Dental Brace Guide

Now let’s go back in learning more on the different parts of our dental braces.

The appliance that is placed in the palace is called an Expansion Appliance. It is used to widen the arch. Did you notice the band or bracket that was used when the orthodontist was attaching the rubberbands on your last check-up? That is called the Hook. The Rubberband is the clear band that is the connection of the hooks between the upper and lower teeth and lastly, Ligature Tie is the very thin wire that is wrapped around a bracket holding the archwire into its slot.

That is a question that many ask to those who have them for they can go either way, on one side for beauty on the other for more serious health reasons such as poorly aligned teeth that may have resulted from disease or poor care early in life. Dental braces used to be associated more with teens in years gone by but today, statistics show that more than 30% of all users are adults. They are a form of dental care that makes teeth better looking and perform better eliminating gaps in the bite and many other problems that may result from lack of care.
Dental braces began their life in the early 1900’s and it has evolved in time into smaller and smaller appliances that can be removable for minor treatment to more permanent ones attached to the teeth or gums for more serious corrections. The area of orthodontics is more associated with cosmetic surgery but as said, it can have some health related benefits. Poor alignment can result in pain and dietary deficiencies that with proper treatment are easily corrected. As with any treatment, there are several alternatives and treatment varies from one patient to the other so proper analysis and consultation is in order for the best possible treatment possible.

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Braces may be composed of bands, wires and other removable or fixed corrective appliances. There are three kinds of braces namely brackets, lingual kind of brackets and traditional bands.
Brackets are fused to the front of each tooth. It could be manufactured from stainless steel, clear or tooth-colored ceramic or plastic. Ceramic or plastic brackets are most often the choice of patients for cosmetic reasons. But there are also downsides to using these kinds of brackets. Plastic brackets could be stained or discolored by the end of the treatment period. Using these brackets usually produces more friction between the wires and the brackets.

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By seeing a patient and watching them as they grow and develop dentists are able to intervene at the right time in order to correct bite problems that at a later age may not require an orthodontic treatment but plain surgery.

Most kids though will not need to use braces at age 7, the advice most dentists will give the parents is to wait and see how the oral structure of their children is developing in order to apply the best orthodontic treatment if necessary.

Some dentists may agree with the fact that dealing with a teenager between the ages of 14 to 18 may not be as easy as filling with a child between the ages of 10 and 13 because they’re tooth structure has already developed and unfortunately the dentist wasn’t around to track the progress and growth of the first and second set of permanent molars which can affect the position or arrangement of the rest of the teeth.

According to these statements the best age to get the most out of an orthodontic treatment such as wearing braces can be achieved between the age of nine and 13. Those who didn’t have proper orthodontic treatment during those years can still be treated in order to correct malocclusion and even adults can get orthodontic treatment by taking advantage from invisible braces which are not as obvious as the traditional metal braces and can be removed while the person is eating or brushing his or her teeth.

There are instances wherein a bracket pops off especially on your first few months due to a number of reasons. Always keep in mind that your brackets are just glued on, which means that they can be removed easily later on. Once the glue bond is broken, the bracket will then come off. Call the dental office and set for an appointment for re-gluing if this happens to you. Some dental clinics are asking for extra fee on this. It is normal for the brackets to pop off from time to time. Having the brackets glued is not an easy task and it might take you minutes before it sticks.