What are Braces & How does it Work?
Braces are used to align and straighten crooked teeth. They can also correct teeth that are either too far out or too far inside, rotated, angulated undesirably and even in cases where there is too much space between teeth.
Conventional braces consist of small rectangular brackets that are glued to the surface of the teeth, and these brackets can be made of either metal or ceramic.
Wires of different properties and diameters will be connected to these braces to move and guide the teeth to a new correct position throughout the course of the treatment.
Which Type of Braces is Suitable for me?
1-Metal braces:
The most common and affordable type of braces made of high-grade stainless steel are more effective at treating severe cases as they give our dentist more control over the correction of the teeth movement in small increments.
Since they are non-removable, it means that the braces are working in your mouth 24 hours every single day, without the risk of not wearing or losing your clear aligners.
The metal braces are most popular among teenagers and young adults who like to decorate their teeth as the wires are held onto the brackets with coloured rubber bands of their choice.
2-Ceramic braces:
More aesthetically pleasing compared to metal braces. The brackets are made of tooth-coloured materials that blend in naturally with the colour of your teeth, along with a single line of metal wire, which is the only noticeable component of the braces.
Ceramic braces are a popular choice for patients who want some form of aesthetic and less visible braces, with only a slight increase in price compared to metal braces.
3-Self-ligating Braces:
Designed with in-built tiny “metal gates” to hold the wire on the braces without the need for rubber band, hence the name self-ligating. Without the rubber band pressing the wire against the braces means less friction and therefore less force is required to move the teeth, making it more comfortable during treatment.
Self-ligating braces are available in both the metal and ceramic versions depending on the aesthetic needs of the patient.
4-Clear aligners:
So called “the invisible braces” as they are made of clear plastic that are covered over the teeth.
There are many brands of clear aligners in the market and the one with the long history and most established in the market are Invisalign & Clear Correct.
Each patient has a series of customized aligners to wear over a period of time, with each aligner moving the teeth a little more each time a new set of aligners is changed, until the final aligners move the teeth to their completed position.
The main advantage of clear aligners is that they are almost invisible thus making it a treatment of choice for those who are very conscious about the presence of metal braces in their mouth or their job does not allow them to wear conventional braces. They can be removed any time when you need to attend special events during your treatment period.
However, since it is removable, there is a risk of you losing your clear aligners and also forgetting to wear them for a long enough duration for effective tooth movement.
How Long does the Whole Treatment take?
Braces treatment duration typically ranges from 12 to 36 months. There are many factors that affects this durations like age, cooperation level, timing of growth spurts in teenagers and of course the severity and complexity of the crowding of the teeth.
What Happens after Braces?
Once the braces had moved the teeth into the final desired position, the braces treatment is almost complete. Sometimes, the dentist may keep the teeth in this position for a few more months to stabilise the result before removing the braces. When the braces treatment is completed, the braces are removed and a set of retainers will be made for you.