About Orthodontics - Types of Braces - Traditional Braces
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Traditional Braces |
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Dental braces are used mostly for correcting crowded and crooked teeth, jaw problems and misaligned bite. They also eliminate the problems you may have with keeping your teeth clean, eating or being able to speak properly. Traditional braces have evolved through the years, becoming smaller, sleeker and more comfortable. These braces consist of standard metal brackets which remain adhered to your teeth with the help of an adhesive and are connected through wires. The metal brackets come in golden, clear and silver colors, and are strong. Metal brackets require tightening on a timely basis so that gradual pressure will eventually align your jaw and straighten your teeth as needed.
Most traditional metal braces require an O-shaped elastic rubber band, called ligature, for holding the arch wire onto the metal bracket. In many cases, metal tie wires also are used as substitutes. Years ago, these braces were not just brackets, but only a band that remained wrapped around each individual tooth.
Today, small metal brackets are attached to the front of every tooth. The old type of bands are mostly reserved for teeth with fillings or molars which overlap to the outside surface of a tooth. Usually, metal brackets are less expensive than other bracket types. Moreover, choices of various colourful ligatures also are available to allow personalized style.
Traditional braces work with heat-activated wires that are soft when cold, thus making it easy for the orthodontist to insert. But once you start wearing those braces, your body heat activates them and guides your teeth to move into their proper placement. At the day’s end, traditional braces work exactly in a similar fashion as the ceramic or nonaccelerated ones, with the benefit that they are quite affordable. |
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