Braces 101: Everything you need to know about orthodontic treatment

Beautiful smiles sometimes come in braces…different kinds.

Beautiful smile gives a person more pleasing looks but sometimes, in order for you to have that perfect smile, correcting the teeth requires orthodontic treatment. With the advancing technology in dentistry, we can now able to choose different ways to correct the malocclusion other than doing it the conventional way. Here are the different options that may suite your teeth.

Traditional/Metal Braces

Archwires and metal brackets are used in this type of orthodontic treatment. It is frequently associated when we hear the word ‘braces’ with metal and most of the time, color bands are used for children to be more apealling. Normally, a patient should see the dentist atleast every month for adjustment.

Ceramic Braces

One advantage of using ceramic braces is that is less noticeable than the conventional braces. The bracket that the dentist use is clear and sometimes, tooth colored wires as well to improve the overall effect. The downside of this type is the cost. It is more expensive than the traditional braces and it is also hard to clean as it is prone to staining and discoloration.

Lingual Braces

The lingual braces is almost same with the traditional braces but is placed on the inside of the mouth. The advantage of this type is that people cannot see that you are wearing braces but with this type, it is more expensive than using the conventional one. It is also hard to clean and requires a longer time and difficulty in adjustment.

Invisalign or Invisible Braces

Plastic clear aligners are used to correct the teeth instead of any metal material. They uses a series of mouth guard like that is custom tray fabricated for the patient. The patient should change the tray atleast every 2 weeks. The Invisalign although is not for all, it is only best to use if the patient doesnt have any serious dental malocclusion and patient compliance is very important.

Proper oral hygiene like brushing atleast twice a day, flossing and rinsing should still be a person’s priority for the maintenance of ones oral health. Visiting your dentist atleast every six months will also help you to achieve that perfect and healthy smile.