Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics
Metal Braces
Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics
Metal Braces
Time-tested traditional metal braces can straighten teeth into a confident and bold smile. Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics applies durable stainless steel braces to align teeth effectively. Our enthusiastic and skilled orthodontists can’t wait to meet you and kick-start your journey to a new, confident smile.
Metal braces are suitable for children, teenagers, and adults. At Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics, we are not shy that our favorite treatment option is Invisalign aligner treatment, but for those who are unable to keep up with the responsibility of aligners or prefer a fixed option, our office uses advanced braces that are smaller, lighter and comfortable to wear.
Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics
What Are Metal Braces?
Traditional metal orthodontic braces have effectively aligned smiles for many years. They gently move teeth over time to address crooked and crowded teeth, gap teeth and many types of malocclusions (problems with how your teeth fit together). Metal orthodontic braces consist of various parts, including:
- Brackets
- An archwire
- Elastic bands
Your orthodontist will glue a metal bracket to each tooth and then position a thin archwire over the brackets. The archwire will curve around your teeth. Your orthodontist will then attach elastic bands to the hooks on the metal brackets. These bands keep the wire in place and help adjust your teeth’s positions.
Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics
Metal Braces vs. Invisalign
When deciding between metal braces and Invisalign aligners, consider the multiple factors that come with metal braces.
Some advantages include the following:
- They’re “glued” to the teeth: This modality limits the patient’s responsibility to keeping the braces clean and not breaking any of the appliances.
- They’re suitable for complex corrections: A time-tested method, metal teeth braces can effectively correct a smile even in the most complicated cases.
- They’re beverage-friendly: Braces are heat resistant and do not stain, so patients can drink coffee, tea and other drinks without worrying about stains and damage.
Some considerations of metal braces are as follows:
- They’re more noticeable: Metal braces are much more obvious than clear aligners, drawing more attention.
- They require frequent orthodontist visits: Patients with Invisalign aligners don’t need to visit their orthodontist as frequently as those with traditional metal braces.
- They require very good dental hygiene: To minimize tooth discoloration, decalcification, or cavities caused by metal braces, each patient must practice good oral hygiene. While the ADA recommends that each person brush his or her teeth 2x/day for 2 minutes each, this must be increased when someone has braces. Each patient must brush his or her teeth 3-4x/day for 3 minutes each.
- There are food restrictions to avoid breaking the braces: In general, during treatment, patients are recommended to avoid eating any foods that are “sticky,” “crunchy,” or “chewy.” Those foods are more likely to cause the brackets to break loose from the teeth, slowing treatment, creating painful situations, and causing unnecessary appointments.
