Braces have created beautiful smiles for decades, but today’s orthodontic treatment offers more than the traditional metal braces you’ve always known. Today, different types of braces handle all kinds of orthodontic problems.
Woodhill Dental Specialties offers the latest technology in several types of braces to straighten your teeth, as well as clear aligners, a newer alternative to braces.
You may hear “braces” and think only of traditional metal braces. Today’s orthodontic treatment plans offer more than metal brackets and wires. There are several different types of braces. There is even an option that isn’t braces.
Let’s explore the different types of braces, whether they’re the right braces for you, and how to care for your braces.
People hear “metal braces” and think of the “mouthful of metal” their parents wore. Today’s metal braces are vastly different from those traditional metal braces. Brackets are smaller and more efficient, making them more comfortable than ever. It also means you won’t have to wear them as long as your parents probably did.
Woodhill Dental Specialties uses self-litigating braces. These types of metal braces don’t have to use elastics to hold the arch wire to the brackets, reducing friction and increasing comfort. They also tend to work faster than the old metal braces.
Metal braces can fix nearly any orthodontic issue, even the most severe ones. These braces are best for severe cases and those who prefer orthodontics that work 24/7, unlike removable clear aligners that may only work 22 hours a day or less.
Braces are great for patients who don’t want to keep up with clear aligners. They are also less expensive than clear braces or clear aligners.
For those who want a little bling in their smile, we offer standard steel or shinier gold braces.
Metal braces do require certain care to keep them working efficiently. There are certain foods you won’t be able to eat because they could damage your braces. This includes hard foods like hard candy, crunchy foods like popcorn and tortilla chips, sticky foods like caramel and gum, and front-bite foods like apples, raw carrots, and raw broccoli.
You also need to brush and floss your braces daily. Neglecting your oral hygiene habits could cause white spots on teeth after braces. The bacteria that builds up around the brackets can decalcify your enamel, leading to white spots. It could also make you more prone to tooth decay.
We’re here for you if you have any questions about caring for your metal braces. Just ask us!
Clear ceramic braces have the same moving power as metal braces but are harder to see. Brackets are made from ceramic material to match your tooth color more closely. The brackets are made with the same efficiency as metal brackets so that they will repair your smile in the best time possible.
They are perfect for those who need the braces power for severe dental problems but don’t want that “mouthful of metal” look.
Ceramic braces are also great for people who want less metal but a lower cost than clear aligners, which tend to cost more than clear braces. They’re a great compromise between metal braces and clear aligners.
Care for clear braces is similar to metal braces. There are a few things to keep in mind with your clear braces.
The ceramic brackets are made from a stain-resistant material, but they can become discolored with certain foods and drinks. High consumption of coffee, tea, red wine, tomato sauce, chocolate, and other dark-colored foods could darken your clear braces.
Rinse your mouth after consuming these foods and drinks if possible. Better still, brush your teeth after meals with these foods and drinks.
Lingual braces are hidden from view by being placed on the inside of your teeth instead of the outside. Lingual braces provide the power of metal braces and work similarly using metal brackets and wires that move teeth into place.
Lingual braces are best for those who want their orthodontic treatment to be inconspicuous. Lingual braces are extremely hard to see — unless you yawn really big. Most people won’t know you have braces.
Lingual braces can cause a slight lisp the first few days until your tongue gets used to their placement. They can also be a bit more challenging to clean because the backs and inside of your teeth are hard to clean by nature.
Many adults choose lingual braces, though teenagers can wear them as well. Teenagers, however, often opt for a different type of orthodontic treatment.
Because they’re bonded to the back of the teeth, lingual braces can be more difficult to keep clean. We recommend using an electric toothbrush and carefully getting around all the wires and brackets.
As with regular braces, you must use a floss threader to floss properly with lingual braces. You can also use a proximal brush with cone-shaped bristles that can get around wires and brackets and through teeth.
You can also use a water flosser, which shouldn’t replace dental floss. That’s because dental floss has better scrubbing power and will remove more plaque and food particles from your teeth.
Clear aligners are the latest alternative to traditional braces. Clear aligners used to be reserved for only minor cases, but today’s clear aligners can correct various dental issues.
Clear aligners like Invisalign or the SureSmile aligners we use are custom-molded from a special acrylic material that looks nearly invisible on your teeth. These aligners use gentle pressure on the teeth to move them to their correct positions.
Clear aligners are gaining in popularity, particularly among adult patients who want to keep their orthodontic treatment in a low profile. Teenagers also like clear aligners because of their lower visibility.
Clear aligners need a lot of responsibility because they’re removable, which means they can get lost or damaged more easily than braces. They also must be worn at least 22 hours a day. If this seems a bit much to keep up with, braces may be the better choice.
Clear aligners should be stored in a proper container when not in your mouth. They should be kept from small children or pets who could damage them. They also should be cleaned at least once a week with clear aligner cleaning tablets and rinsed and cleaned daily (though not with toothpaste, which is abrasive!).
Woodhill Dental Specialties provides braces and clear aligner treatment options for all patients. Whether you’re looking for traditional braces, clear braces, or even clear aligners, we can help you. Schedule an appointment for orthodontic treatment in Dallas, TX, or Rockwall, TX. We’ll help you choose the best option for you!
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