Damon and Insignia system braces are a revolutionary tie-less, self-ligating orthodontic appliances. These braces are fitted and applied to each tooth the same way as traditional braces but instead of having brackets that tighten and adjust the braces regularly, Damon and Insignia braces use a patented slide mechanism that attaches an arch wire to the brackets. This allows them to move naturally with the teeth as they are realigned. This means that there are no periodic visits needed to have the braces manually tightened like traditional braces or the need for tight elastic rings on each bracket.
All kinds of braces utilize brackets and wires to shift the teeth into place. However, self-ligating braces connect the arch wires to the brackets using slides, doors or clips. This built-in component to hold the wire without the need for elastic ties like in conventional braces provides a sliding mechanism that moves teeth more naturally, and patients report feeling less discomfort during treatment. The wires move freely and there is less friction. Traditional braces, on the other hand, use elastic ties or metal wires, known as ligatures, to hold the arch wires in place, which causes more friction and actually more plaque and food debris accumulation which is harder to clean.
Damon Braces The Damon System utilizes a patented slide mechanism to connect arch wires to the bracket while allowing the wire to move freely. The Damon System reduces friction and improves oral hygiene by eliminating elastic ties. |
Traditional Braces Traditional braces use elastic ties to hold arch wires in place. Unfortunately, elastic ties create friction which can slow treatment down. Elastics ties have also been shown to collect harmful bacteria. |
Damon and Insignia braces also use lightweight, shape-memory arch wires in conjunction with the self-ligating brackets. The high-tech wires exert light force to shift the teeth into place efficiently. Unlike conventional braces, the Damon and Insignia systems uses much gentler forces designed to protect the health of your teeth and gums while in treatment. These systems achieves a smile that is more than straight teeth- it provides a beautiful, natural smile. Studies have shown that a fuller smile, with a wider arch, is more attractive. Having the teeth upright and aligned into a smile “arc” can also add to a smile’s appeal, which is what you would achieve using Damon and Insignia braces. At our practice, for self-ligating braces, we offer Damon metal braces, Damon clear braces and Insignia braces systems.
How Do Self-Ligating Braces Work?
All types of braces, whether conventional or self-ligating, work by exerting force, which stimulates the process of bone remodeling. In response to the force, the bone and tissues that support the teeth break down, allowing the teeth to move. Eventually, new bone forms around the teeth, locking them in their new position. How is the force applied to the teeth? Well, the braces arch wires are bent and inserted into the brackets. As the wires return to their original shape “recoil back”, they put pressure on the teeth, while also acting as a track to guide them in the correct direction. With Damon and Insignia braces, the wires are allowed to move freely within the brackets and don’t have to rely on the pressure from the braces elastics to do so.
Do Damon & Insignia Braces Work Faster?
No, technically, these braces don’t move teeth faster. Your teeth move in response to pressure and it doesn’t matter whether the force is coming from Damon system braces, conventional braces or clear aligners. Your teeth don’t know or care what brand of braces or type of appliance is used to shift them into place.
That being said, sometimes, treatment times can be slightly shorter when using self-ligating braces vs. traditional braces. This is because self-ligating braces, like Damon and Insignia braces, eliminate some of the mechanical inefficiencies associated with conventional braces. The teeth essentially take a more direct path to their final destinations because of the lack of friction and the free-sliding technology. We don’t need to change braces elastics or ties and the wires will still adjust and move, which shifts the teeth for a longer period of time on their own without intervention or frequent adjustments from your orthodontist. This may in fact reduce your recall visits to half that needed with conventional braces. Most importantly, if you look at Damon and Insignia systems before and after photos, you’ll see that these self-ligating braces help us achieve excellent results.
What are the Benefits of Self-Ligating Braces?
There are several key benefits of Damon and Insignia braces, including:
• Since the wires move freely and with less friction, patients mostly experience less sensitivity and discomfort during treatment. Accordingly, the treatment is more comfortable than with traditional braces.
• The brackets “whether metal or ceramic” are much smaller and smoother than conventional braces brackets. This makes them less noticeable, even the metal variety, and they’re less likely to cause irritation to the lips, cheeks or tongue, which our braces patients love.
• Oral hygiene is easier with self-ligating braces. Conventional braces elastics and ties and bands collect plaque and it’s difficult to effectively brush around them increasing the chances of gum disease and teeth decay. Since self-ligating braces are tie-less, that’s one less component to deal with and one less place for plaque and food particles to hide.
• Visits to our office are shorter with self-ligating braces. Self-ligating braces don’t have elastics that need to be removed and replaced, so taking wires out and putting new ones in is faster and easier.
• Usually there are fewer office visits overall during your treatment. These system braces require fewer adjustments. The wires move the teeth for several weeks longer between appointments when compared to conventional braces. Light force, high technology, shape-memory wires move teeth more efficiently, reducing office visits and treatment times to help you better manage your busy life schedule.
• Damon and Insignia braces can expand the jaws providing a broader more beautiful smile. This is actually achieved without the use of annoying cross arch expanders or extra-oral head-gears used with conventional braces. The Damon and Insignia systems gives you a broader smile than conventional braces which is the type of smile preferred by more than two-thirds of adults. This broad arch smile reduces dark triangles at your mouth’s corners and improves overall facial profile which may even help provide a more youthful look.
Natural Broad Arch Smile
Smiles with a broad arch show more teeth and fill the corners of the mouth more fully. The result is a more natural and appealing smile. A broad arch also provides facial support, which gives the face a more youthful appearance.
Upright Teeth for Proper Bite
Teeth may appear relatively straight, while still being tipped in (pictured) or flared out. Having the teeth upright and in the correct position helps the jaws to function properly and can protect against wear caused by improper bite. Upright teeth can also enhance a smile’s appeal.
Smile Arc
An important aspect of a beautiful smile is the smile arc. A smile arc is created when the curve of the teeth follows the curve of the lower lip, creating a naturally beautiful and flowing smile.
Treating a Gummy Smile
A smile with gingival excess, also known as a ‘gummy’ smile, can distract from the natural beauty of the teeth and face. Many Damon doctors can now treat gummy smiles to incredible results. Ask our Damon doctor about their experience treating these smiles.
• Almost no Teeth Extractions or Expanders. We can now treat most cases without teeth extractions, the removal of healthy teeth, or the use of headgear or palatal expanders to make space as with with traditional orthodontic appliances. Besides loosing a healthy tooth, this can lead to facial profile collapse in many instances that can be easily avoided once using the advanced Damon and Insignia braces.
• Healthier For You. The light, gentle forces used by the Damon System promote efficient tooth movement and help improve oral health by preserving tooth roots. Lighter forces also help prevent undue gum recession and tooth loss.
What is the Difference Between Damon & Insignia Braces
Insignia™ is a software program that we use to fully customise your treatment. With this system the brackets and wires are 100% customised to your teeth and their unique size and shape, unlike most traditional braces which are generic and made to fit the average size and shape teeth. Insignia™ can calculate a treatment plan that is most optimal for you. We also use a 3-D x-ray called a ConeBeam or CBCT to place the roots in the best place relative to the bones. Having a fully customised treatment plan means time spent in braces will be shorter and you will have less office visits than traditional braces. Insignia™ software starts with the end result in mind. Using a 3-D representation, this technology determines what your teeth and smile will look like after your braces treatment is complete. Using this 3-D representation of your teeth, your brackets and wires are crafted especially for you.
The process of creating your customised braces is relatively simple. It all starts with a digital scan of your teeth which generates a 3-D representation of your teeth and bite. Our orthodontist uses this 3-D image and Insignia software to position and design the brackets and wires digitally on your teeth. Custom brackets, wires and placement guides (jigs) are then fabricated based on the orthodontist’s approved design. These placement jigs help ensure brackets are accurately transferred to the correct positions on teeth to deliver the required forces at correct angles and directions. This is also done after you see and approve the end result of the treatment before you even start it. At your braces on appointment, the custom brackets are accurately bonded and positioned using the Insignia™ jigs. It takes approximately 8 weeks between the scan appointment and your braces fit appointment.
Technological advancements have continued to change orthodontics, making it possible for us to provide our patients with the latest innovative treatment options like the Insignia System which allows us to customize Damon Braces by using 3D technology.
Here’s How Insignia Works With Insignia, we can customize Damon braces using state of the art 3D technology, calculating a precise orthodontic treatment plan for our patients.
Traditional brackets are built to fit a bell curve involving a group of patients which has found that approximately 80% of 1000 patients can fit the traditional style of bracket. Insignia on the other hand is custom built for the patient, involving taking a digital scan, sending it off to United States Ormco Corporation where a software model of the teeth is created, precisely applying digital brackets. This allows the orthodontist to create a model of the completed treatment, prior to the actual braces being applied. Basically, what they do is digitally place the patient’s teeth in the final, optimal desired position. This means that each bracket is individually designed specifically for the patient. Once they’re ready, we have the patient come in for a fitting appointment and apply the precision designed set of braces. The end result is braces that fit the patient’s mouth and teeth perfectly.
Insignia has a number of benefits, including:
More Control
Insignia provides more control and predictability in the patient’s treatment and end results.
A More Comfortable Treatment Experience
Because the braces are custom made to precisely fit patient’s teeth, Insignia delivers a far more comfortable treatment experience.
Preview Your New Smile Before You Start
Insignia’s state of the art software allows patients to see what their smile is going to look like, even before they’ve started treatment. By using Insignia, our patients can experience the excitement of seeing what their smile will look like before their treatment starts.
Begin with the End in Sight
The digital tools in Insignia’s Approver software enable us to simulate the final desired result at the beginning of treatment. Easy manipulation of the dentition and occlusion takes much of the guesswork out of treatment planning for greater predictability, consistency and minimize the chances of negative side effects of orthodontic treatments.
Fewer Appointments
Reduces the number of visits needed. Typical orthodontic treatments involve 15 to 22 visits. This is many cases can be reduced to half the time using Insignia braces.
Faster Treatment Time
Because the brackets and archwires have been custom made to fit the patient’s mouth and teeth, it helps speed up treatment time. In fact, in difficult cases Insignia can speed up treatment to about 18 months instead of the average 24 months.
Self-ligating braces such as Damon and Insignia aren’t a magic treatment option but there are key advantages using them. When it comes to straightening your or your child’s teeth, and creating a beautiful smile, we do whatever is necessary to deliver the best possible results. If you feel insecure about your or your child’s teeth alignment and want to manage that, you have come to the right place! Contact us today for a consultation and find out more about the benefits of Damon and Insignia braces.
