Types of Braces

People may have crooked teeth for a variety of reasons. Some people suffer from dental misalignment because of the inherited positioning of their teeth. Others may incur a dental misalignment from unhealthy dental habits, such as sucking the thumb or remaining on the bottle too long. Additionally, the teeth may become misaligned because of the early loss of a baby tooth or the dental migration that may occur after an adult tooth is lost and left missing from the mouth.

Regardless of the reason for dental misalignment, dental professionals offer a variety of orthodontic appliances that can help straighten the teeth. In the past, conventional braces were the only option for many orthodontic patients. However, nowadays, there are a number of different types of braces that are available. Here are a few of them.  

Ceramic Braces  

Ceramic braces include the same components as conventional metal braces. They still have brackets, an archwire, and elastic ligatures. However, instead of metal, the brackets of the braces are made of ceramic.

Since the ceramic may be white or clear, the braces are difficult to see when applied to the teeth. As a result, many adult dental patients who desire a discreet orthodontic option prefer ceramic braces over their metal counterparts.

Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are also difficult to see in the mouth. However, their concealment is not due to the material from which the brackets are fashioned. Instead, it is due to the location of the braces in the mouth.  

Rather than being applied to the front of the teeth, lingual brackets are attached to the lingual side of the teeth, which lies adjacent to the tongue. Thus, the braces are hidden from the view of casual observers.

Self-Ligating Braces

Self-ligating braces include most of the same components as the other braces. However, they do not require elastic ligatures. With traditional braces, the elastic bands hold the archwire to the brackets of the appliance. The transferred force helps coax the teeth into a new position.

Self-ligating brackets include tiny holes through which the archwire is fed. Thus, the elastic bands are not necessary. The removal of the bands reduces the opposing friction that must be overcome during the treatment process. As a result, teeth that are straightened using self-ligating braces require less alignment force and fewer archwire adjustments.

If you suffer from a dental misalignment and would like to have the condition corrected, schedule a consultation with a dentist from your local area.

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