Braces are active during every moment of your orthodontic treatment – applying
gentle pressure that gradually moves teeth into correct position. Think of
braces as a system with three key components:
Brackets – small pieces
of rigid material that are bonded to your teeth.
Archwire – thin metal
wire that threads through each bracket, connecting your teeth along your
upper or lower jawline. The wire is bent to reflect your “ideal” bite,
creating tension that moves your teeth in the proper direction.
Elastics/Ligatures – rubber
bands that hold the archwire in place, exerting constant force to
move teeth over time. To be effective, elastics must be worn
at all times and changed several times a day.
How Braces Work
Picture
your teeth resting in your jaw bone. With pressure on one side from the archwire,
the bone on the other side gives way and
the teeth move. New bone naturally grows in to provide support. As
your teeth
slowly move toward their intended position, your braces must periodically
be adjusted.
Within 1-2 years, the process is usually complete.
You Can Look Good
in Braces – Really!
In the past, braces featured thick
bands of steel wrapped around every tooth. But no more. With innovations
in bracket materials, bonding agents and application methods, you can choose
much
less obtrusive braces made of metal, ceramic or plastic:
Metal
Self-Ligating
Lingual/Concealed
Ceramic/Clear
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METAL
Metal braces remain the most common solution. In particular, stainless steel
provides a strong, reliable and economical foundation for many patients.
It’s especially popular among kids and teenagers, who like to personalize
their look with colorful ligature ties.
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SELF-LIGATING
This innovative approach builds ligature connectors into the bracket mechanism.
Therefore, your teeth move much more quickly, precisely and comfortably
than is possible with traditional methods. Also, because these braces are
more efficient, fewer adjustments are needed during the course of treatment.
But perhaps most importantly, because the system combines small stainless
steel brackets and clear composite bonding material, they’re much
less conspicuous than other braces.
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LINGUAL/CONCEALED
Although lingual braces are typically metal, they’re nearly invisible
because they’re placed behind your teeth. They’re usually worn
on the upper teeth when ceramic/clear braces are applied on the lowers. Your
speech can be affected because these braces must share limited space with your
tongue. However, it’s usually only a temporary obstacle that’s
easy to overcome. Lingual braces are more expensive than conventional braces
for several reasons – they’re designed and built to fit each tooth,
and they require special instruments and training.
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CERAMIC/CLEAR
Adults tend to prefer clear braces. That’s because they’re translucent,
so they “blend in” with your teeth and are much less noticeable
than metal. However, there are drawbacks. Generally, they’re more fragile
than metal. And although the ceramic composite material resists stains, the
elastics must be replaced regularly to maintain a consistent “clear” look.
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