Braces and Aligners
What are Braces?
Dental braces are basically instruments that are used to correct the positioning of your teeth if they are not straight or aligned. They are comprised of wires, brackets, and bands.
It is advised to get braces done is to amend your jaw structure, misaligned bite patterns, or some tooth that is not positioned right. It is to enhance your overall facial appearance.
What are Aligners?
Aligners are transparent trays made of special material which are used to straighten teeth just like braces. They use gentle and constant force to move the teeth in the required position without going through the hassles of metal wires and brackets. They are custom-made for each patient through a digital scan.
Your dentist is the best person to ask about the kind of orthodontic treatment required in your case.
What Is The Right Time To Get Braces?
Every individual is different. Orthodontic treatment can be started as young as 7 years old. There is no upper limit in terms of age for Braces.
If you have good oral health and firm teeth, you can get braces at any age.
There is various kind of Orthodontic treatment available for all ages.
What Types Of Braces Are Available?
Metal Conventional Braces
These are the traditional and most common types of braces. The metal braces used today are much more comfortable and smaller in size. These require elastics which come in a variety of colors to tie the wire to the braces. The wires use your body heat to move teeth more quickly and less painfully. There is no age limit attached to these, as patients of all ages can choose to straighten their teeth using metal braces.
Metal Self Ligating Braces
These are metal Brackets with a shutter or lock system and do not require the use of elastic to tie the wire. In comparison to traditional metal braces, metal self-ligating braces are more comfortable and smaller in size. These are helpful in achieving arch expansion and minimize the need for extraction.
Ceramic Conventional Braces
Ceramic braces are the ones with clear brackets. They use tooth color and blend more naturally with your teeth. The shape and size are the same as metal braces. These are less visible on the teeth and as a result, are preferred by older teenagers and adults who might have aesthetic concerns. Sometimes, even the wires used are of tooth color which makes them less noticeable. Being less prominent, they require more care and protection compared to metal braces as they are larger and more brittle. They require extra protection, hence, are used more in upper teeth than lower.
Lingual Braces
Lingual Braces are heavy metal braces that are placed behind the teeth. These metallic braces can be made even of silver or gold. The individual Bracket is customized using CAD-CAM / 3D Designing. The treatment is highly aesthetic and less visible. This, however, can cause mild speech difficulties during the course of the treatment.
How Do Aligners Work?
They are custom-made for every person and designed to move teeth in the desired direction very very slowly. This is achieved by digitally capturing impressions and processing the information using specialized software, where the future projections for better results and straighter teeth are computed and then the milling machine automatically custom fabricates the set of trays for you. On average, a person needs approximately 25-40 sets for complete alignment.
The aligners come with an advantage i.e. they are very snugly fitting which over a period becomes virtually a part of the body and hence causes no speech problems. There are no restrictions on eating and drinking any foods as you will be removing them before every meal.
Difference Between Braces & Aligners
| Braces | Aligners | |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Highly Noticeable | Invisible – One cannot spot them easily |
| Removability | Non – Removable | Removable – People have the freedom to remove aligners while eating, brushing & flossing |
| Oral Hygiene | Difficult to maintain routine healthy Oral Care | Since removable, it is easy to maintain routine healthy Oral Care |
| Comfort | Can cause abrasion in mouth | Fits smoothly on the teeth |
| Duration | Takes longer than aligners(varies from case to case) | Takes relatively less time than traditional braces(varies from case to case) |
Post Treatment Care for Braces
- Brush & Floss twice a day to keep your teeth healthy. Healthy teeth respond better to the treatment.
- Visit your dentist on time for follow-up checks. Make a note of your appointments and follow suggestions, if any.
- Be patient. The treatment duration may vary depending on the case. The teeth will take time to adjust accordingly.
Post-Treatment Care For Aligners
- Retain your smile with Retainer – Just because you’ve got your teeth straightened does not necessarily mean that it will stay straight throughout. Your Orthodontist might advise retainers which will prevent your teeth to shift back to their previous location
- Take care of your food habits – It may so happen that your teeth are sensitive after the treatment, therefore, it is advised to not consume, too crunchy food for a few days. Let your smile rest before going back to the crunchy munchy snacks
- Do not forget to brush – Keep up your habit of brushing twice a day and flossing in order to keep your teeth clean and healthy. Not taking good care of your oral hygiene will let the treatment go in vain.
- Visit your dentist – Because you are done with your treatment and have got that perfect smile you always desired for does not mean that you need not visit the dentist ever. Always visit a dentist after every 6 months to ensure that this smile remains intact.
Do’s and Don’t With Braces On
DO’S
- Try and avoid sticky food like gum or caramel
- Ask for a mouth guard, if you play a sport
- Consume drinks that are low on sugar content and not carbonated
- Brush after every meal and never let food stuck on your braces
- Visit your dentist on every follow-up
DON’TS
- Don’t chew hard food and ice
- Do not bite your fingernails
- Do not consume more than one soda a week
- Do not forget to floss like a boss
Care With Aligners On
Though aligners are the most comfortable option, yet there are certain things that need to be kept in mind while you have it on. Your Orthodontist will give you a set of guidelines which should be followed diligently such as below:
- You should wear the aligners for at least 20 hours a day for the effective results
- Remove your aligners while brushing, flossing & eating. Never have it on especially while consuming anything hot
- Keep your aligners clean. While you brush make sure that you brush your aligners in the same way
- Keep them safe in the box as given by your Orthodontist to prevent it from getting dirty