576-4000

Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center
401 Bicentennial Way
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707)571-4000

Alameda County Medical Center Highland Campus
1411 E 31st St
Oakland, CA 94602
(510)437-4800

Telecare Solano Psychiatric Health Facility
2101 Courage Dr
Fairfield, CA 94533
(707)784-2130

Alameda Hospital
2070 Clinton Ave
Alameda, CA 94501
(510)522-3700

Seton Medical Center
1900 Sullivan Ave
Daly City, CA 94015
(650)992-4000

John Muir Behavioral Health Center
2740 Grant St
Concord, CA 94520
(925)674-4100

John Muir Medical Center Concord Campus
2540 East St
Concord, CA 94520
(925)682-8200

NorthBay Medical Center
1200 B Gale Wilson Blvd
Fairfield, CA 94533
(707)646-5000

St Helena Hospital
10 Woodland Rd
Saint Helena, CA 94574
(707)963-3611

Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek Medical Center
1425 S Main St
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
(925)295-4000

John Muir Medical Center Walnut Creek Campus
1601 Ygnacio Valley Rd
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
(925)939-3000

Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center
1200 El Camino Real
South San Francisco, CA 94080
(650)742-2000

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