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 How do Braces straighten misaligned teeth?
Braces are nothing more than a highly engineered appliance that is used to apply constant, gentle pressure, to the teeth. This constant pressure will, over time, move teeth into their proper positions. Your braces are at work every moment of your orthodontic treatment. |
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The two main components of your braces are: the brackets that are placed on your teeth and the main archwire that connects them. The bracket is a piece of shaped metal or ceramic/sapphire that we affix to each tooth. The archwire is bent to reflect your "ideal" bite. In other words, the archwire reflects the way we want your teeth to look after treatment.
The wire threads through the brackets and, as the wire attempts to return to its original shape, it applies pressure to move your teeth. Picture your tooth resting in your jaw bone. With pressure on one side from the archwire, the bone on the other side microscopically gives way. The tooth moves. New bone grows in behind, thus stabilizing the tooth that has been moved.
Attached to your braces, elastics (rubber bands) exert the proper force that creates the right amount of pressure to move teeth. In order for this force to remain constant, elastics must be worn all the time and changed according to the instructions given to you by the doctor and his staff.
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.
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Gold braces are another variation of the types of brackets available. They are stainless steel braces coated with 24 karat gold. They have the strength of metal, but may blend in with the color of the teeth, or with the complexion/color of the skin, much better in some patients.
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Translucent, or clear, braces are yet another available type of brace. They are generally made of ceramic, or of sapphire. You have to be very close to someone to be able to see them. Because of the material, clear braces are a bit larger than the new metal braces, and they are a bit more fragile.
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One of the newest treatment methods, and one for which Dr. Stringert has been certified to provide, is the 'Invasilgn' system.
Click here for more information about Invisalign.
This is the 'invisible, removable' system for alignment that has been recently advertised widely in the media. It is very effective in in properly selected cases.
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