Ladd Orthodontics
Chances are you have known a great number of people who have had braces on their teeth. According to Humana, there are over 4 million Americans currently wearing braces, and of those wearing braces, a quarter of these are adults. With braces being so prevalent, it is clear they have major advantages for the dental health of many people. There are many benefits to braces, and as a result, every day people make the decision to obtain braces, commonly on the recommendation of their orthodontist.We all want that flawless smile to match the way you feel inside. However, life gets in the way. You may get bogged down with work, errands, responsibilities and activities. All of this makes it just too easy to put braces on the back-burner. However, you have options that can easily accommodate your lifestyle and budget. Whether you choose traditional braces or clear aligners, we’ll find something that works for you.
Benefits of Braces
We hear all the time that first impressions matter. That’s why we know that having a winning smile is a key factor to contributing to your confidence.The most obvious advantage of braces is their ability to straighten teeth. By straightening teeth, braces make individuals feel better both physically and personally. Braces can straighten teeth in several ways. First, they can help to align crooked teeth, which may have grown in haphazardly. Second, they can help close gaps that have developed between teeth, giving them a more straightened look. Finally, they can help better space teeth that have grown too close together, preventing a clustered look. All of these are ways that teeth can be straightened by braces, and each is both an aesthetic improvement as well as a healthy one. Improving your smile can be one of the greatest investments you’ll ever make. We’re here to help accomplish that in every way we can.
Straight, attractive teeth are more than just aesthetically pleasing. Braces are worth it for your health in the long run. People don’t always realize it, but your oral health affects every part of your life and your body. These include your liver, your gums and even your digestion. Our team helps to avoid common health risks well in advance by giving you the best treatment possible.
Traditional Braces with Metal Brackets:
These braces consist of the traditional metal wires and metal brackets that most people picture when they hear the word “braces.” They are the most common kind of braces and are more comfortable than ever before. Traditional metal braces and metal brackets are made of high-grade stainless steel, and with metal braces, the child has the option of colored rubber bands, known as elastics, for a fun, bright, and individualized smile. Today’s brackets however, are much smaller in size and less conspicuous than the “metal mouth” braces that most of today’s adults recall from childhood. Also, modern metal archwires are heat-activated, using body heat to catalyze the shifting of teeth more rapidly and less painfully than in the past.
Pros: Least costly option; colored rubber bands can be a fun and positive way for kids to demonstrate their creativity and individuality.
Cons: Most obvious or prominent type of braces.
Traditional Braces with Ceramic/Porcelain Brackets:
These braces consist of the traditional metal wires and ceramic or porcelain brackets. Ceramic brackets are the same shape as modern metal brackets, but they are less noticeable because they are tooth-colored or clear colored, which matches and blends in with a child’s natural smile better. They are ultimately, less noticeable and are often used on older adolescents and teenagers, who might be more concerned with the way braces affect them cosmetically. Sometimes, even tooth colored wires are available for an even less conspicuous look. This type of braces, however, does necessitate more time caring for oral hygiene, because ceramic brackets are larger and more fragile than metal brackets. Due to the increased need for special attention and care, ceramic/porcelain braces are more often used on upper front teeth than lower teeth.
Pros: Less conspicuous than traditional metal braces with metal brackets; shift teeth much faster than clear removable tooth aligners.
Cons: More costly than metal braces with metal brackets; clear or tooth-colored brackets stain more easily than metal brackets if patients do not spend enough time caring for them correctly.
Self Ligating Braces:
These braces consist of the same materials as traditional braces, excluding the elastics (rubber bands). Self ligating braces do not necessitate the use of elastics, so, consequently, fewer appointments with the orthodontist are required and less resistance is being applied to the teeth. Traditional metal, clear, and ceramic brackets are all available for self ligating braces. These brackets, however, incorporate a specialized clip instead of elastics to assist the archwire in shifting the teeth into place. This specialized clip lessens the pressure being applied on the tooth, and does not need to be adjusted as often as other types of braces, because there are no elastics to change out.
Pros: Less plaque build up around bracket due to the use of clips instead of elastics, so easier to keep clean; typically shift teeth into places faster than traditional braces; fewer adjustments necessary due to the use of clips instead of elastics; less conspicuous than traditional braces and more comfortable.
Cons: Some feel brackets are more prominent, because they are not cushioned by elastics.
Lingual Braces:
These braces are the same as traditional metal braces, but the wires and brackets are applied to the inside of the teeth instead of the outside. These braces are used much less commonly than the other types of braces and can make oral hygiene more difficult to maintain than traditional braces. Also, this method of aligning teeth may take longer than more traditional methods.
Pros: Not visible from the outside.
Cons: More expensive than other types of braces; not affective for more severe cases; tough to clean and maintain optimal oral hygiene; can be much more uncomfortable in the beginning of treatment than other types of braces; normal adjustments are more difficult to achieve and take more time than traditional braces.
This method of aligning teeth has, in recent years, become very popular with adults and teens, who do not need major adjustments or have any severe orthodontic issues. Removable tooth aligners are virtually invisible, removable acrylic trays, which straighten the teeth just like the more traditional types of braces. They are more comfortable, making cleaning and oral hygiene much easier, and allow a person to eat and drink whatever he or she wants during orthodontic treatment. The most recognizable and common brand name for removable tooth aligners is “Invisalign,” which shifts teeth into place with a series of 18 to 30 custom-made clear plastic aligners. These clear aligners resemble a very discreet mouth guard and are replaced every two weeks with a new set.
Pros: Nearly invisible; no metal to cause abrasions during orthodontic treatment; no dietary restrictions; brushing and flossing is much less of a hassle and optimal oral hygiene is easier to maintain than with other types of braces.
Cons: More costly option; not sufficient to treat severe orthodontic problems; Not available for children, only for teens and adults; treatment may take more time than with other types of braces; trays are easy to lose and expensive to replace.
Who Should Get Braces
At LADD Orthodontics, we want to make sure anyone in need of braces is covered. It can be difficult to recognize the right timing to look into getting braces. That’s why our Ladd Orthodontics team takes things case by case. We know that it’s a personal decision each and every person has to make. We offer braces for kids, teens and adults to correct the alignment of anyone’s teeth. Once the decision has been made to obtain braces, it is time to consider the types of braces to obtain. This is where any aesthetic concern about the braces themselves can be addressed. There are multiple types of braces, and many looks to choose, depending on one’s preference. Unlike some perceptions, braces are no longer as uncomfortable and noticeable as they were in previous decades. Stainless steel braces are by far the most common. These are made up of wires and brackets. Overall, the decision to obtain braces is your own. There are many benefits, as have been listed here. They can help prevent future gum disease and damage to teeth. They can straighten teeth, close gaps in teeth, and better space out teeth, all resulting in a more confident smile. They can help prevent future discomfort and weakness due to misalignment of teeth or bite. They can also make you feel better about both your oral health and your appearance. If you are considering braces, please call our helpful Ladd Orthodontics team, and we’d be happy to make an appointment.
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