About Orthodontics - Types of Braces - Self-Ligating Braces
| |
Self-Ligating Braces |
| |
Traditional braces use a bracket and wire system, just like self-ligating braces. But traditional braces require a ligature to connect the wire to the bracket, holding it firmly in place. Typically, wires or elastics are used as the “tie”. If you’ve ever seen someone with brightly coloured braces, it’s the elastic used to hold the wire in place that’s showing its colour, not the bracket itself.
The entire need for a ligature is removed with self-ligating braces: there is a specially designed mechanism within the bracket itself to capture the wire and hold it firmly in place, so no wires or ties are necessary.
Self-ligating brackets have been designed especially to accommodate the wire but no ties. That minimizes their appearance, making them more difficult to detect. It also makes them easier to get used to wearing, so people around you probably won’t realize you’re undergoing treatment.
Since they’re thinner than traditional brackets and take up less space in your mouth, they don’t cause as much discomfort in your first few weeks. Further, since they don’t require a ligature, there’s no chance that the ties holding the archwire in place will snap or let go and poke the inside of your mouth.
Another way self-ligating braces are more comfortable is because the tension is constant. Sometimes, the ties can loosen between your orthodontic appointments, relaxing the pressure on your teeth. When you visit your orthodontist for an adjustment the pressure will increase. Self-ligating braces won’t loosen in the time between orthodontic appointments, so you’ll feel the same amount of pressure with each wire, instead of varying levels.
For some of our patients, the very best thing about self-ligating braces is that they can often reduce the total length of treatment by 4 to 6 months! That means that your beautiful healthy smile might take significantly less time to achieve than you first thought. |
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
