Braces come in different styles to straighten teeth. Metal braces use wires and brackets to apply pressure. Ceramic or clear braces are less visible using the same wires and brackets but in transparent materials. Lingual braces attach inside the teeth and are nearly invisible.
Have you wondered about the different options for braces? Different Styles Of Braces For Teeth provide choices beyond just the traditional silver metal kind. With advances in materials, braces are more discreet and comfortable than ever before.
Ceramic braces look similar to clear aligners but are bonded directly to the teeth. Lingual braces sit behind the teeth for an unseen treatment. Metal braces remain the most common with a variety of color options now. Discussing the pros and cons of each style with an orthodontist helps determine the best treatment.
Types Of Braces For Teeth
There are several different types of braces that can be used to straighten teeth. The most common types are metal braces, clear aligners, and ceramic braces. Each has their own benefits and what patient they work best for.
Metal braces and clear aligners are the most widely used options. Ceramic braces provide a less visible option than metal for older patients. Other alternatives include using devices instead of braces or surgery in rare cases.
What Are Metal Braces?
Metal braces are the traditional orthodontic braces. They use brackets, wires, and elastic bands to slowly move teeth into proper alignment.
Small metal brackets are bonded to the front of each tooth. An archwire slides into each bracket and exerts pressure on the teeth.
How Do Metal Braces Work?
Metal braces apply constant, gentle pressure on teeth over months. Archwires in the brackets push against problem teeth.
As teeth move, orthodontists tighten or replace the archwire to continue pressure. Teeth shift bit by bit into the right positions for straight and aligned smiles.
What Does The Process Of Getting Metal Braces Involve?
Getting braces first involves an exam to create a treatment plan. Brackets are then bonded tightly to each tooth using adhesive dental cement.
An initial archwire is inserted and tightened. Patients will need regular checkups to tighten or replace the wire every 4-8 weeks as treatment progresses.
What Are The Advantages Of Metal Braces?
Metal braces are tried and tested option that works very well at correcting most orthodontic issues. Treatment timetables are also very predictable.
They are also generally the most affordable type of braces for patients. Insurance often covers a portion of metal brace treatment costs.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Metal Braces?
The primary downside is the lack of invisibility. Braces can be noticeable and some patients feel self-conscious, especially teenagers.
Metal braces also require strict cleaning and patients must be careful about foods that could get lodged in brackets. Lingual Braces Vs Traditional Braces Wires can sometimes poke gum tissue.
Are Clear Aligners A Good Alternative To Metal Braces?
For patients seeking invisiblity, clear aligners like Invisalign are a very popular option. They resemble a clear retainer and are nearly invisible when worn.
Clear aligners are made from clear plastic and customized to gently shift teeth in weekly increments, without wires or brackets showing.
How Do Clear Aligners (Invisible Braces) Work?
An orthodontist takes impressions of the teeth and sends them to a lab. Technicians create a series 3D digital models of the teeth.
From these models, a series of clear aligners are produced. The patient wears each set for 1-2 weeks, then replaces with the next to continue moving teeth.
Who Is A Good Candidate For Clear Aligners?
Good candidates have mild to moderate orthodontic issues, without major problems like overbites or underbites. Teeth must be able to be shifted with simple rotations and mild forces.
Adults who want invisible treatment and cooperate well with wearing aligners all day except for meals are also ideal. Teenagers sometimes break or lose their aligners.
What Is The Process Of Getting Clear Aligners?
An orthodontist will take scans or impressions of the current bite to send to the producer. A series of clear aligners is then fabricated based on the treatment plan.
Patients receive about two weeks worth initially and return for checkups. They switch aligners every 1-2 weeks, wearing them continuously for 22 hours a day.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Clear Aligners?
Pros are invisibility and ability to remove for eating/hygiene. Cons include limited complexity of cases and need for closer compliance compared to braces. Troublesome if aligners are lost or broken as they must be replaced.
Do Ceramic Braces Offer A Less Visible Option Than Metal?
Ceramic braces are an alternative for patients wanting a less conspicuous option than shiny metal braces. The ceramic brackets are tooth colored and thus less noticeable.
While not completely invisible like aligners, ceramic braces blend in much better than metallic braces. This makes them appealing for older teens and adults.
What Materials Are Ceramic Braces Made Of?
Ceramic braces use brackets made of translucent polycrystalline alumina or other ceramic materials. These bracket materials are tooth colored.
Small amounts of metal may still be present in the bracket base and archwire slot. But overall the appearance is much more subtle than metallic brackets.
Effective Are Ceramic Braces At Straightening Teeth
5 short tips about how effective ceramic braces are at straightening teeth
- Use of Experienced Orthodontist – Like metal braces, ceramic braces can work very well when installed properly by an orthodontist experienced with their use.
- Similar Mechanism – Ceramic braces function the same as metal braces, with brackets bonded to teeth and wires exerting corrective pressure.
- Gradual Tooth Movement – Teeth are gradually shifted into alignment through a customized treatment plan, just as with metal braces.
- Minor Adjustments – Treatment may take slightly longer to avoid potential breaks, so visits and wire changes are more conservative with ceramic brackets.
- Depends on Case – For most cases of misaligned teeth, ceramic braces can be very effective. However, more severe issues may require metal for strongest forces.
Ceramic braces rely on the tested orthodontic processes and can achieve great results, though certain complex treatment plans remain better for metal varieties. With the right orthodontist, ceramic braces work well.
Can Ceramic Braces Be As Fast As Metal Braces?
In many cases, treatment times for ceramic and metal braces are similar. However, ceramic brackets can potentially be slightly slower.
This is because the material is a bit harder than metal. So the pressure needs to be lighter to avoid cracking or breaking the brackets during treatment.
What Tooth Types Are Best Suited For Ceramic Braces?
Ceramic braces generally work best for patients with healthy tooth enamel and no severe or complex orthodontic issues. Teeth need to be in good condition.
They may not be suitable for patients with thinning enamel, severely crooked teeth, or those needing jaw surgery as part of their orthodontic plan. Metal is still the better option.
Which Patients Need Braces Surgery Instead Of Traditional Braces?
Some individuals have orthodontic problems that cannot be addressed through regular braces alone, such as severe over or under bites.
Jaw surgery may be necessary to surgically reposition the teeth or change the jawbone itself so braces can then be used for alignment.
What Is Braces Surgery And When Is It Necessary?
Braces surgery, also called orthognathic surgery, involves cutting and repositioning the jawbones or teeth. It is performed when teeth are blocked from aligning due to bite issues.
This may involve lefort osteotomies to manipulate the maxilla, BSSO to shape the mandible, genioplasties, or other jaw adjustmentsDone as an inpatient procedure along with regular orthodontics.
Different Surgical Procedures Are There To Align Teeth
There are several common surgical procedures orthodontists may use to align teeth. When braces alone are not enough to correct severe misalignments, surgery may be necessary. The procedure performed depends on the specifics of each patient’s orthodontic issues.
The following table shows some of the different types of orthognathic (jaw alignment) surgeries that exist:
| Surgical Procedure | Description |
| LeFort I Osteotomy | Upper jaw surgery where the maxilla (upper jaw bone) is cut and repositioned forward, backward, or to the side. |
| Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomy (BSSO) | Lower jaw surgery to correct underbites or overbites by splitting the mandible and shifting its position. |
| Genioplasty | Chin augmentation surgery to adjust the chin position, profile, or projection. |
| Genial Tubercle Advancement | Procedure to move the back lower jaw bone forward, typically done with BSSO. |
| Corticotomy | Cuts the jawbone cortex to stimulate bone growth and tooth movement, speeding orthodontic treatment. |
In summary, these are some of the main types of orthognathic jawbone surgeries performed to treat severe orthodontic issues not able to be resolved with braces alone. The appropriate surgery depends on a patient’s specific misalignment diagnosis and orthodontic treatment plan.
What Should Patients Expect From Braces Surgery?
Braces surgery is a major medical procedure requiring general anesthesia. Patients stay in hospital for several days with IV, monitored recovery.
Initial swelling and discomfort lasts 1-2 weeks, followed by soft food diet. Braces are then bonded on and alignment begins, taking 12-24 months total. Speech may be altered temporarily.
How Long Does The Recovery Take After Braces Surgery?
Most patients take around 2-4 weeks to recover from braces surgery. Major swelling goes down after 1-2 weeks.
It then takes additional time, sometimes months, for minor swelling, stiffness and discomfort to fully resolve. Patients must be very gentle and careful chewing for 6 weeks to avoid disrupting the surgical sites. Full recovery of strength and range of motion occurs over 3-6 months.
Are There Alternative Methods To Braces That Don’t Use Wires Or Aligners?
Yes, newer options are emerging. Invisalign Teen uses clear plastic aligners but requires fewer changes. Penless also uses aligners instead of wires but provides faster treatment through microchip controlled movement.
Lingual braces place the brackets and wires on the back of the teeth for ultimate invisibility. Some other methods use magnetic, laser or device based approaches.
What Is The Invisalign Teen Method And How Does It Work?
Invisalign Teen uses clear plastic aligners custom made for the individual. An aligner is worn for 10 days, then switched for the next in line.
Teen aligners are changed every 2 weeks for quicker treatment. 3D digital models map tooth movement. Aligners apply constant light forces rather than intense pressure periods of traditional braces.
Do Dental Devices Like Penless Offer An Alternative To Braces?
Penless uses customized clear aligners and a small device placed in the cheeks to generate gentle forces on the teeth via microchips.
This steady torque rotates teeth without stopping for wire changes. Treatment takes 4-7 months, much faster than aligners alone through more constant movement. Good option for less complicated corrections.
When Would Lingual Or Hidden Braces Be A Good Option?
Lingual braces place the brackets and wires on the backside of teeth for ultimate invisibility. They are a good choice for adult patients very focused on discretion.
Treatment time may be slightly longer than traditional braces. Lingual braces require specialty orthodontists for the more complex installation inside the mouth. But they are barely noticeable to others.
What Other New Orthodontic Technologies Are In Development?
New techniques on the horizon beyond wires include applying low level laser beams, custom 3D printed dental devices controlled by sensors and chips, and clear aligners combining tooth movement with microinjections of non-toxic drugs to accelerate shifts.
Remote teledentistry using digital scans and models also show promise for higher access to customized care regardless of patient location. Developments focus on faster treatment, reduced costs and greater comfort.
Frequently Asked Question
What Options Are There For Clear Braces?
Clear aligners like Invisalign are a popular option that are nearly invisible, while ceramic braces provide less visibility than metal braces.
How Long Does Brace Treatment Take?
Treatment times can vary but generally take between 12-30 months depending on the individual case and type of braces used. More complex issues may take longer.
Are Braces Painful?
Some discomfort is common at first as teeth move but any pain can be managed with over-the-counter medications. The orthodontist can also adjust the braces to minimize pain.
How Much Do Braces Cost?
The cost of braces varies depending on location and orthodontist but typically ranges from $3,000-$8,000 for traditional metal braces. Alternatives like Invisalign are often more expensive.
How Effective Are Clear Aligners?
Clear aligners like Invisalign are very effective for mild to moderate alignment issues when worn as directed. However, more complex treatment plans may be better for braces. Alignment precision depends on patient compliance.
Conclusion
There are various styles of braces that can be used to straighten teeth into proper alignment. The best option depends on factors like the severity of misalignment, duration of treatment, and importance of esthetics. Whether traditional metal braces, clear aligners like Invisalign, or ceramic braces, the overall goal is to find the most suitable orthodontic solution tailored to an individual’s needs and goals.
While metal braces have been the standard for decades, newer options like clear aligners and ceramic braces provide discreet alternatives that are still highly effective. With emerging technologies,orthodontic treatments continue to advance—becoming more comfortable,customizable and aligning teeth in less time.
