Types of Orthodontic Appliances
All Orthodontic Appliances work by moving the teeth or modifying the growth of the jaws.
The nature of your problem will determine the types of Orthodontic Appliances that will be most effective for you. At your Consult Visit we will let you know which Orthodontic Appliances and Retainers will be used for your Care.
Fixed Appliances
Fixed Appliances are what we call Braces and they are bonded or stuck to the teeth with special orthodontic cement.
The components of Braces are brackets and bands bonded to the teeth, with an orthodontic wire tied into all these components. The most modern and efficient braces have doors on each bracket to hold the wire in place; these are called Self-Ligating Braces and we do use these braces when necessary.
Brackets can be made of stainless steel (silver brackets) or ceramic (white brackets), and the type that will be best for your Orthodontic Care will be discussed with you.
Orthodontic wires are made from various materials. This includes the following:
- Nickel and Titanium, referred to as ‘Titanium’ wires, that are use routinely by all orthodontists to align crooked teeth.
- Heat Activated Nickel Titanium wires, that represent advanced wire technology, which we routinely use in our office.
- Stainless Steel which are used to move the teeth and close spaces. We use stainless steel wires made from the highest quality medical grade steel.
Sometimes the ideal result cannot be achieved with braces alone. Additional elements, that you are asked to attach to your braces, may be necessary and essential.
Elastics are used to provide the forces needed to move your teeth. They are especially important when extra force is needed to pull in front teeth that stick out or close spaces.
There are other types of fixed appliances that we routinely use, such as Expanders.
Removable Appliances
These are appliances that can be removed by you but to be effective they need to be worn as we instruct. Sometimes they are referred to as Plastic Braces and they usually have springs or screws to move the teeth or correct the bite.
Some Plastic Braces, referred to as Functional Braces, are used to correct teeth that stick out by getting an incorrectly positioned lower jaw to catch up in growth with the upper jaw. One of these Braces is called a Twin Block.
Aligners
Aligners are made of thin, clear plastic.
They fit over the teeth and include appliances like Invisalign.
They are less visible than braces on the teeth, and move teeth in a slightly similar manner, but have limitations compared to braces.
For this reason we believe that it's best for you to see Dr. Elias, rather than a Dentist, for your opinion on Aligners and Invisalign.
As an Orthodontist, he's the best person to advise you on whether Aligners and Invisalign can correct your problem, or if a different type of brace would be more effective.
Unlike Dentists, Orthodontists receive 2 to 3 years of specialized training to learn the proper way to straighten your teeth.
Retainers
When Orthodontic Care is completed and your braces are removed it then becomes essential to hold your teeth in their new position. The appliances used to do this are called Retainers. There are many types of Retainers; those that you can remove and others that are bonded to the teeth. We will prescribe the retainers that suit you best.
We are committed to using only state of the art braces, retainers, wires and materials in order to ensure that your care is a success. We spare no expense and we utilize the most up to date technology.