Traditional Braces
Traditional braces are the most common bracket used in orthodontics. They consist of low profile high grade stainless steel brackets that are placed on your teeth with an adhesive and connected by wire.
They require periodic adjusting every 8-10 weeks so steady pressure can gradually straighten your teeth and align your jaw. These braces allow you to choose colored bands that go around the bracket to hold the arch wire in.
Growth Appliances
Growth appliances help your teeth and jaw move into their desired position. Oftentimes, growth appliances are used to correct improper jaw development that may cause other issues like sleep apnea, crowded teeth, or overbites.
There are different growth appliances for different needs:
- Growth Appliances to Expand Palate
- Growth Appliances for Orthodontics
- Growth Appliances for Thumb Sucking
- Growth Appliances for Tongue Habits
Clear (Ceramic) Braces
Ceramic braces operate the same way as traditional metal braces, but instead of highly visible metal brackets and wires, ceramic braces are made using translucent ceramic.
In addition to being translucent, ceramic brackets are stain-resistant and have a lower profile, which provides a more aesthetic treatment option compared to metal braces.
Retainers
Retainers are removable or fixed appliances that prevent your teeth from drifting back into their previous position after your braces are taken off. When you have a retainer on your teeth, the appliance is preventing your teeth from going where they might go on their own.
The most important time to wear your retainer is the months just after treatment. Wearing them during this period will allow your teeth to settle into their new positions and give time for your jaw bones to solidify around them.