What Do They Do?

Dental braces are also called orthodontic braces. They are also referred to as a "fixed appliance" used to correct the alignment of your teeth that will put them back into correct position. Correct alignment makes your bite (how your upper and lower teeth fit together) the way it is suppose to be. Bite problems include malocclusions, which are underbites, and overbites as well as cross bites, open bites and crooked teeth. People get braces for cosmetic reasons and structural reason. You can get braces on your upper teeth alone, on just your lower teeth or both upper and lower teeth.

Usually braces are put on children or teens, but it has become popular for adults to get braces to correct dental problems that they have had and for whatever reason did not have fixed as children.

The History Of Braces:

Dentist J. N. Farrar, wrote two volumes entitled "A treatise on the Irregularities of the teeth and their corrections". Farrar was known for designing brace appliances. He was the first to suggest the use of mild force at timed intervals to move teeth.

What Happens When You Wear Them:

When braces are applied to teeth, they move through the use of force. The movement is required to put them into correct alignment. The dental appliance pushes a tooth into the proper direction and a stress is created through what is called "periodontal ligament". A biological response occurs that creates bone remodeling. A tooth can move as much as one millimeter in 30 days; this of course varies by individual.

Who Will Make And Fit Your Braces?

Your dentist will most likely refer you to an orthodontist (a dentist specializing in Orthodontic services). These special dentists specialize in diagnosing and treating malocclusions of teeth, jaw, or both. An Orthodontist had to go to 2 or 3 additional years of training to earn the specialty certificate in Orthodontics.

The First Visit

Your first visit to the Orthodontist will involve the dentist inspecting your teeth visually, and also taking x-rays of your teeth to be able to look at your teeth in more detail. He may also take molds (impressions of your teeth). All of these things will help the orthodontist to determine what is the best course of action to fix any dental alignment problems.

The length of treatment times varies from 6 months to 6 years. The time will depend on how complex the dental alignment problems are and the type of problems you have. If you have an extreme case, orthognathic surgery may be required.

The Process Of Making The Braces

First there will be a cement type bond applied to your teeth with the aid of a etchant. Next the bracket will be placed on the teeth. A light will be used to cure (harden) the work done so far. This process takes a few seconds per tooth. You may need something called a spacer. A spacer is placed to make room for a molar bands that the orthodontists will place later. An archwire will then be threaded between the brackets and secured in place with elastic or metal ligatures. These are usually made of nickel-titanium and are temperature-sensitive. When cold the archwire is limp and flexible, making it easy to thread between brackets. When heated to body temperature it stiffens up and can retain it's original shape. This archwire will put a light but constant force on your teeth.

Elastics are used by the orthodontist to close open bites, create a shift in the midline or to put a stronger force that is needed to pull teeth or jaws into the desired position. These elastics are secured by brackets or hooks. The elastics are adjusted during the course of treatment. They are different sizes, strengths and diameters.

Special Procedures:

Sometimes there is not enough room in your mouth for all of your teeth (the case with crooked teeth) so an extraction of one or more teeth becomes necessary. Another way to make room is a procedure called expansion. An expander is used to make the palate or arch larger. These can be used on both children and on adults. Adults require surgery to use expansion however, since their bones are already fused. If the adult only needs the arch expanded then that does not require surgery.