BracesHow do braces straighten crooked teeth?Braces use constant, gentle pressure, which over time, move teeth into their proper positions. Your braces are at work every moment of your orthodontic treatment. The two main components of your braces are: the brackets that are placed on your teeth and the archwire that connects them. The bracket is a piece of shaped metal that we affix to each tooth. The archwire is bent to reflect your "ideal" bite. In other words, it reflects the way we want you to look after treatment. The wire threads through the brackets and, as the wire tries to return to its original shape, it applies pressure to move your teeth. Picture your tooth resting in your jaw bone. With pressure on one side from the archwire, the bone on the other side gives way. The tooth moves and new bone grows in behind. Attached to your braces, elastics (rubber bands) exert the proper force that creates the right amount of pressure to move teeth. In order for this force to remain constant, elastics must be worn all the time and changed every day. Types of Braces We UseSelf ligating DAMON brackets - Damon brackets utilize the latest technology in orthodontics. These brackets look similar to metal brackets, but don't require the colored ligature ties. This system focuses on low force, friction free orthodontics. Invisalign - Invisalign uses a series of clear aligners to gently guide teeth into the proper position without metal wires or brackets. |
