Your smile is far more than just a reflection of the health of your teeth and gums. Its far more than straight teeth. It is in fact an expression of you. Orthodontics and esthetic dentistry protocols can give you the smile you have wanted and the proper bite that will help you chew food better, maintain gum health and smile more often. Crowded teeth, spaced teeth, abnormal bites, abnormal jaw positions and uneven teeth positioning can happen over time due to multiple reasons. Some are tongue thrusting or thumb sucking, thereby shifting the front teeth. Genetics during the natural course of development is another reason. Not doing something about it could cause more harm than good. Besides the lack of a beautiful smile some of these conditions can create misaligned jaws, increase chances of gum disease, tooth decay and increase incidence of trauma to front teeth. On top of all of this, some individuals may actually be embarrassed to smile and show their teeth, which even affects their psychology and social interactions. There are variable orthodontics treatment options available. There are 5 main types of braces available today:
1- Metal or Traditional Braces:
are the most common type of braces world-wide and have been around for over 100 years now. Metal braces are most popular among children and adolescent patients. They work by applying the braces to the teeth and connecting them with a wire. The wire is tied to the braces using colored elastic ties, which come in an array colors to choose from. To move the teeth, the orthodontist makes adjustments to the wire at your appointments every 4-8 weeks.
Unlike invisible ortho appliances like Invisalign which are removable or removable orthodontic appliances, some parents and patients love metal braces because they do not need to remind their child to wear them. However, metal braces require care and attention and good oral hygiene is a must throughout treatment. These are the most affordable appliances, yet efficient and versatile for all teeth alignment problems. On the other side, they are the most noticeable and accordingly esthetically not pleasing, difficult to brush and floss teeth increasing the chances of caries and gum disease and accordingly it should not by any means be used for patients with poor oral hygiene.
2. Ceramic Braces:
Those are braces made of clear, tooth colored material. They work in the same way as metal braces, but are more discreet and less visible. Ceramic braces are most popular among patients who do not think Invisalign or lingual braces are right for them, or whom cases can not be dealt using invisible removable ortho appliances, but who still want to straighten their teeth in a discreet and affordable way.
Compared to metal braces, ceramic braces are less noticeable and present an affordable alternative to metal braces. You should know, however, that these braces are also slightly larger than metal braces and can stain depending on diet and brushing habits. They are not for everybody, but we believe they remain a valuable tool in our orthodontic tool-bag.
3. Lingual Braces:
Known as behind the teeth braces, they are among the most specialized and least common orthodontic system on the market. This is because they require a different set of orthodontic skills that few orthodontists take the time to learn. Lingual braces behind the teeth are especially well-suited for adults who do not want readily noticeable braces, but also have complex orthodontic needs that cannot be treated using clear orthodontic appliances.
While lingual braces offer many advantages, there are some things you should know before taking the leap! Because lingual braces are behind the teeth, some patients experience slight changes to their speech (lisps are common) and irritation to their tongue. These symptoms usually present shortly after the braces are applied and usually go away several weeks later as your mouth becomes accustomed to the new appliances.
4. Self-Ligating Braces such as Damon & Insignia:
Self-ligating braces work similarly to metal and ceramic braces and are available in metal or clear/ceramic material. They too rely on braces and a wire to move the teeth. The difference between self-ligating braces compared to metal or ceramic braces is that self-ligating braces use doors or clips to hold the wire in place, rather than elastic rubber ties. These have several amazing advantages least of which is that they need mildly shorter appointment times because of how easy they are to adjust. They are therefore a good choice for patients who are more sensitive to discomfort and those who cannot sit still in the dental chair for very long and for patients with developmental delays and orthodontic need.
5. Clear Aligners like Invisalign :
Clear aligners have seen a surge in popularity in the last decade. They were popularized by a product called Invisalign in the early 2000s, which slowly became the largest brand of aligners. Reasons for their popularity beside their effectiveness is that they are clear and transparent which makes them unnoticeable, they are removable allowing easier brushing and flossing which maintains good dental and gum health. Results are faster than traditional braces for some cases and they require less appointments and doctor recall visits in most cases.
In the past, braces were uncomfortable, bulky and the teeth straightening process took a really, really long time. Thankfully, today’s braces are smaller, more streamlined, more comfortable and work a whole lot faster. With lightweight, shape-memory archeries and high-tech brackets, like those we use with our Damon™ and Insignia™ braces, in some cases, you can finish treatment months sooner with less friction and sensitivity. Visit us to learn the ins and outs of how these powerful, smile perfecting braces work. We will show you how our braces can straighten your teeth, improve your oral health and boost your confidence. Our specialists offer various braces for children, teens and adults, including clear and invisible braces.
