Your Southern Ontario Invisalign® Provider
Wondering if traditional metal braces are the only kind available? At our Village Orthodontics office, we offer different types of braces for varying styles and requirements. Our orthodontists review what’s available and who may be good candidates.
What are the different types of braces?
Did you know there are different types of braces beyond the traditional metal kind? Advances in orthodontic treatment have brought us options for patients who have unique needs or preferences. Today, we’ll explain the types of metal braces available at our Village Orthodontics office.
Metal Braces (Traditional)
For decades, braces have been the preferred technique for straightening teeth. As the most prevalent form of braces, they are usually the ones that everyone thinks of and the ones that you probably remember seeing your friends wear in your teens.
They are made of stainless steel, making them more comfortable than previous versions. The use of metal brackets and archwires to straighten your teeth allows you to personalize your appearance by using coloured elastics (rubber bands) to match your outfit or dress code.
Clear (Ceramic) Braces
Ceramic braces, which are made of transparent materials, are popular with older teens and adults since they should be less noticeable on the teeth than metal braces.
One thing to keep in mind about ceramic braces: they are larger and more brittle than regular braces, so they will require more attention to oral hygiene than traditional braces. Orthodontists typically prefer to use them on the upper front teeth rather than the lower teeth.
Lingual Braces
These are known as "invisible" braces because they are hidden beneath the teeth and thus cannot be seen when you smile. Orthodontists also custom-make the metal appliances for each patient, allowing them to more closely match the contour of a tooth.
Suitable for models, actors and actresses, athletes, professionals and musicians, they will typically be less visible to the average observer during treatment.
Self-Ligating Braces
These braces are typically available with transparent or ceramic brackets in addition to the more common metal brackets. Despite their similar size to metal braces, the elastics in these braces have been replaced with a specific clip that assists the archwire in moving the teeth into place.
Because elastics don't usually have to be replaced, the clip necessitates fewer modifications and decreases the amount of pressure put on each tooth.
Clear Aligners
This series of transparent, soft, and virtually undetectable acrylic trays straighten your teeth in the same way as braces do. They are, however, detachable, so you should be able to eat and drink whatever you like while you are receiving treatment as long as you clean your teeth and the clear aligners afterward.
Brushing and flossing should also be simplified. Because the aligners are made of plastic rather than metal, the wires used during treatment are unlikely to cause abrasions in your mouth.
We will be pleased to discuss which sort of braces will work best for you and your requirements, no matter what your style or requirements are. Contact us now.