Protecting Our Kids' Smiles

If your dentist has recommended braces to help with teeth straightening, it will be to prevent a number of oral problems later on in life and also to help boost your confidence. Your teeth are the one of the first things people will notice about you so if yours aren't quite up to scratch, it might be time to make an appointment with your dentist to see if teeth straightening is the answer for you. 

There are six different types of braces all with their own pros and cons. They fall into the following categories: 

Metal Braces

This is the traditional kind of brace and one that is commonly used with teeth straightening in children and teens. When you say the words 'braces' or 'orthodontist' these metal ones will usually spring to mind and are suitable for any patient with teeth that are crooked or have gaps between them. Metal braces can also help with an overbite or underbite. 

Although suitable for almost all patients looking for teeth straightening treatments, they can be unsightly and aren't to everyone's taste. They can take a year to two years to get the desired effect depending on how well your teeth react to treatment and the state of them beforehand. 

Lingual Braces

If your teeth are only moderately crooked or have small gaps, you could consider lingual braces, which are placed on the inside of your teeth rather than the outside. They aren't as obvious as the traditional metal braces but they won't work well on severe problems. 

Ceramic Braces 

These are also called white braces and are very similar to their traditional counterparts. Using the same method, ceramic brackets are used in place of the metal ones but the same wire-tightening process is used to encourage the teeth to move closer together to bridge gaps or to straighten.

Although more discreet than the metal braces, these ceramic ones are often more expensive and because of their light colour are more prone to discolouration. These white braces need more vigorous cleaning in order to keep them relatively unnoticeable. 

Damon Braces

These are one of the newest technologies when it comes to teeth straightening treatments, and although they can be a little more expensive than traditional braces they have many benefits. They work in a slightly different way and are classed as self-ligating. There is a part within the brackets that close up around the wire as opposed to needing the wires tightened. This means you won't need to visit your dentist at an office like Macquarie Dental as often to get your braces tweaked. It also means that the treatment time could end be considerably shorter. 

Self-Ligating Braces 

Also known as smart braces, these are again less obvious than the metal braces by removing the need for ligatures which hold the wires in their rightful place on your teeth.  Instead there is a gate of sorts, which the wires are then trailed through. There are benefits to this and as well as speeding up the treatment time for your teeth straightening they are also less obvious than metal braces and can be used for even severe cases. 

Invisalign

If you have problems with your teeth that are considered mild or moderate you could consider Invisalign for your teeth straightening treatment. Using clear aligners that are replaced every few weeks, you are using a 'retainer' system to encourage the teeth to move to a more desirable placement. There are no brackets or wires that need to be attached to the teeth and you can even remove the aligners when you need to although constant removal will affect the length of your treatment. 

Fast Braces

If you don't want to spend a couple of years wearing braces you could consider fast braces, otherwise known as six month braces because the treatment time could be as little as six months. With both clear and metal varieties they work in a slightly different way to traditional braces. There is a bracket shaped like a triangle which works in an elevated position to move the teeth from the crowns or roots at the same time. Regular metal braces work on moving the teeth in stages. 

The best way to determine which kind of teeth straightening treatment is best for you have a chat with your dentist. After an examination to ensure your teeth are healthy you can be referred to an orthodontist and your dentist will also be able to advise on the best ones to visit in the area.