Which Braces Are Right For You?
New materials, technology and experience have led to the development of different types of braces that can be used in orthodontic treatment. To better help you decide on the best braces for you, we have summarised each type below. (View larger images by moving your mouse cursor of an image).
Invisalign® treatment involves a series of clear, plastic, removable aligners that are used to move your teeth to the desired position. These are fantastic for those individuals for whom a limited amount of movement of the teeth is necessary, and aesthetics and function are of paramount importance.
These are much less obvious as they are tooth coloured and so blend in very well with your teeth. Generally they are only placed on the upper teeth as they can be quite abrasive.
Self Ligating Braces do not need O-rings or wire ties to hold the wire in. These have certain advantages over conventional and ceramic braces; mainly less discomfort (due to lower forces), less appointments are necessary in total, treatment duration may be reduced and it is easier to clean your teeth (which reduces the risk of decay or gum disease).
Lingual Braces are attached to the inside surface of the teeth and cannot be seen. They certainly do have great aesthetics but can be a little uncomfortable, especially to the tongue and therefore take longer to become accustomed to. They are also more difficult to adjust, hence the total treatment duration is normally greater.
These are the mainstay of orthodontic practices. They require either wire ties or elastic ties (O-rings) to hold the wire in the braces. The O-rings are coloured so you can customise your braces. Coloured O-rings can be used with stainless steel braces to customise your smile.
It is important to remember these different braces are merely tools to enable us to create the ideal smile for you. So the decision, in most cases, is up to you!
If you would like more information about each of these options, please email us or ask reception. Alternately, you can find lots of useful information in our Links section.
