orthodontics in MCKINNEY, TX

Many advances have been made in orthodontic treatment over the years to make the process less uncomfortable. However, your teeth will still have to be moved by the force of braces or plastic aligners, and this can definitely cause some discomfort. 
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However, you will usually only experience discomfort for a few days after your braces are adjusted, or after you swap to a new set of Invisalign aligners. Your teeth will only be sore for a little while, and you can deal with this by eating soft foods and taking over-the-counter pain medicine like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

This is very patient-specific, and also depends on the treatment you get. Six Month Smiles, as the name suggests, often takes less than six months to correct cosmetic flaws in your smile. Invisalign usually takes about a year, and braces can take anywhere from 12-24 months, depending on your case.
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To get a better idea of how long orthodontic treatment will take, you will need to schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Lee. Based on your orthodontic needs and the treatments that are right for you, he’ll be able to give you a better idea about what to expect.

If you’re correcting your smile with Invisalign, you’ll need to wear your aligners for a minimum of 20 hours per day, and it’s usually recommended that you try to wear them for 22+ hours per day. Ideally, you should only remove them to eat and drink, and to brush and floss.
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The more you wear your aligners, the more quickly your treatment will progress. If you do not wear your aligners for 20-22 hours per day, you could experience treatment delays and complications. Be consistent about wearing your aligners for the best results.

Yes. Certain foods can damage or dislodge your braces, and should be avoided while you’re undergoing treatment. You should avoid very hard foods like nuts, hard candy, ice, popcorn, bagels and hard rolls, and very crunchy crackers.
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You also can’t chew gum, and you shouldn’t eat very gummy candies. It’s also best to avoid sticky candies like caramel and taffy, which can potentially dislodge your veneers, and are also very hard to clean away from your teeth and your braces.