Dental Braces – Their Types and Treatment
Dental Braces are used to help correct your bite or to correct how teeth are aligned in your mouth. Braces may be recommended if your teeth are crowded together, crooked or protruding. They can also be helpful in correcting problems when your upper and lower jaws don’t meet properly.
Using braces to correct the problem can result in better oral health for your mouth and a better smile for you. Patients usually get braces during their teen years as their mouth is gaining its adult shape. Many teens even opt for brackets in different colors or shapes to draw attention to their braces. On the other hand, braces now can be less noticeable; so many adults are opting to have their teeth realigned as well.
How Dental Braces Works – Elements of the orthodontic treatment
There are two basic types of braces available. Those that are affixed to your teeth and can only be removed by a dentist are called fixed braces. Those that you can remove yourself are called removable braces. These come in many styles:
Traditional metal-wired Dental Braces
- “Clear” braces
- Gold-plated stainless steel braces for those who are allergic to the nickel in traditional metal braces
- Lingual braces which are bonded to the back of the teeth
- Titanium braces which are lighter and stronger
- Clear removable aligners, such as Invisalign, are generally not used for complex cases.
You may need to wear some type of orthodontic appliance in conjunction with your braces to widen your palate or reshape your jaw as your teeth are being realigned. Most patients wear their braces for one to three years, depending on the amount of correction required. After the active adjustment period is completed, you may need to wear a retainer for a few more years to hold the newly-realigned teeth in place. Choose an orthodontist who will advise you on the various types of braces available and help you choose the option that best meets your dental and lifestyle needs.
Dental-Consultants.Com is your go-to source for dental information and dental education. If you are thinking about braces, use our dental profiles to help find an orthodontist or family dentist who can help because Dental-Consultants.Com is “where patients and dentists meet.”