Braces & Orthodontics Procedures

The world of options for orthodontic treatment is only limited by you. Today there are clear braces and metal braces. There are retainers that can be removed. There are braces that claim to move your teeth faster than traditional methods. If you are considering wearing braces, there are a wealth of options available. You can find the right treatment within your own cost and timeline.

Invisalign

• Invisalign uses new technology to move your teeth without using the traditional brackets attached to your teeth. It is a series of aligners that are changed about every two weeks to gradually shift your teeth into the desired place. The aligner is a clear mold that fits over each row of teeth, much like a retainer, and can be taken out to eat. An obvious benefit to this procedure is that there are no visible braces. While it might seem nice that the aligner can be taken out, it means the length of time to move your teeth will be longer than with braces that can't be removed. This treatment usually is reserved for more superficial cases of teeth alignment.

Traditional Metal Braces

• Traditional metal braces use large, silver brackets. To move your teeth, you come in for monthly appointments where new rubber bands are attached to your brackets to force movement. Because of the large size of the bracket, many wearers will feel that they have a noticeable "metal mouth." These are typically the least expensive orthodontic treatment. However, they are large, hard to clean and require many visits over a one-and-a-half or two-year wearing period.

Ceramic Braces

• Ceramic braces were popularized by actor Tom Cruise. They are made of a tooth-colored substance, so they aren't visible except for the metal arch wire that runs across the teeth. They generally do not stain; however, the small ligatures, or bands, around each bracket can take on the color of certain foods. While these ligatures are changed at your monthly appointments, they can pick up the color of deeply colored foods and beverages such as red wine, tomato sauce and curry. Even fastidious brushing can't remove the color. These are slightly more expensive than traditional metal brackets but are worn for about the same length of time.

Damon Brackets

• Known in orthodontic parlance as "self-litigating" braces, this type is made of brackets with an opening and closing hinge that fastens an arch wire in place. This means over the course of your treatment, you will go in for wire changes instead of the traditional tightening of the individual brackets with the colored rubber bands. This option is supposed to work faster than traditional metal brackets. Plus, the individual brackets are smaller, making your "tin grin" less noticeable. The other upside is that they offer clear brackets, but at the cost of about an extra $1,000 for each row of teeth as of August 2009.

Lingual Braces

• Lingual braces represent one of the newest orthodontic treatments for those patients who are concerned about aesthetics. This is because the brackets are placed on the tongue side (lingual) of the teeth. Unless you turn your head upside-down, the braces are invisible to anyone looking at the wearer. They look like traditional metal brackets but they are made of gold. The downside of these types of braces is the cost. As of August 2009, they usually cost about $1,500 more for each row of teeth than traditional methods. Another drawback is that they can irritate the tongue for certain wearers and make speech difficult.