If you have crooked teeth and/or a misaligned bite (an
underbite or overbite), there are devices that can help straighten your teeth,
including braces and retainers.
Your dentist will refer you to another dentist –
called an orthodontist – who specializes in straightening teeth.
The orthodontist will ask you questions about your
health, conduct a clinical exam, gather impressions (molds) of your teeth, take
photos of your face and teeth, and order X-rays of your mouth and head. A
treatment plan is then developed.
In some cases, a removable retainer will be all that's
necessary. In other rare cases (especially when there is an extreme overbite or
underbite), surgery may be needed. In most cases, however, braces will correct
the bite and alignment of teeth.
What types of braces are available?
There are five types of braces:
- Brackets: Made of stainless steel or clear or tooth-colored ceramic
or plastic, brackets are bonded to the front of each tooth. Ceramic or
plastic brackets are often selected for cosmetic reasons. Plastic brackets,
however, may become stained and discolored by the end of treatment. Another
disadvantage of ceramic or plastic brackets is that they cause more friction
between the wire and brackets, which can increase treatment time.
- Invisible Aligners: These are a series of clear aligners. They may
be a treatment option when only minor alignment adjustments are needed and
are also often selected for cosmetic reasons.
- Lingual-type brackets: These are brackets that attach to the back of
teeth, hiding the bracket from view.
- Traditional bands: These are the generally outdated "full
metal-mouth" look. With this option, metal brackets are soldered to metal
bands that wrap around each tooth.
- Mini-braces: These braces are much smaller than traditional braces
and may be an option for some patients.
How do braces work?
Braces apply constant pressure to teeth over a period
of time. This pressure slowly moves the teeth. As pressure is applied and the
teeth move, the bony socket of each tooth is able to adapt to its new position.
The bony socket is the area where each tooth attaches to the jaw bone.
What are the names of the parts of braces and what do they do?
- Brackets are the small squares that are bonded directly to each
tooth. The brackets are held in place by a special dental bonding agent (a
‘glue’) or are attached to orthodontic bands. Brackets act like handles.
They hold the arch wires that move the teeth.
- Orthodontic bands are stainless steel, clear or tooth-colored
materials that are cemented to teeth with either dental bonding agents or
cement. They wrap around each tooth to provide an anchor for the brackets.
The clear or tooth-colored bands are more attractive because they can’t be
seen. They blend in with the color of the teeth. However, they cost more
than stainless steel. They are not used in all patients. Some people need
only brackets and no bands.
- Spacers are small appliances that are placed between teeth. They
create a small space and are positioned before the orthodontic bands are put in place.
- Arch wires attach to the brackets and act as tracks to guide the movement of the teeth. Arch wires can be clear, metal or tooth-colored.
- Ties are small rubber rings or fine wires that fasten the arch wire
to the brackets. They can be clear, metal or tooth-colored.
- A buccal tube is a small metal part that is welded to a molar.
The part has slots that keep the arch wires and other parts used to
straighten teeth in place. Instead of welding the buccal tube to molar,
mini-implants can also be used as anchors.
- Ligatures are tiny rubber bands that hold the arch wires to the brackets.
- Springs may be placed on the arch wires between brackets to push, pull, open or close the spaces between teeth.
- Two bands on the upper teeth may have headgear tubes on them to hold the
facebow of the headgear in place. (Headgear is another tool used to aid in correcting the position of the teeth.
- Elastics or rubber bands attach to hooks on brackets and are worn
between the upper and lower teeth in various ways. They apply pressure to
move the upper teeth against the lower teeth to achieve a perfect fit of individual teeth.
- Facebow headgear is the wire gadget that is used to move the upper
molars back in the mouth to correct the alignment of the bite. It also
creates room for teeth that are crowded in the front of the mouth. The
facebow consists of an inner metal part shaped like a horseshoe that goes in
the mouth, attaching to buccal tubes, and an outer part that goes around the
outside of the face and is connected to a headgear strap. Mini implants can
be used for anchorage.