Tips for a Healthy and Beautiful Smile
Orthodontist in Lancaster County
Traditional metal braces use small brackets that are affixed to your teeth to hold thin wires in place. These wires are minutely adjusted over time to gently guide teeth into the proper placement and alignment within your mouth. Although braces don’t hurt, in the first couple days after getting braces you may feel a slight discomfort as your teeth and mouth begin adjusting to your new braces.
Braces Care
When you have braces, it is important to brush your teeth around four (4) to five (5) times a day. This means brushing after every meal if possible, to prevent food from getting stuck.
What you eat and do not eat will directly affect the condition of your teeth during orthodontic treatment. Here are some tips on what kinds of foods you should avoid and how to carefully enjoy some of your favorites.
Hard Foods
At times, it is difficult to break and chew certain foods. Eating hard foods can be harmful during orthodontic treatment because they can bend or break wires and even displace brackets. Avoid them entirely after you have had your wires changed since teeth are the most tender at this stage.
Tips for eating hard foods:
- Fruits are an essential part of a balanced diet. If you want to eat apples, pears, and peaches, do not directly bite into them. Instead, cut them into small pieces before consuming.
- If you enjoy eating almonds, cashews, or peanuts, consider grinding them and adding them to cereals and yogurt.
- While eating chicken wings or ribs, remove the bones before consuming your meal. This prevents you from accidentally chewing on a bone and dislocating a bracket.
- While eating corn, remove the kernels from the cob to help prevent damage to your braces.
- Avoid chewing on ice. You can suck on ice cubes but never bite them.
Sticky and Sweet Foods
- Sticky foods can get stuck to your teeth and braces, and can even result in the braces getting pulled off. Sweet, sugary foods are high in sugar and their consumption can lead to tooth decay.
- Tips for eating sticky and sweet foods:
- If you enjoy eating candy, try sucking on them instead of chewing them. Be sure to rinse your mouth with water to avoid sugar buildup on your teeth.
- Avoid chewing on gum. Gum can stick to braces and may be difficult to clean. It can also loosen the wires and brackets.
“Traditional braces remain one of the most effective orthodontic solutions for correcting complex dental issues. Throughout my career, I’ve successfully treated thousands of patients using braces, transforming smiles and improving oral health across all age groups. The precision control that braces offer allows me to comprehensively correct bite problems, spacing issues, and severe malocclusions that other treatments may not adequately address. I’m also proud that our practice credits Phase 1 treatment fees toward Phase 2 for comprehensive cases, because early intervention deserves to be rewarded.”
Dr. Paul Weibel, Owner
Weibel Orthodontics, Lancaster County, PA
Braces Effectiveness For Common Orthodontic Concerns
Clinical Success
Long-Term Stability
Overcrowding
90%
84%
Bite alignment
88%
82%
Spacing issues
91%
85%
Rotated teeth
86%
80%
Severe malocclusions
82%
75%
Mixed Dentition Alignment
85%
80%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
0%
50%
100%
| Treatment Type or Problem | Clinical Success | Long-Term Stability |
|---|---|---|
| Overcrowding correction with braces gradually aligns overlapping teeth through consistent bracket and wire mechanics, achieving stable results when retention protocols are followed post-treatment. | 90% | 84% |
| Bite alignment correction through braces addresses overbites, underbites, and crossbites using precise bracket positioning and wire sequencing to establish proper occlusion and jaw relationships. | 88% | 82% |
| Spacing closure with braces eliminates gaps between teeth through continuous pressure, with long-term stability dependent on retention wear compliancepost-treatment. | 91% | 85% |
| Rotated teeth correction gradually derotates individual teeth through bracket mechanics, achieving stable positioning when proper retention is maintained after braces removal. | 86% | 80% |
| Severe malocclusions requiring comprehensive correction respond well to braces through multi-phase treatment, with clinical success dependent on case complexity and patient compliance. | 82% | 75% |
| Mixed dentition treatment with braces guides permanent tooth eruption while correcting existing alignment, achieving favorable long-term stability through growth-phase intervention. | 85% | 80% |
Sources: American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) clinical outcomes database | Systematic review of fixed appliance treatment efficacy, Journal of Clinical Orthodontics | Study data compiled from PubMed peer-reviewed investigations on braces treatment success rates and long-term orthodontic stability outcomes
Key Findings About Braces
Traditional braces successfully treat 89 to 95 percent of all orthodontic conditions, making them the most versatile solution for complex cases that clear aligners cannot adequately address.
Braces remain the gold standard for severe malocclusions, crowded teeth, and significant bite problems because the bracket-and-wire system provides precise three-dimensional control throughout treatment.
Treatment with braces takes an average of 18 to 24 months depending on the complexity of the case, age of the patient, and consistency with care instructions and appointment attendance.
Patient comfort during braces treatment improves significantly after the first two weeks as teeth and mouth tissues adapt, with most patients experiencing only mild soreness after wire adjustments.
Braces are effective across all age groups from early intervention in children to adults seeking smile correction, and Dr. Weibel has successfully treated patients ranging from age seven to over sixty.
Weibel Orthodontics uniquely credits Phase 1 treatment fees toward Phase 2 comprehensive braces treatment, rewarding patients who complete early interceptive care with reduced costs for their final braces phase, an advantage that encourages families to pursue early growth guidance while reducing financial burden on comprehensive treatment.
Read our Verified Reviews
Orthodontist in Lancaster County
“Outstanding work on three of our children, giving them great smiles. They all had difficult mouths but the doctors spent all the time needed to get the correct results. Nice, friendly staff. Very accommodating practice. You can be confident you are getting the best care here.”
-Marjorie K
“The Weibel’s are fantastic, knows their craft, made my daughter feel comfortable throughout the entire process from beginning to end. Staff are phenomenal too! Couldn’t be more pleased with the results. McKenna thanks you, and her smile is stellar!”
-Charles D
“Each and every member of the Weibel Ortho team is kind, caring, and so professional with children and adults. Both my son and I had care from this team (me – Invisalign; my son – braces) and we had both had a great experience.”
-Loreal M
Questions Lancaster County Dental Patients Ask About Braces
How do I care for my braces and teeth during treatment?
Proper oral hygiene is critical during braces treatment and requires brushing four to five times daily, especially after meals, to prevent food particles from becoming trapped around brackets. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush and orthodontic floss helps maintain healthy teeth and gums throughout the treatment process. Weibel Orthodontics staff provides detailed instructions on braces care and cleaning techniques to ensure success.
What is Weibel Orthodontics’ Phase 1 to Phase 2 credit program, and how does it work?
At Weibel Orthodontics, we reward patients who complete early interceptive (Phase 1) treatment by crediting the full Phase 1 treatment fee toward Phase 2 comprehensive braces treatment. This means if your child receives early intervention to guide jaw growth or correct developing problems, the investment made in Phase 1 reduces the cost of their comprehensive braces phase. This unique advantage encourages families to pursue early growth guidance while significantly reducing the financial burden of comprehensive treatment, making two-phase treatment more affordable and accessible.
Should my child have early intervention (Phase 1) if comprehensive braces (Phase 2) might be needed later?
Early intervention is highly recommended when Dr. Weibel identifies developing problems during the critical growth window (ages 7–10). Early treatment often reduces treatment time, complexity, and cost of comprehensive Phase 2 braces. With our Phase 1 fee credit program, families benefit financially by completing Phase 1 early, as the full investment applies toward Phase 2. Many patients who receive early intervention require shorter or simpler Phase 2 treatment than they would have without early guidance, making the two-phase approach both clinically and financially advantageous.
What happens between Phase 1 and Phase 2 braces treatment?
After Phase 1 treatment concludes, Dr. Weibel monitors your child’s developing bite and erupting permanent teeth through periodic check-ups. Depending on growth progress and remaining eruption, Phase 2 braces typically begins once most permanent teeth have erupted, usually during early teen years. Dr. Weibel provides personalized timing recommendations based on your child’s individual development.The Phase 1 credit applies directly to Phase 2 costs, reducing your financial investment in comprehensive treatment.
How does the Phase 1 fee credit affect the total cost of orthodontics?
The Phase 1 credit program makes two-phase treatment significantly more affordable. Rather than paying separately for Phase 1 and then full Phase 2 fees, the entire Phase 1 investment credits toward your Phase 2 fees. This reduces your out-of-pocket cost for comprehensive treatment and removes financial concerns about committing to early intervention. Dr. Weibel will discuss specific costs and the credit program during your consultation so you understand the complete financial picture.