Teeth are the most distinct feature of our smiles. When we smile, we expose our teeth, and as conscious beings, we feel more confident flashing and flaunting straight, well-aligned, and pearly white teeth. Crooked teeth can be re-arranged and misaligned bites adjusted for straighter teeth, and orthodontics braces accomplish this effectively.
What are Braces?
Braces are dental devices used to correct dental issues like misaligned and crowded teeth and crowding. These tools exert pressure on your teeth and move in the right direction over time. Bones in the jaw will change as pressure takes effect, which causes teeth and their roots to move. When put on and adjusted, braces straighten teeth and ensure that you have a well-aligned bite. In addition to correcting bites, braces also help with overall oral hygiene by preventing gingivitis, decay, and tooth loss because well-aligned teeth are easier to clean, as are gums.
Who Puts Dental Braces on Teeth?
Dentists and orthodontists usually prescribe various orthodontic treatments and advice on the orthodontic treatment period to ensure teeth are free from any dental issues. General dentists focus on tooth problems and primary alignments, while orthodontists specialize in straightening teeth and misaligned bites in addition to treating jaw problems. Both specialties prescribe treatments that aim to improve the alignment of crowded and crooked teeth.
COMMON BRACES FOR ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT
The choice of dental braces to use depends on aesthetics and the cost of putting on the dental braces. We only had traditional metal braces until recently, but now dental clinics offer patients different options. Check out your options below.
Fixed Braces
Fixed braces are attached and removed from your teeth by an orthodontist and stay permanently attached to your teeth for the orthodontic treatment period. While connecting them, the orthodontist can stick them on the outside or inside your teeth. When attached to the outside of your teeth, they are referred to as labial braces and lingual braces when placed on the inside of your teeth.
Many types of braces can be used for fixed braces treatment, and they include;
Traditional Metal Braces
These orthodontics braces combine metallic brackets and wires attached to the teeth and adjusted to straighten teeth. The archwires are held in place by rubber bands and are frequently tightened to align the teeth properly. These braces have improved patients who put them on feeling more comfortable. Today’s metal braces have smaller brackets and offer minor discomfort when worn.
Traditional metal braces are made from various materials, including plastic, ceramic, or a mixture of the two. Newer materials have made it possible to have tooth-colored ceramic brackets and clear ceramic and plastic brackets. As for cost, metal braces are cheaper than other types of braces.
Ceramic braces
These braces closely resemble the traditional metal braces in design and fitting. The only difference is that they are made from ceramic instead of metal. Ceramic brackets blend well with the teeth and are inconspicuous, unlike metal braces. They are as effective at straightening teeth as the traditional metal braces but are more expensive and require frequent cleaning.
Lingual braces
Lingual braces are similar to traditional metal braces in terms of material used and mechanism of action. The most significant difference is their placement behind the teeth and level of customization. Their design to fit behind the teeth makes them invisible and suits many patients and professionals who are self and fashion-conscious. The orthodontist can also customize their design to fit into the mouth of specific wearers instead of traditional metal braces whose horseshoe design didn’t allow for much customization.
Self-ligating braces
The only difference between self-ligating and traditional metal braces is holding the archwires attached to the teeth. While traditional metal braces use colored elastic bands to hold the archwires in place, Self-ligating braces use clips and locks. The locks and pins have the archwire away from the teeth, reducing friction and making it easier to clean between the archwire and the teeth.
Apart from design, everything else is similar to the traditional metal braces, including moving teeth to desired positions.
Removable Braces
Another type of braces is removable braces. Designed and fixed by an orthodontist, removable braces are detachable. Patients can remove and clean them after eating. These braces differ from most fixed braces in design because they have no wires or brackets. Most of these braces have clear, custom-made plastic trays designed to fit your teeth and are replaceable every 12, or 18months. Patients usually wear them for 20 to 22 hours per day. An excellent example of removable braces is Clear braces and Aligners.
Clear Aligners
Clear aligners don’t use brackets and archwires and are very different from traditional braces. They are made by printing out 3D impressions of your teeth and are tailor-made from clear plastic aligners that fit over your teeth. They are frequently replaced to improve the alignment of the teeth and control jaw growth for an improved smile.
The most common clear braces would be the Invisalign braces popularized by Invisalign way back in the 2000s’. Clear aligners are popular among adults and children who wore braces when younger and patients who don’t have significant dental issues of crowded teeth or overbites.
Want to Wear Braces? Visit Our Clinic for Braces Treatment
At Madison Avenue Dental, we offer a wide range of dental and orthodontal services to ensure you keep flaunting your smile confidently. Our team of specialists is well trained to provide you with general and cosmetic dentistry services, composite fillings, oral surgeries, and implants. Both Dr. Prunty and Dr. Brent Olson are SCDSC, MDA, and ADA members and have practiced dental medicine and surgery since graduating from the University of Minnesota in 2005.
Visit our offices on 730 E Madison Avenue, Mankato, MN Area, or call us on (507)3888056 to schedule an appointment. You can also go ahead and fill out this contact form
We have over 15 years of experience in the dental field, and our team is confident that you will be fully satisfied with the crown and bridge service you receive as well as any of our other general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and other dental services you may have at Madison Avenue Dental.
Contact us today to learn more about our crown and bridge service or to make an appointment with our experienced dentists. Dental care is our number one priority, so you will not be disappointed in the treatment you receive.
