BRACES FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, AND ADULTS

Braces are a traditional method for straightening and aligning crooked teeth. This orthodontic treatment is most popular with children, adolescent teens, and adults who need adjustments to fix overbites, underbites, as well as crooked, misaligned, and overcrowded teeth. Braces are a great orthodontic treatment for anyone who is looking to get a straighter and more radiant smile.

 

How Braces Work:

Braces are installed with several different parts: the metal bracket (or other type of material such as ceramic), the wire, and in some cases, elastic rubber bands or other material to hold the wire in place. Brackets are attached to the front or back of the teeth using a special type of orthodontic glue. The wire or archwire is molded to form the most ideal positioning for your teeth. The brackets hold the wire in place, which is adjusted periodically to help the teeth properly align. Ligature ties, or elastic bands are placed around the brackets to help hold the wire in place. The wire will then be tightened to enable teeth to gradually reposition into a proper alignment.

If necessary, orthodontic accessories such as headgear can accompany braces. In these special cases, orthodontic headgear is utilized to correct jaw misalignment.

 

Types of Braces:

There are several different types of braces including:

 

Metal Braces:

Metal braces are the most common course for many children and teenagers. Metal brackets are attached to the teeth and the wire is held in place by the metal brackets and elastic ligatures, which can be changed routinely with different colors.

images of a young boy and girl with braces