Traditional braces are made of metal, but clear braces are made of translucent ceramic. The backbone of the brace is called archwire. It runs across the teeth and the jaw. This strong, steel wire will exert the pressure of the teeth and align it through the direction of the desired teeth. The brackets are fixed to the teeth using orthodontic bonds or by directly bonding it. A spacer can be used to create a space between the teeth and the orthodontic bands. Most patients don’t like the metallic look of the stainless steel wire. For this reason, there are frosted and colored wires available to fit the patient’s taste.
Invisalign Clear Braces - If patients do not want to wear braces, invisalign clear aligners can work. Invisalign is a set of removable clear plastic aligners available for the upper and lower jaws. These are designed to exert the force on your teeth when worn, aligning it in the process. Every two weeks, the patient has to visit the dentist for a new set of Invisalign braces until the desired look is achieved. The final set of the aligners will serve as a retainer that is good for a few months. This will help prevent the teeth from shifting. Ceramic Invisible Braces - Ceramic invisible braces are also available. This is a type of brace that consists of tooth-colored brackets, bands and an arch-wire. The brackets can be made to match the color of your teeth. Colored band are also available. These are a must for adolescent and teenage patients. The metallic archwire used is coated with tooth-colored material to match the color of your teeth. Advantage: The look is almost invisible. Say goodbye to metallic braces. Disadvantage: Expensive. It is not as effective as traditional metal braces. Ceramic braces can get stained easily especially if the hygiene is poor. To find out more about Invisalign and ceramic braces, click here.
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