On the whole, lingual braces are not much different from their traditional counterparts. They bring your teeth into their more ideal alignment by repositioning them gently and carefully. The major difference is they do not sit on the front of your teeth. They rest on the back instead.

Their position allows them to work unseen, so you do not have to show them when you smile. Regular braces can sometimes steal the scene from your teeth, because they cover a good deal of them. Lingual braces are not attention thirsty, and they can allow you to sport your smile without worrying about showing people a bunch of metal.

If you would like to try lingual braces and see if they are right for your teeth, we offer them here at Rivera Orthodontics in El Paso, Texas. Our orthodontist, Dr. Jaime Rivera, is happy to discuss them with you, and he does all he can to give you your best smile. Feel free to call us at 915-592-5853, and we will gladly answer any questions you may have.

The post Have You Thought About Lingual Braces? first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

Plenty of foods can cause issues with braces. One type is sticky foods, which can include quite a few candies. You may want to say no to gum, taffy, caramel and other such soft candies when they are presented to you.

These foods may seem harmless, but they can get wedged into open spaces between the wires and brackets. When they get stuck, they can get stuck, which can mess up the braces. The issues do not stop there, as they can also break your braces, which can put off the day when you can present your new smile to your peers.

We hope you understand that broken braces are not the end of the world. If they have a problem, then Dr. Jaime Rivera, our orthodontist, may be able to fix it and get them back on track. Fortunately, as you bear this advice in mind when you are offered these candies, such a repair job may not be necessary.

If you would like to straighten your teeth, we can supply you with braces here at Rivera Orthodontics in El Paso, Texas. We are always happy to help our patients get their best smile. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call 915-592-5853, and we will help you with whatever you need.

The post Be Careful of Sticky Foods When You Have Braces first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

-Straighten your smile

-Improve your oral health (Crooked teeth create areas in the smile that trap harmful bacteria that can cause dental problems.)

-Make oral hygiene easier and more convenient (Brushing and flossing is easier when you don’t have hard-to-clean spaces in the smile.)

-Align your teeth without being noticeable

-Give you a smile you love and a smile you’re proud of

-Treat minor alignment issues (Because aligners aren’t invasive, they aren’t used for major alignment problems.)

-Improve your self-confidence and self-esteem

-Allow you to align your teeth with comfort

Do you have any questions about orthodontic aligners in El Paso, Texas? Or would you like to schedule an appointment to see if this treatment is right for you? If so, contact our orthodontic team when you get the chance. All you need to do is reach out to Rivera Orthodontics at 915-592-5853 and we will be more than happy to help you!

The post The Things Orthodontic Aligners Can Do for You first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

One reason why it’s important to have a braces-friendly diet is because it helps you maintain functional braces, and you need functional braces to have a top-notch smile. If you eat chewy and sticky foods that are damaging to the braces, your brackets and wires can break. This delays your treatment time because the appliance no longer works effectively. So, please do your best to stick to foods that are OK for the braces as well as avoid the sticky, hard, and chewy foods that are not.

Another reason why having a braces-friendly diet is important is because it helps you avoid dental issues, like tooth decay, gum disease, and enamel erosion. Having dental issues can cause pain, delay your treatment time, and add complications to the entire process.

For more information and details about having a braces-friendly diet in El Paso, Texas, please contact Rivera Orthodontics at 915-592-5853 when you have the opportunity. Our orthodontic team will be happy to give you the information and help you need as long as you reach out to us!

The post Why is a Braces-Friendly Diet Important When I’m Aligning My Smile? first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

In most cases, our orthodontist will recommend a retainer after braces or aligner treatment. As the name suggests, a retainer is used to retain the new position of the teeth while the bones and ligaments of the jaw retighten and stabilize. If a retainer is not worn as recommended, the teeth can shift out of alignment.

Types of Retainers
Retainers come in removable and fixed varieties. You can easily take removable retainers out when you eat or brush and floss your teeth. Removable retainers are usually worn for at least a year after braces are removed. Hawley retainers are the most common type of removable retainer. They are custom made and are kept in place by a wire that wraps around the teeth. A more aesthetic type of removable retainer is made from a nearly invisible plastic. Fixed retainers, which are usually worn for several years, are cemented to the backs of the teeth.

Retainer Care
We suggest that you carry your retainer case with you and always use it when you’re not wearing your retainer. This can help you to avoid losing or damaging your retainer. To clean removable retainers, soak them in vinegar and water or denture-cleaning tablets. For a fixed retainer, going to your regular checkups allows your dentist to check for cavities and to make sure that the areas around your retainer are clean of tartar and plaque.

We welcome you to contact Rivera Orthodontics at 915-592-5853 today for more information about retainers in El Paso, Texas, and to schedule your next visit with Dr. Jaime Rivera.

The post Retain Your New, Straight Smile first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

– Given society’s desire for straight teeth, along with its oral health benefits, orthodontics focuses on doing just that: straightening teeth.
– Orthodontic aligners, retainers, and braces can help you achieve a set of beautiful, fully functional teeth.
– A straight smile is the ultimate objective of orthodontics through the correction of a malocclusion and any bad bites or disorders that adds to crooked teeth.
– In many cases, people believe that braces and aligners are only for young people, but they are just as helpful for adults and can straighten your teeth no matter what age you are.
– Orthodontists have a vast store of knowledge due to the fact that their training extends well beyond regular dental school. They can offer many treatments that dentists cannot and can give you the appropriate attention to accurately clean your smile.

Come and visit our dental team at Rivera Orthodontics to check if you are suffering from misaligned teeth. To book an appointment with Dr. Jaime Rivera and our team at our orthodontic office in El Paso, Texas, you can call us at 915-592-5853. We are here to help you get the perfect smile of your dreams!

The post How Orthodontics Can Boost Your Smile’s Beauty and Function first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

If you wear a fixed retainer, you may not even realize that it has broken until you notice your teeth starting to move out of alignment. To prevent a fixed retainer from breaking, be conscientious about what you eat and avoid hard foods that can cause damage. Your dentist will have to remove and repair your retainer, but in the meantime, you should wear a mouthguard when you sleep, and stay away from hard and tough foods until you can see your dentist for repairs.

If your removable retainer is broken or damaged, you will need to have it repaired or replaced. You should take your retainer out when you are playing sports and when you are eating. You will receive a case with your retainer, and you should store your retainer in it when necessary. Get in the habit of keeping your case in your pocket, purse, backpack or briefcase, since retainers are expensive to replace, and you don’t want to lose it.

Make sure that you visit your orthodontist for your regular appointments so that he can check your retainer for damage, and to make sure that your teeth are still in their proper alignment. If you are thinking about correcting your smile, our dentist, Dr. Jaime Rivera would be happy to give you an exam and a consultation. If you would like to make an appointment at Rivera Orthodontics in El Paso, Texas, call 915-592-5853 today.

The post What to do About a Broken Retainer first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

With orthodontic braces, you can enhance your self-esteem by improving your smile. A straighter smile is a happier smile and the first step to a more effective self-image. Straighter teeth are also easier to clean and care for, as plaque has fewer voids to hide in when brushing and flossing.

Orthodontic braces can help repair your alignment and lower your risks for dental damage due to bruxism and temporomandibular disorders. Teeth with severe malocclusions are also likely to suffer from chips and cracks due to the grinding and wear they receive when brushing against each another.

If you would like to schedule an orthodontic treatment session, simply call our orthodontic office in El Paso, Texas, at our number 915-592-5853. Dr. Jaime Rivera and our entire team await. The time is now to make the change you wish to see in your oral health.

The post The Finer Details of Orthodontic Braces first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

One of the best ways to keep your braces safe and clean is to always wear protective guards when partaking in any high-risk activities, including contact sports. This is important because braces are not shields for your teeth, as they neither seek to defend your teeth from harm nor are they indestructible. If you should break your braces, do not attempt to fix them yourselves. Visit your orthodontist as soon as you can.

To keep your orthodontic treatment on schedule, continue to practice safe and effective brushing and flossing daily habits. You can always switch to alternative methods if traditional tools such as dental floss cannot be used. Other dental tools include using tools such as water flossers or mouthwash to assist in your daily dental care.

If you are interested in treatment for your braces or to get a pair of braces, we are here to assist you. For a complete diagnosis and treatment, please contact Rivera Orthodontics to book an appointment with Dr. Jaime Rivera and our team at our dentist office in El Paso, Texas. Call us at 915-592-5853. We look forward to seeing you smile.

The post Cleaning Braces and Your Smile first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

Egyptians also used metal to place in the deceased’s mouths. Romans used the method of pressing their fingers consistently to push their teeth into a straighter smile or using thin, gold wire to try shaping their teeth into the correct shape.

The revolution of dental braces couldn’t happen without philosophers’ research such as Hippocrates and Aristotle. One of the first official books on dentistry and orthodontics was Pierre Fauchard’s book, The Surgeon Dentist (Le Chirurgien Dentiste), published in 1728. One of the chapters discusses the use of an iron device known as a “Bandeau.” This was reformed by Louis Bourdet in 1754 to further help the teeth’s arch expand.

Christophe-Francois Delabarre created the first wire crib in 1819, followed soon by the invention of gum elastics by Edward Maynard in 1843. Different advancements such as dental dams and bands were made in the next century. The invention of the x-ray machine created further advancements in dental research so dentists could observe below the gums. The term “braces” was also keyed into society.

Metallic braces consisting of gold and silver followed. These were typically only affordable for those with enough money to purchase gold or silver braces. The biggest breakthrough for ortho was the discovery of dental adhesive in the 1970s. This allowed brackets to be placed directly on the teeth. This was then followed by the use of stainless steel, which was not only affordable for everyone, but was much easier for dentists to bend and adjust according to the patient’s mouth.

Here at Rivera Orthodontics, we focus on giving you your best smile with the most updated technology and methods. Call our office in El Paso, Texas, to schedule an appointment or get a consultation at 915-592-5853. We will be happy to assist you with a better and straighter smile today!

The post A History of Orthodontic Procedures first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.