How do braces work?
In orthodontics, many forms of braces are used. Each one works slightly differently, but the primary objective of braces for teeth is to repair dental alignment issues.
There are three primary reasons why the dentist or orthodontist could advise you to get dental braces:
- First, you have crooked, crowded, or protruding teeth that must be corrected.
- There are gaps between your teeth that need to be filled.
- You have a malocclusion (overbite or underbite), which means your upper and lower teeth do not touch properly, impacting your bite.
- There isn’t enough room for adult teeth to grow after losing baby teeth.
What are metal braces made of?
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- Larger rubber bands or chains link and pull various teeth (from top to bottom).
- Metal bands (orthodontic bands) are wrapped around some molars to support their straightening.
- Some night-time headgear that must be worn to help treatment (usually only when specific correction is required)Metal brackets in fixed metal braces are typically high-grade stainless steel, often mixed with titanium. These brackets are affixed to each tooth and connected with a flexible metal wire composed of stainless steel and other metals.To secure the wire, small rubber bands or metal ties are used. Orthodontists can move teeth into the proper position by tightening the wire in different areas.
Other metal braces components may include:
- Larger rubber bands or chains link and pull various teeth (from top to bottom).
- Metal bands (orthodontic bands) are wrapped around some molars to support their straightening.
- Some night-time headgear that must be worn to help treatment (usually only when specific correction is required)
One advantage of this form of a brace for teens (and some adults!) is that you may customize the colour of the elastic band used on each of the brackets. Coloured braces, on the other hand, allow you to create a fashion statement while your teeth are being corrected. Another benefit is that metal fixed braces are less expensive than most other designs.
The treatment can continue for 12-18 months with metal braces.
Types of braces
- Standard Metal Braces – The most popular type of braces is standard metal braces, constructed of tiny stainless-steel brackets attached straight to the front of your teeth. These braces are adjusted with the help of a short cable that attaches to each bracket. These braces are put by the orthodontist using a dental adhesive that is carefully attached to your teeth without hurting the tooth or enamel.
- Lingual Braces – Lingual braces are new types similar to classic metal braces, except that instead of joining brackets to the front of your teeth, the orthodontist connects them to the back of each tooth. This reduces the visibility of your braces and helps your smile to appear natural throughout your time wearing braces.
- Ceramic Braces – Ceramic braces, often known as transparent braces, are identical to traditional metal braces but are composed of a substance that matches the colour of your teeth. These serve the same purpose as regular metal braces but have a less metal appearance, sometimes more appealing to people who need braces.
- Self-Ligating Braces – These braces look similar to traditional braces, but instead of bands or ties, they use a little sliding mechanism to keep the wire in place. This reduces the pressure applied to the teeth while giving the impression of less metal.