Braces

What Are Braces?

Braces are metal brackets fixed to your teeth with a wire running through them. Dr. Guinn and her team of experts will regularly help guide your teeth into a straighter position with the use of different wires, bracket positions and orthodontic appliances. Braces help you avoid complications like tooth damage, jaw pain and cavities that come from having moderate to severe misalignment.

By wearing braces, you can fix:

• Crooked teeth.

• Overbite.

• Crowded teeth.

• Underbite.

• Open bite.

• Wide spaces between teeth.

• Teeth that don’t fit together comfortably.

• Gummy Smile

• ​​​​​​​TMJ related discomfort

At your complimentary braces consultation, Dr. Karen Guinn will examine your teeth and jaw before treatment to create a personalized treatment plan. Your consultation will include photos, X-rays and a chance to sit down with the doctor and ask questions you may have.

Whether you are searching for braces for your child, or yourself, we assure you that The Smile Agency Orthodontics & Smile Design office is available to help guide you and provide you with any information that you may need. We can’t wait to see you!
​​​​​​​

We are modern. We are experts. We are centrally located in West Covina and Pasadena.

Braces Options

Get The Smile You Always Wanted

At TThe Smile Agency Orthodontics & Smile Design, Dr. Guinn uses the latest technology in orthodontics to give you a straighter smile. She offers:

• Self-Ligating Braces - Braces with nontraditional brackets.

• Invisalign® - Straighten teeth with custom series of aligners.

Self-ligating Braces

Expert Dental Care

Our office is pleased to offer our patients passive self-ligating braces. Self-litigating braces use a slide mechanism to hold the archwire, reducing the amount of pressure exerted on the teeth and allowing the teeth to move more freely, quickly, and comfortably. If you are looking to get some of the best results from self-litigating braces Pasadena & West Covina patients can depend on, visit Dr. Karen Guinn and her team at The Smile Agency in either Pasadena or West Covina.

• Great results in less time. Depending on your case, this may mean a savings of many months.

• Self-litigating braces allow freedom of movement – resulting in faster results with gentler forces.

• Precise and effective – We can reduce the need for many of the time-consuming and complicated procedures that are used with traditional braces.

• Fewer adjustments are required – As a result, your appointments will be faster and fewer.

• Less discomfort than traditional braces. Also, self-litigating braces are small, very comfortable, and easy to keep clean.

• Self-ligating braces use a specialized clip in place of elastics to help the archwire guide teeth into place. These clips help reduce the amount of pressure being placed on the tooth and require fewer adjustments because there are no elastics to replace.

Technology

Passive self-ligating braces eliminate the need for elastic or metal “ties.” With self-litigating tie-less braces you can experience treatment without tightening.

Treatment Time

While the time needed in braces will vary from case to case, treatment time with self-litigating braces is typically much faster than with conventional braces. Also, far fewer appointments are required during treatment, making your braces experience convenient.

Comfort

Even though self-litigating braces works so quickly, the use of gentle, low-friction force means less discomfort for you. Very light “shape memory” titanium wires are used, gently guiding your teeth to their ideal position.

Convenience

Self-litigating braces are designed to be discreet, comfortable, and easy to keep clean. Without the elastic ties, which attract and collect plaque, self-litigating braces make dental hygiene easy during treatment. Plus, the self-litigating braces are available in clear braces for patients who want a great smile without sacrificing aesthetics. If you are looking to achieve a completely metal-less, clear smile, look into Invisalign.

Thanks to these innovative new braces, achieving your perfect smile can be faster and easier than you ever thought possible!

How Should I Care for My Braces?

Get the Smile You Always Wanted

Throughout your treatment, Dr. Guinn provides detailed instructions for caring for your braces. You’ll need to attend regular appointments for cleaning and maintenance with Dr. Guinn, but there are steps you can take at home to make your treatment as efficient and complication-free as possible. Braces care involves:

• Avoiding chewy or sticky foods (gum, taffy, bagels)

• Avoid solid or crunchy foods (chips, ice cubes, corn on the cob)

• Brushing after every meal or snack

• Using a soft-bristled toothbrush

• Rinsing your mouth with water regularly

Dr. Guinn also tells you what to expect and what is and isn’t a problem. With braces, you might experience some soreness and even teeth that feel loose. These are both normal and have no cause for concern.
To help you avoid irritation inside your mouth, Dr. Guinn places a small amount of wax over braces that rub against your cheeks and lips as you get used to wearing your braces.