ORTHODONTICS. BRACES – SYSTEMS

Braces are devices (locks) that are fixed with a special material (very similar to that used in tooth restoration) to the outer or inner surface of the tooth (depending on the clinical situation).

Braces have slots for insertion of orthodontic arch wire with shape memory. The arch is fixed to the brackets by elastic or metal ligatures (rubber bands or wires) or is built into the bracket itself.

Types of braces:

-Aesthetic or metallic.

-Ligature or self-ligating.

-Lingual (on the lingual surface) and vestibular (on the labial / buccal surface)

The main features of treatment with braces:

Aesthetic braces are ceramic or sapphire, they are almost imperceptible on the teeth, but they are less durable than metal. Metal, on the contrary, have increased strength, but is more noticeable. The ligature braces are fixed with the help of elastic ligatures (rubber bands) that require replacement on a monthly basis throughout the treatment.

A special lock, which holds the arch, is built into the self-ligating brackets. The advantage of such braces is that the patient needs to visit an orthodontist less frequently (approximately once every 1.5-2 months). The friction force between metal and metal and metal and rubber is different, so when using self-aligning braces, the teeth “slide” in an arc faster.

Lingual braces are ligature or self-ligating. They will not be noticed at all by others, as they are fixed to the teeth on the inner side. The disadvantages are expensiveness, violation of the pronunciation of some sounds.

The choice of a particular system of braces depends on the clinical situation and, of course, the wishes of the patient. But keep in mind that braces are just a tool in the hands of a doctor.

The most common myths about bracket systems

Myth 1. Braces damage your teeth. The teeth suffer not from the braces, but from the plaque that accumulates around them. When wearing braces, oral hygiene is significantly impaired. Therefore, the patient should monitor this more closely, visit a hygienist not once every six months, as usual, but once every 3 months. Ideally, teeth brushing should be done after each meal. If all these points are followed, then after removing the braces, you will get the desired effect of alignment of the teeth without complications.

Myth 2. Braces only apply to children and adolescents. In adulthood, braces, in addition to the aesthetics of a smile, can help create the conditions for implantation, prosthetics and hygienic care. As long as there are teeth surrounded by bone, we have a duty to create optimal conditions for their long service life. And uneven (malpositioned) teeth  can be unsufficiently cleaned at any age …

Refusal of orthodontic treatment can lead to unpleasant consequences over time. These include headache, pain in the temporomandibular joint, gum problems, tooth decay and abrasion, digestive problems.

Medical indications for treatment with braces:

-malposition of teeth and deformation of the dentition

– large gaps between teeth (diastema)

– clumping of teeth

– malfunction of chewing 

– uneven development of jaws

-bite anomalies

What to do first:

– consultation of an orthodontist, gnathologist.

-professional hygiene

– X-ray examination (TRG, OPTG)

– fabrication of diagnostic models

Braces are fixed only on healthy teeth and after the professional oral hygiene.