Braces

Traditional Braces

The most common fixed appliances, braces consist of bands, wires and/or brackets. Bands are fixed around the teeth or tooth and used as anchors for the appliance, while brackets are most often bonded to the front of the tooth. Arch wires are passed through the brackets and attached to the bands. Tightening the arch wire puts tension on the teeth, gradually moving them to their proper position. Braces are usually adjusted monthly to bring about the desired results, which may be achieved within a few months to a few years. Today’s braces are smaller, lighter and show far less metal than in the past. They come in bright colors for kids as well as clear styles preferred by many adults.

When to Start Braces

The good news is you are never too old to have braces. We’ve yet to meet a finished orthodontic patient who wishes they could go back to the way their teeth used to be. They only regret that they didn’t get started sooner.

Children should have an orthodontic evaluation by age 8 because there is an advantage to treating some malocclusions early. Malocclusions caused by habits or growth respond well to early treatment and allow for a full, uncompromised correction.

Many of our adult patients feel as though they are “too old” to confidently wear traditional braces. We get it! That’s why we offer various types of braces such as invisible alternatives like Invisalign and ClearCorrect.