Create Your Perfect Smile: Choosing The Right Braces for You
At some point, you might have had a coffee date with some of your friends, and you noticed how bright and neat-looking their teeth are. So when you tried to smile, you felt your smile wasn’t as good as theirs.
One way to have a better and perfect-looking smile is to align and straighten your teeth using braces.
What are Braces?
Braces or dental braces are dental devices that align and straighten teeth and improve a person’s bite and overall oral health. It treats dental issues, including crooked teeth, overcrowding, gaps between teeth, overbites, underbites, crossbites, and other flaws of the teeth and jaw.
It uses brackets, arch wires, bonding materials, and elastics to force and pressure the teeth into the desired position. Depending on the type of braces that you choose, materials and processes differ.
Types of Braces to Choose From
Braces are not limited to the typical brace you usually see, those with brackets and colourful elastics. These are the different braces that you can choose from depending on your needs and the dentist’s assessment.
| TYPE | DESCRIPTION | ADVANTAGE | DISADVANTAGE |
| Traditional Metal Braces | The most common type of brace has metal brackets bonded to the front of the teeth, with elastics holding the wire onto the metal bracket. |
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| Ceramic Braces | It is similar to traditional braces as well. However, it uses clear or tooth-coloured brackets that blend in with the teeth, making it less noticeable. |
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| Lingual Braces | This is the opposite of the traditional brace regarding placement. The structure and materials are the same, but in lingual braces, the brackets are placed at the back of the teeth, making them virtually invisible from the front. |
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| Self-ligating Braces | This type is similar to the traditional metal brace. The only difference is that it uses a unique bracket that doesn’t require elastics, making it more comfortable and requiring less adjustment. |
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| Clear Aligners/ Invisalign | It is the only type of brace that doesn’t use brackets or wires. Instead, it uses clear series of plastic trays that is custom-made to fit the teeth of the client. It is removable for eating and oral care. |
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Why is it Important to Choose Braces?
You cannot just pick a brace style because you find it cute. The doctor will recommend braces for you according to your needs.
Here is why choosing dental braces is essential:
1. Effective treatment
Choosing the brace following your doctor’s recommendation will ensure the treatment can effectively correct your dental problem. It will help improve oral health and other functions like speaking, chewing and more. You should consider how each type of brace works before deciding what your physician will use because some types cannot be used for major dental problems.
2. Comfort
Each type of brace has its unique characteristic, which can be comfortable or irritating to you. Choosing the right brace can ensure that you will be comfortable and reduce the possibility of irritation, pain, or discomfort in the long run.
3. Aesthetics
The appearance of the braces can impact your self-confidence, especially if you tend to become self-conscious. Choosing the ideal dental brace can help ensure the braces are as discreet and unobtrusive as possible, helping you feel more confident and comfortable in your appearance.
4. Duration of Treatment
Different types of braces may require different amounts of time for treatment. Choosing the dental brace can help ensure that treatment is as efficient and effective as possible, reducing the overall duration of treatment and the associated costs.
You should consider these four factors when choosing the brace you want. Your local dentist or orthodontist can help recommend the ideal braces for your needs and preferences.
Things to Know Before Going to Your Orthodonstis for Consultation
- Your orthodontist will not recommend wearing a brace unless you have any visible problems or underlying issues in your teeth.
- There are risks involved in wearing a brace, such as a higher possibility of cavities and more.
- You will experience pain for the first few days of having a brace.
- You will have to avoid particular food and even drinks that may damage the wire and brackets of the brace.
- Depending on the type of brace and the severity of your problem, you might have to wear it for a long time.
- Wearing and maintaining a brace is expensive.
Takeaway
A Dental brace is an essential tool for people with dental issues. It can improve their oral health and even appearance. Appearance is vital when placing something on the body, so braces have several types of braces to choose from, especially for those who are self-conscious. When selecting a dental brace, you must visit and consult your orthodontist to have the right option available for your condition and needs.
