You may have gaps in your teeth before braces, but what happens when you have teeth gaps during braces? Moving your teeth is a complicated process, and sometimes, it can cause gaps to form between teeth. Don’t worry! Those gaps are an easy fix with power chains.
What are power chains, and how can they help your smile? Woodhill Dental Specialties uses power chains to close gaps formed before or during braces treatment.
What are power chains for braces, and what do power chains do? Power chains are elastic loops that go around your braces brackets. Some loops are connected by a thin piece of elastic between them, while others have loops connected to each other.
These elastic loops provide extra pulling power to move the teeth closer together during orthodontic treatment. They are used to close gaps between teeth that might take too long using braces alone.
There are three main types of power chains. The braces power chain you get depends on the width of the space or spaces between your teeth. The power chains are applied in different ways.
Power chains are only used if braces alone can’t close the gaps between your teeth. They are part of your treatment plan, so you never have to worry about an added expense. We’ll leave the gap closure to your braces if we determine they can do the job alone.
How do you get the gaps during braces treatment? Moving teeth is a delicate, precise process.
Too much pressure can damage your jaws or teeth. Not enough pressure means the teeth won’t move where they should or will take a long time to do it. That’s why it’s so important for an orthodontist to treat your teeth.
We thoroughly examine to determine what needs to be done to fix your bite and realign your teeth and jaws. We used sophisticated software to plot exactly what amount of pressure will move your teeth quickly, efficiently, and safely.
During the process, your teeth may develop spaces as they move. This is perfectly normal.
Small spaces will usually close with just braces. Other cases will require a little more pressure. That’s where power chains come in.
When you get power chains depends on the gaps you have between your teeth. We may use long chains early in your treatment to reduce a large gap from a missing tooth. Short and closed chains are usually used closer to the end of treatment.
You may feel some discomfort when these elastics are first applied to your braces. It will probably feel like a braces adjustment. Your teeth and gums may be sore for a day or two, but it should disappear quickly.
Stick to soft foods for the first day or two, then resume a normal diet. You can also take an over-the-counter painkiller as directed on the bottle. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water if you prefer. It will soothe your mouth and reduce swelling.
You may find that the archwire pokes the back of your mouth as your teeth come together. We can trim the archwire on your next visit. If it bothers you before then, cover the area poking you with a piece of dental wax or braces wax.
The elastic chain is made to be very durable, but it can break under certain circumstances. Contact Woodhill Dental Specialties right away if your power chains break. We’ll bring you in for a replacement so your treatment stays on schedule.
One way to protect your power chains is to avoid certain foods. It shouldn’t be difficult because they’re essentially the same foods we recommend you avoid while wearing braces. As with your braces, these foods can damage or remove your power chains.
We also recommend that you avoid high-sugar foods that can cause excessive plaque on and around your power chains and braces. This plaque can form tartar around your power chains if you do not practice proper brushing and flossing. That could lead to a higher chance of tooth decay.
Power chains are just one part of braces treatment to repair your bite and restore your smile. Your smile is important for your self-esteem but also vital to your health. Straight teeth are easier to keep clean, which reduces your chances of tooth decay and gum disease.
Crooked teeth and a misaligned bite make it harder to bite and chew your food. Chewing begins the digestive process, breaking down your food so your body can absorb the nutrients.
Straight teeth and a proper bite allow you to chew your food better. This improves your chances of getting the full nutritional benefits from your food.
Are you ready for a healthy smile in Dallas, TX? Start a virtual consult with Woodhill Dental Specialties, and we will get you started on the path to a beautiful, healthy smile!
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