Braces
How do braces straighten crooked teeth?
Braces use constant, gentle pressure, which over time, move teeth into their proper positions. Your braces are at work every moment of your orthodontic treatment.
Types of Braces Overview
For a brief narrated overview of the different types of braces, please click on the image below. It will launch our flash educational Module in a separate window that may answer some of your questions about different types of braces.
Having trouble? Please make sure you have version 7 of the Flash browser plugin in order to correctly view this presentation. This software is available as a free download.
There are two main components of braces, brackets (which are bonded directly to the tooth) and arch wires that connect the brackets. Together these are called the orthodontic appliance. Contrary to what most people think, it is the arch wire that actually moves the teeth. The brackets serve only as "handles". The arch wire generates a steady gentle pressure to move the teeth into their proper position.
The movements that the bracket and wire are effecting are carefully designed by the doctor and from treatment goals established for your case.
At Children’s Dental Center and Big People too! we use computer generated brackets. Sophisticated software and computer modeling select the bracket design and arch wires considered best for each tooth movement in your treatment plan. The result is an orthodontic appliance individually selected just for you. This is called the Individual Patient (I.P.) appliance. The results are faster treatment times, fewer office visits for our patients, and superior results. We believe the I.P. appliance is the current state of the art in orthodontics today.
Different Types of Braces
Metal braces are the most popular with kids and teenagers. They love using different colors of ligature ties. These braces are much smaller than ever before.
Translucent clear ceramic braces are the most popular with adults. You have to be very close to someone to be able to see them. Yet, because they are a ceramic material, they are more fragile, they do add cost to treatment, and rememeber that since we still have to use a metal wire, and colored elastics, ceramic brackets are not invisible.