You must’ve heard about braces and how long and taxing the treatment might be, but did you know that there are many comfortable dental braces options that people are still unaware of?
Braces or orthodontic treatment is usually done for crooked, maligned or rotated teeth. Not only this but braces can also correct spacing between teeth and forwardly placed or proclined teeth. Yes these are the aesthetic / cosmetic reasons why you should go for orthodontic braces treatment. But note that braces are also the cure to a lot of other functional issues like food lodgement due to crowding of teeth, pain or discomfort due to a deep bite or any other malocclusion. This shows that braces are the best option to correct both cosmetic and functional problems you might be having that involve many teeth.
Orthodontic braces treatment usually lasts for a longer period of time compared to other treatments. Hence we need to ensure that the patient is at maximum comfort. Thanks to the advances in orthodontic systems, we have different types of braces designed to give the patients a comfortable experience.
What does a regular system of braces contain?
- The brackets: which are tiny squares placed onto each individual tooth. They come with a gap/slot for the wire to go into. These can be metal or ceramic. They also hold the “elastics” or “bands” needed for tooth movement.
- Arch wire: this is the wire that brings all your teeth together. This sits in the brackets on each tooth and thus pulls the teeth in the desired direction.
- Ligation bands: these bands hold the bracket and the wire together. The pressure you feel on your teeth will be due to these
- Elastics: these elastics are given to the patient to be worn by themselves. They are to connect the upper teeth with the lower teeth and provide the right upper and lower teeth relation that we want.
1. Self ligating braces system
The brackets of these systems have their slots with a small metal door on the front side. This tiny door or flap can be closed after placing in the arch wire. This helps secure the wire, hence there is no need for ligation bands. They are more comfortable for the patient.
With this system, the patient can chew and eat comfortably. The overall time period of the treatment is also less with this system. They are also easier to clean.
2. Traditional braces with ligation rings
The brackets for these systems have slots into which the wire has to be placed. Then, the dentist takes these small ‘o shaped rings’ or bands called ligation rings and attaches them around each individual bracket. This secures the bracket and the wire together.
They are a good option for patients having heavy crowding or rotation. They are comparatively harder to clean and the treatment might be longer.
In both of these cases, there are different types of brackets to choose from
-
Metal
These are the traditional brackets and are more durable to heat, breakage, colour changes and such. -
Ceramic
These are tooth coloured and are hence considered more aesthetic. They are also smaller and rounder but have comparatively less durability.
3. Orthodontic aligners
Aligners are the newest and the best orthodontic treatment systems. They do not have any brackets or wire. They are simply made from an impression of your existing teeth. They come as a thin invisible tray or cover that goes on to all the teeth in your upper and lower jaw.
They are transparent, thus giving the invisible look. They are more aesthetically pleasing. These can be removed during eating and placed back again. Hence they make it easier to clean and maintain.
Apart from these there are many other systems and appliances that you might need to properly complete your orthodontic treatment.
Understand that each case is different and might require different approaches. Our orthodontists at Sri Satya Dental Hospital are here to bridge the gap between comfort and treatment time. So delay not and book an appointment now.
