Dental braces have been used for a long time to improve the alignment of your teeth. The most common image that comes to mind when we think of braces is a mouth full of painful and sometimes unsightly metal wires and brackets. However, increasingly, there are several options out there where dental braces are concerned. In this article, we’ll talk about the different types of dental braces and their uses.
1.Traditional or Metal Braces: These are metal braces for teeth and have two basic components. These include the metal bracket that is applied to your teeth and the bendable metal wire that is threaded through the brackets. Together, these work to apply pressure to the teeth and move them. These braces are typically prescribed for teenagers, as they are the least expensive version and are the fastest way of moving teeth to their new and ideal locations. While in the past, metal braces were much more intrusive and noticeable, today’s metal braces are smaller and less noticeable. New technology has also created wires that make these braces less painful and move teeth faster than in the past. You can choose the colour of the rubber bands around each bracket, thereby personalizing your braces. This feature is especially popular with teenagers.
Pros: While braces are not really cheap, traditional metal braces are typically the most affordable of all the options. Also, these braces can handle any type of misalignment problem in a very short time.
Cons: These braces are very visible and are easily noticed when smiling and can cause self-confidence problems in some. However, the plastic bands on traditional braces come in different colours and many patients enjoy choosing their own colours. These braces can also cause discomfort in certain patients. Sometimes, brackets and wires can break or become too long, thereby poking the patient’s cheek tissue or gums.
2.Ceramic Braces: These were once a very popular alternative to metal braces. The brackets are made of a ceramic material that is the same colour and texture as your teeth. It is therefore very difficult to notice the ceramic material on your teeth. Ceramic braces are still offered by some dentists today.
Pros: Ceramic braces are much less noticeable than traditional braces. Also, ceramic braces too can fix most misalignment problems in record time.
Cons: If not cared for properly, ceramic braces can become stained. Also, these are more expensive than traditional braces and some patients can feel discomfort when wearing ceramic braces.
3.Lingual Braces: These are similar to the traditional metal braces, except that they are placed on the inside of the bite and not on the outside. These braces are just as effective as metal or ceramic braces, but they cannot be seen from the outside of the mouth. This means that they are far less intrusive and less likely to be noticed.
Pros: Lingual braces are invisible when smiling. If lingual braces are right for you, they can also fix any misalignment problem quickly.
Cons: Some patients report discomfort when wearing lingual braces because of their position in the mouth. Also, lingual braces have more contact with the soft tissues of the mouth as compared with traditional or ceramic braces.
4.Self-Ligating Braces: These are again similar to metal and ceramic braces. These braces are quite commonly used today. They make use of brackets with clips or doors to hold on to the wire, instead of the rubber band tie system. This type of dental braces can be found in both metal and ceramic versions.
Pros: These braces hold on to less food and are less painful than other braces. They also help reduce the number of trips that you need to make to see your orthodontist. They also shorten the treatment period.
Cons: While these braces are found in both metal and ceramic versions, they are not right for every patient. They may also not provide all the features needed to have a successful orthodontic treatment.
5.Invisalign: This is the most common and most effective system of invisible aligner “braces” available. They are essentially invisible and once the patient is used to wearing them, they can be far more comfortable to wear than traditional metal braces.
Pros: Invisalign is practically invisible. The entire process uses thin, plastic trays that will not scratch or poke your gums.
Cons: If not cared for properly, Invisalign can become stained or damaged. It is typically more expensive than traditional braces and Invisalign does not work as well as traditional braces in certain cases. You need to talk to your orthodontist to see if Invisalign is right for you.
While these are some of the different types of dental braces for teeth, it is imperative that you consult your dentist to determine the type that is right for you. At Vistadent, the Orthodontic Speciality Clinic, we are well-versed in recommending these different types of orthodontic braces to our patients. We are also experts in prescribing and fitting the different types of dental braces, including Invisalign.
Our Orthodontist will have a detailed consultation with you and then come up with an individualized plan to fit you with the right type of dental braces. Whatever may be your presenting problem, at Vistadent, we treat each patient as a complete person and not just as a set of teeth. So, the next time you or your family member need dental braces, you know where to go…Vistadent!
For more information about dental braces or any other dental problems, as well as other dental procedures, contact Vistadent, the Orthodontic Speciality Clinic, at 040-40247421 or +91 9866572482 or at info@vistadent.net or visit our website at http://vistadent.net/.