Dental Braces

They have gotten a bad wrap over the years. Metal appliances glued to your teeth, months with headgear, rubber bands, and pain, lots of pain. You should know the world is changing; it’s not as bad as all that anymore. Before I got my braces, my mother was pretty set against them. She often said, “No one needs braces, they’re just cosmetic and we can’t afford cosmetic corrections like that.” We did eventually invest in my appearance, so I guess it must have been bad enough that she decided I really did need them. But as far as I was concerned, dental braces were the best thing that happened to me. For the majority of kids, braces are not a high point in life, but these days there are many options out there to help make the entire orthodontic process much more enjoyable. Even adults are getting in on it now; you don’t have to be under 18 anymore to enjoy the benefits of an orthodontic stint and the resulting lifetime of straight teeth.

 

It’s not just cosmetic, and now it’s almost a rite of passage for the millions of youth who need some form of orthodontic correction. Braces not only provide for confidence in their patients, but for better oral health in the future by correcting orthodontic malocclusions, crooked teeth and crowding, which can cause problems like periodontal disease, gum disease or TMJ. Orthodontic creations have continued to gain in popularity because they really are effective. The good news is braces have become much smaller and more convenient; treatment no longer drags on for years and years – it can now be completed in 12 to 20 months on average.

 

Traditional teeth braces work like this: small metal brackets are carefully bonded to the teeth using high strength dental cement. The dentist then threads an arch wire through the brackets. Using rubber ligaments or tiny rubber bands, the dentist secures the arch wire to the brackets, and this creates a tension. The tension of the arch wire as it tries to regain its original shape causes the teeth to slowly move into the desired position in the mouth.

 

Types

• Lingual Braces: these braces are adhered to the back of the teeth. Using the same materials as traditional braces, lingual braces have gained popularity for their near invisibility.
• Ceramic Braces: Though the brackets are slightly larger than normal metal braces, ceramic braces are well liked because they are tooth colored or clear, making them aesthetically pleasing.
• Invisalign: Perhaps the biggest contender to traditional dental braces, Invisalign are plastic trays that can be removed by the patient for eating. Using custom formed molds, these trays are tight and use specifically designed pressure to guide the teeth into position.

 

Give And Take

Dental braces are great and they work well, but obviously understanding the give and take of orthodontic treatments is important. One of the things that have made dental braces infamous is the many rules and restrictions that seem to abound around orthodontic procedures. Many people find that the sacrifice of certain foods is the most frustrating. Many orthodontists are more lax on these rules, but for most they’re generally along these lines:

• No hard foods: you can break your brackets on these.
• No sugary, acidic or sticky foods: patients must avoid these because they can get stuck behind the braces and cause decay if they are not well cleaned.

 

Invisalign is specifically known for its different approach to these restrictions, allowing patients to eat whatever they want with only the stipulation of thorough brushing before replacing the trays.

 

Another price patients often pay with traditional braces is their comfort. Metal brackets can cut and wound, causing grief for many patients. Waxes are often supplied as the best solution to this pain. Invisalign has often stated their braces are nearly painless, and though they do not cause wounds to the soft tissues of the mouth, most patients report that the pressure of new trays is enough to cause headaches and is best treated with painkillers.