Braces transform your mouth by gently pushing teeth into alignment. Orthodontists use braces to fix malocclusion--problems with how the biting surfaces of upper and lower teeth meet.
Treatment with braces offers a host of great results, including:
Your mouth will be healthier.
Your teeth will be easier to clean.
Your teeth will have a better chance of lasting
With your teeth in alignment, you'll look better.
Chewing will be easier, and you may have fewer headaches.
The orthodontist may first extract teeth to gain space in crowded mouths. He or she bonds metal or ceramic brackets to each tooth. The brackets hold the wires, which gently force the teeth toward the proper position. The root and crown of a tooth can be moved in the same direction or in opposite directions. The tooth can be pushed in or moved out. Rotated teeth can be realigned. Overbites can be reduced. Braces can reposition a large number of teeth.
Some of us remember the bad old days. Braces were a social liability. Kids feared nicknames like "tin grin." Adults didn't wear braces because it was "too late."
Braces have come a long way. They're not only smaller and less noticeable but may work faster and are more comfortable. Some of them are even fashion statements. Barely visible ceramic brackets substitute for the traditional "tin grin" types. Minibrackets are small. Nickel-titanium wires increase comfort and may shorten treatment time. Some orthodontists even use a set of removable braces, similar in design to a retainer.
Wires and brackets of "invisible" or "lingual" braces are attached to the insides of teeth. This treatment isn't for everyone. Lingual braces may interfere with speech and eating. They are more expensive, harder to place, and require frequent adjustments. But they may be worth the extra problems for someone who really wants to hide her braces.
Braces designs differ, but all have:
Brackets or bands bonded to the tooth with composite resin
Archwires, which may stretch from molar to molar or be held by brackets in sections
Elastics (rubber bands), threads, or coil springs attached to archwires
The doctor may prescribe headgear to help move teeth or hold them in their new position. Headgear is usually worn 12-14 hours a day, often at night.
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