Braces
Has your dentist recommended you or your child get braces to straighten your teeth? If so, you will need to decide which type of orthodontic is right for you. Here are the five most common types of braces available.
Different Types of Braces
There are five different types of braces. The type that’s right for you will depend on several factors, which include how severe your dental issues are, what type of braces you prefer, and your budget.
1. Metal Braces
Traditional braces consist of stainless-steel brackets, wires, and rubber bands that are available in a variety of colors. These braces will gently shift your teeth into their proper position over time.
2. Lingual Braces
Lingual braces are almost identical to traditional braces, but rather than being placed on the front of your teeth, they are placed on the backs of your teeth. These are generally recommended for people who don’t want their braces to be visible. Since they are placed on the backs of your teeth, they can’t be seen. However, some people find lingual braces to be more uncomfortable than other orthodontic options.
3. Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces are sometimes referred to as clear braces. However, these are not the same as clear aligners. More about clear aligners in a moment. Ceramic braces work just like traditional metal braces. The difference between traditional metal braces and ceramic braces is that with the ceramic braces, brackets, wires, and ligatures are the same color as your teeth, so they are less visible; however, they can still be seen. But keep in mind, ceramic braces are a bit more fragile than metal braces, so they are more prone to breaking.
4. Self-Ligating Braces
Self-ligating braces look like metal braces. The only difference is that self-ligating braces don’t use rubber bands, they use specialty clips to hold the wires onto the bracket. This results in less friction and fewer trips to the dentist.
5. Clear Invisible Aligners
Clear aligners are a great alternative to other types of braces because they don’t use metal brackets and wires, so they are almost invisible. Clear aligners use a series of custom-crafted trays that are swapped every few weeks or so to straighten your teeth over time.
If you want more information about getting braces, please Contact Us Today!
