Dental braces are devices used to straighten out those teeth that are crooked and not naturally aligned. Braces put a gentle and constant pressure on your teeth to bring it back in position. Braces are generally left in position till the teeth do not get aligned properly. Dental braces usually comprise of wires and rubber bands. These braces may take up to 2 years of constant wearing. It is essential that the braces are well taken care of not only to ensure oral hygiene, but also to make sure that it s effective.
Another function of dental braces is to align the upper and lower jaws. Braces are used to treat overbites and unberbites. Overbite is when the upper jaw is bigger than the lower jaw and an underbite is when the lower jaw is bigger than the upper jaw. Together, they are referred to as malocclusion.
There are a few types of braces:
Traditional Braces – These are usually specified for children. They mainly consist of a metal bracket attached to the front of each tooth. A band, fixed in the molars, is used to support the bracket. These are available in gold, silver or stainless steel.
Invisalign – These types of braces are becoming increasingly popular all over the world. Invisalign is made from clear plastic and therefore are virtually invisible on your teeth. Moreover, they are removable and much more faster than the traditional braces. They come in sets which must ideally be changed every two weeks. It is not recommended for children.
Self Ligating Braces – These braces do not require the support from the bands attached to the molars. Another advantage of this type of braces is that it creates lesser friction between the teeth and the wire brackets.
Ligual Braces – This type of braces are for people who want to use metal braces but also want them hidden. Ligual braces come form behind the teeth and are not noticeable even from a close range.
Dental Braces
