Dental Braces

Why it's done

Dental braces offer corrective treatment for:
Overcrowded or crooked teeth
Too much space between teeth
Upper front teeth that overlap the lower teeth too much — either vertically (overbite) or horizontally (overjet)
Upper front teeth that bite behind the lower ones (underbite)
Other jaw misalignment problems that cause an uneven bite

Proper alignment of your teeth and jaws may improve not only the appearance of your teeth but also the health of your mouth and the way you bite, chew and speak.

Adults and braces

If you're an adult with braces, you may need to wear them longer than a younger person would, but they can still produce similar results — for example, to correct crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw. Because your facial bones are no longer growing, however, there may be some problems that can't be corrected with braces alone.

What are my options?

Today's orthodontics offer more kinds of braces than ever before. Check out your options:

Metal braces/Traditional braces

These are the metal brackets and wires that most people picture when they hear the word "braces." However, modern brackets

are smaller and less noticeable than the notorious

"metal-mouth" braces that many adults remember.

Plus, new heat-activated archwires use your body

heat to help teeth move more quickly and less

painfully than in the past.

Pros: Least expensive type; colored bands give kids a chance to express themselves
Cons:Most noticeable type of braces

Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces are the same size and shape as metal

braces, except that they have tooth-colored or clear

brackets that blend in to teeth. Some even use

tooth-colored wires to be even less noticeable.

Pros: Less noticeable than metal braces; move teeth much faster than clear plastic aligners (Invisalign)
Cons:More expensive than metal braces; Brackets can stain easily if patients don’t care for them well

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Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are the same as traditional metal braces, except that the brackets and wires are placed on the inside of

teeth.

Pros:Invisible from outside
Cons:Difficult to clean; more expensive;

not appropriate for severe cases; can be more uncomfortable at first; regular adjustments take longer and are more difficult than with traditional braces

Invisalign

Invisalign consists of a series of 18 to 30 custom-made, mouth guard-like clear plastic aligners. The aligners are removable and are

replaced every 2 weeks.

Pros: Almost invisible; Patients can eat and drink

whatever they want
Cons: Will not work for serious dental problems; only available for adults and teens, not children; more expensive option; can be easily lost and costly to replace; treatment may potentially take longer.

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