Glendale Braces

Traditional braces: What are they and how do they work?

Traditional braces are simply a term for braces that use brackets and wires to move your teeth. The reason they’re called traditional is to differentiate them from more recent advances, including removable aligners. The term traditional is also often used to describe metal braces rather than other materials like ceramics, which are also more recent “inventions.”

No matter what words you use to describe them, braces all work the same: Brackets are attached to your teeth using very strong dental adhesives. Then, a special wire is “threaded” through them. This wire is adjusted throughout your treatment. Each adjustment alters the pressures on your individual teeth, gently moving them into their proper positions over time. Modern braces are a lot more comfortable and a lot less noticeable than the ones your parents or grandparents wore. The brackets and bands tend to be smaller, which means they’re less likely to cause irritation on your lips or gums. And their design is less noticeable — in fact, today you can opt for tooth-colored ceramic brackets that blend in with the natural color of your teeth or clear braces that use “see-through” brackets, so only the wire shows. Some patients feature their braces as a fashion statement, choosing colorful wires that can be changed out at a future adjustment.

Even though the design of your Glendale braces may look the same, the technology behind that design has changed a lot during the past couple of decades. Today’s braces use gentler, more uniform pressure to move your teeth, so they’re a lot more comfortable than the ones your parents may have worn — and they often “work” faster, too.

Can braces improve my oral health?

Braces can certainly improve the way your smile looks, but they may also improve your oral health by reducing your risks for cavities and gum disease. That’s because straight teeth are easier to care for — when your teeth are straight and evenly spaced, brushing and flossing work better to remove food debris, plaque and bacteria that cause both decay and gum disease. Plus, there are fewer places for food particles to get trapped in the first place.

Are traditional braces better than Invisalign?

Clear aligners are popular among a lot of patients because they’re completely clear and virtually invisible while they are being worn. The aligners are also removable for meals and for brushing and flossing. While Invisalign “invisible braces” can be a great option for some patients, they’re not always the best choice. Considering your goal is to get a great-looking smile (and, ideally, a lifetime of better oral health), you want to be sure you get the treatment that’s best for your unique needs. The Invisalign system can treat a wide array of alignment and spacing problems — but it can’t treat every problem. Sometimes, braces are just a better option. At Dunn Orthodontics, we perform a careful evaluation right at the beginning of your care plan to make sure the treatment you receive is the best one for your needs and your treatment goals. One other consideration: Regular braces tend to be less costly than Invisalign — and when you have braces Glendale, there’s a better chance your dental insurance will cover the costs of your care, at least partially.