Braces

When Most People Think About Orthodontic Treatment, They Think “Braces.”

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And that makes sense! Braces have been the mainstay of orthodontics for decades, and boy, do they work! Braces are great for closing spaces, fixing overbites and for moving the roots of teeth precisely and effectively. (These can all be challenging movements for clear aligner systems.) But the braces of today aren’t your grandparents’ (or even your parents’) braces. Today’s braces are bonded directly to the surface of the teeth and don’t require “bands.” They are also less bulky than braces of the past, and there are several types of braces to choose from.

What Types of Braces Can I Choose?

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Traditional Metal Braces

Traditional metal braces are probably what you’re thinking of when you think, “braces,” and they are still the most common type of braces in our practice. Made right here in the US with high-grade stainless steel, our metal braces work using brackets bonded to the front of each tooth. We then run a thin orthodontic wire through each bracket to straighten your teeth. With metal braces, you have the option of adding colored elastomeric ties (ligatures or O-rings) to create a unique, colorful smile that you can customize at every visit. Our braces are “low-profile,” which makes them more comfortable and less likely to irritate your cheeks than braces of the past.

Self-Ligating Braces

Self-ligating braces are also made of metal, but they don’t require an elastomeric tie to hold the wire in place. Instead, the wire is held in place with a metal clip. While these braces don’t allow you to customize your colors, they are slightly easier to clean due to their lack of ties.

Clear (Ceramic) Braces

Ceramic braces are made of clear or tooth-colored materials that are less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, ceramic braces are mainly chosen by older teenagers and adult patients who are looking for an esthetic, discreet set of braces. At Small and Piers Orthodontics, you’ll be able to choose between a more transparent set of ceramic braces or a whiter, more tooth-colored set of ceramic braces. While these braces are visually less prominent, they are slightly bulkier and more fragile, and they require more attention during oral hygiene to keep them looking clean and esthetic. Ceramic braces also create more friction against orthodontic archwires than metal braces, so they are not as efficient for certain types of movements, such as closing large spaces.

Champagne-colored (Iconix®) Braces

Our “champagne”-colored braces are quickly becoming the hottest new bracket choice in our practice. Made of the same high-grade metals as traditional braces, these champagne-colored braces have the same low-profile comfort and performance as traditional braces with a hue that nicely complements the color of tooth enamel. Depending on what you’re looking for, these braces can be customized with certain elastomeric ties to look more refined and discrete — taking on the color of your enamel — or to look more stylish — giving your smile that “pop” of glitz and glamour for special occasions.