There are several different
options for braces, which vary not just on looks, but also material, time of
treatment, cost, and location on the teeth or mouth.
Traditional
Metal Braces
Traditional
braces are the standard metal type most people think of when they hear the term
"braces". More recent innovations in this style including mixing the
metal with nickel titanium, instead of solely stainless steel. A problem with
traditional braces is that they may stain the tooth, and they are also very
visible. If you are allergic to nickel, you can get gold plated braces (just as
you might do for fillings). Traditional braces are made of stainless steel and
are fixed to each individual tooth, through a process called bonding, where the
bracket is adhered to the front of the tooth. They are the cheapest types of
braces.
Ceramic
Braces
Ceramic
braces are applied with the same method as traditional braces, the brace is
individually bonded to each tooth. The difference is the type of material and
subsequent look. Many are translucent, and ceramic braces may sometimes be
referred to as clear braces. However, you will still see the metal line that
goes along the front of both the top and bottom rows of teeth, where the
ceramic piece bonds to the tooth. The trade-off to the look unfortunately is
that ceramic braces are not as sturdy. They are brittle and can break.
Lingual
Braces
Lingual
Braces go behind the teeth and are invisible from the front. As you might be
able to tell from the name (lingual meaning tongue), lingual braces can be
cumbersome as they obstruct tongue movement. At first, many wearers suffer from
speech trouble before adjusting to the lingual restriction. They are generally
more expensive and harder to maintain.
Clear
Braces
Clear
Braces are clear plastic aligners, usually available in progressive trays that
are changed over time. These types of braces come off for eating and brushing.
A tray, or aligner, is worn for a set period of time, until the teeth correct
themselves to that phase of the alignment process, and then a new set is worn.
These are barely noticeable and don't require wires or tightening. Invisalign
is one type of clear braces, as are Originator and ClearCorrect. They are
usually not used for major corrections and may be administered by dentists as
well as orthodontists.
Smart
Brackets
Smart
Brackets are a very new and not yet established type of braces. They contain a
microchip that measures the forces acting on the tooth and bracket. Ideally,
using this technology will shorten the time of treatment, the patient's
discomfort, and hopefully related expenses.
No comments:
Post a Comment