Contrary to what many people think, orthodontic treatment and braces are not indicated only for children and young adolescents. More adults are wearing braces for cosmetic reasons, to improve the appearance of their smile and to get their teeth properly aligned, or for health purposes. In fact, wearing braces gives the impression that the person in question is taking care of their health and paying attention to their appearance, especially on the professional span.
In addition to a less attractive aesthetic appearance, problems of misplaced teeth, malocclusion, overlapping and misalignment present an increased risk of cavities, chewing difficulties, phonation and multiple functional problems. Fortunately, orthodontic treatment exists to correct these problems.
The orthodontic treatment provides you with healthier and more attractive teeth, easy to clean and well aligned with less risk of cavities and periodontal problems.
Types of braces
Before proceeding with the orthodontic treatment and choosing which one is the right one for you, it is imperative to have a healthy mouth and make sure that you have no cavities, tartar or other oral problems. Your dentist will check if there are any contraindications. After the dentist establishes a diagnosis, you should have an x-ray of the jaw and pictures of your teeth will be taken.
Braces are worn for a period of 6 to 24 months.
The following are the different types of braces:
Metal brackets
This is the most used and most common type of dental braces, yet it is undoubtedly the most effective. wearing metal braces reduces the treatment period, which is a great advantage for the patient because it means the patient has to wear them for a shorter period!
Metal braces are more visible compared to other types. They consist of “rings” that are attached to the front side of teeth and connected by a metal arch wire. This wire will firmly straighten the teeth through periodical adjustments by the dentist.
Ceramic brackets
This type of braces act like metal braces, patients find it more discreet and less visible than metal braces. Ceramic brackets are as effective as metal brackets and they are more appreciated by patients who wish to have less visible braces.
Lingual treatment
These dental brackets are invisible because they are installed on the inner side of the teeth. They are similar to traditional braces and can be made of metal or ceramics.
Removable brackets
These appliances can be removed and placed at any time; they are not attached to the teeth. Several types of removable brackets exist such as removable braces and invisible aligners. The removable braces are used to correct minor dental defects and to reshape the palate. They consist of a resin plate with hooks attached to it. The invisible clear brackets are the most recent type of braces, they are custom-made invisible aligners that progressively correct the positioning of the teeth.
The type of braces you choose will always depend on the dentist’s diagnosis; he will be able to advise you the best type of braces for you.
Dr. Laloui, an orthodontic specialist, offers you the best orthodontic treatment adapted to your needs.
