Types Of Orthodontic Braces

In today’s world of orthodontics there are many forms of dental braces available that are used to move teeth. Braces allow orthodontist to move teeth to the correct positions for cosmetic and functionality purposes. In this article we are going to discus s the different types of braces available to patients and used by orthodontist. It is a good decision to learn about your treatment before and during the process of orthodontics.

Traditional Braces

The most common form of braces and widely used today are the traditional brackets that are chemically bonded to each tooth. These brackets come in a few different forms including metal and clear ceramic to name a couple. The brackets are bonded to each individual tooth and a wire is run through them to provide the movement of the teeth. This wire is replaced throughout the treatment to a heavier wire to provide greater movement.

Ligatures are then used to keep the wire in place. These ligatures come in a variety of colors and are popular with younger patients to jazz up their braces treatment by using school colors and such.

Traditional braces are typically what a person thinks of when the word braces is mentioned. While this is one of the oldest forms of orthodontic treatment, it is still one of the most preferred by most orthodontist and very effective in moving teeth. For cosmetic purposes a patient may decide against this form of orthodontics if they are a candidate of the more invisible and clears forms of dental braces such as Invisalgin discussed later.

Here are pictures of two patients that are undergoing treatment using metal and ceramic braces:

 

 

Self Ligating Braces (Damon Braces)

Another form of braces that does not use ligatures is called Self Ligating braces and is made popular by the brand of Damon Braces. These braces are typically known to have a quicker treatment time due to the fact that they are not swapping out the ligatures. This results in fewer visits to your orthodontist also which is highly enjoyed by patients. Damon Braces use a slide mechanism to lock in the wire, which becomes more comfortable for the patient, while again working faster.

Here is a picture of a patient wearing Damon Clear Braces on the uppers.

 

Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are similar to traditional braces however the brackets go on the back of the tooth. This type of braces are used when the cosmetic appearance of braces is not wanted. By placing the brackets behind the teeth the treatment is virtually hidden. iBraces or Incognito™ Orthodontic Braces has been the most popular form of lingual braces offer. Some patients do notice more speech interference with brackets behind the teeth as opposed to conventional braces. However, Incognito™ Orthodontic Braces has been know to show a small percentage of patients with discomfort or speech impair.

Invisalign Invisible Braces

Invisalign has received great popularity among patients in the past decade due to it’s move to revolutionize the cosmetic appearance of dental braces. Align Technology developed Invisalign to use plastic trays called aligners to move teeth. Patients are given a series of aligners. These aligners are swapped out about every 2 weeks as the teeth move into place. While not all patients qualify to be a patient of Invisalign, the technology is advancing each day and is now going as far as to work with class 2 and class 3 bites.

Invisalign has truly been a game changer for the face of orthodontics. Dentist and orthodontist alike offer this treatment. If you are looking for a treatment that does not interfere with your cosmetic appearance than you will want to check out Invisalign.