Besides being unattractive, crooked teeth can trap food and encourage gum disease. Braces can help realign a patient’s teeth, making it easier to maintain proper oral hygiene and free of bacterial plaque that could lead to tooth decay.

There are many types of braces, including clear and ceramic options, which are less noticeable. Most patients require one to three years of treatment. Contact Braces Las Vegas now!

The brackets are the small squares bonded to each tooth. They are the attachments that hold the arch wire which, when tightened, applies pressure to help straighten teeth. Brackets can be made of stainless steel, ceramic or clear/tooth coloured materials. Ceramic braces are popular with teens and adults who want a more discreet look. There are also self-ligating brackets that use a hinged door mechanism to allow the archwire to clip into place without using rubber bands (ligatures).

During treatment, the pressure of the archwire against the teeth causes them to move. It also helps to correct crowded teeth, which can cause problems such as plaque build-up in hard-to-reach spots, gum disease, tooth decay, and jaw issues. Straighter teeth are healthier teeth, and they are easier to clean.

The archwire fits into the brackets and is a component of most traditional orthodontic braces setups. The archwire may start off flexible and then become more rigid as treatment progresses. Some patients also need to wear elastics, which are small rubber bands, to add more pressure to the teeth. This is especially true for patients with a bit that is out of alignment.

Ligatures are elastic rubber bands that fit around a bracket and hold the archwire in place. They are typically changed at each adjustment appointment. They come in a variety of colors, so you can personalize your smile. Other elastics include the Coil Spring, which fits between brackets and over the archwire to widen spaces between teeth; and the Hook, which is used on a few types of brackets (typically on side or back brackets) to allow us to add more pressure to fix bite problems like crossbites.

A wire is a thin, flexible metal that is typically circular in cross-section. It is used to apply pressure to teeth and guide them into the correct positions in the mouth. Orthodontic arch wires are the heart of braces, and they work with a soft tissue that connects the teeth to the bone (periodontium). When an archwire applies gentle pressure, it stretches the periodontal ligament-bone-tooth complex and allows for tooth movement to occur.

There are a variety of types and sizes of orthodontic arch wires. Your orthodontist will choose the best wire for you based on the type of orthodontic treatment you are receiving. In general, orthodontists start with small Ni-Ti wires to help align crooked teeth in the beginning of treatment and then trade them in for stainless steel wires later in the process.

Some arch wires have special features such as springback or shape memory alloy. These features allow the wire to change shape when pressed against by the brackets and return to its original form after the pressure is removed. These types of wires are most commonly used in the back of the mouth, where a smaller wire is more comfortable than a larger wire.

Another type of wire, cobalt-chromium alloy wire, is typically used in the front of the mouth. This wire is more durable than Ni-Ti wires and can withstand greater forces in the mouth. Cobalt-chromium wire can also be heat treated to change its shape and create more elasticity. This allows orthodontists to apply more precise pressure to individual teeth and shorten the overall treatment time.

Rubber bands are the little helpers that make the big difference when it comes to straightening your smile. They work hand in hand with brackets and archwires to provide the extra pressure needed to shift teeth into their desired position. But what exactly are these rubber bands, and how do they work?

While they look a lot like elastics you would find in the office supply store, orthodontic rubber bands (also known as ligatures) are actually crafted from medical-grade latex or a non-latex substitute that is safe to use inside your mouth. They are available in various widths and strengths to meet your specific needs.

You might not need them for every meal, but they are a key part of your treatment. While braces and wires are responsible for moving your teeth, it takes time to do so, and the extra pressure from rubber bands helps speed up the process.

In addition, rubber bands can also be used to correct poor bites such as underbites and overbites. By positioning one on a hook toward the back of your upper teeth and another on the hook near the canines on your lower teeth, we can guide the lower jaw forward and the upper jaw backward into alignment.

While they can help you eat more of the foods that you want, it is important to remove rubber bands for meals and brushing and flossing your teeth. We may also recommend that you don’tdon’t wear rubber bands while playing sports or other activities where a loose rubber band could become a hazard. And don’tdon’t forget to bring a small baggie of extra rubber bands with you so that you are always prepared in case one breaks or gets lost.

Ligatures are small elastic bands that work with your brackets to secure the archwire in place as it is tightened. They come in a variety of colors, and they are changed at each adjustment appointment. Ligatures help to reduce friction between the archwire and the bracket, allowing for faster and more comfortable tooth movement.

While they are not required for every patient, these accessories play an important role in most fixed braces treatments. They accelerate the expected results and improve the transverse, vertical and horizontal fit of the teeth and the arches. In fact, it is rare for a treatment to be carried out without elastic ligatures.

There are several different types of ligatures, including colored elastic ligatures and stainless steel wire ligatures. Stainless steel wire ligatures are similar to elastic ligatures, but they can apply significantly more force between the bracket and the archwire. This type of ligature may be recommended for more advanced orthodontic problems that need greater forces to be applied.

Lingual braces, such as the Incognito system, typically use ligatures made from a special type of clear or colored elastic. While these ligatures can help to reduce friction, they can be more difficult to insert into the base of the slot, especially if a tip change is required. Therefore, the ligature design and accuracy of the ligating force need to be considered carefully to achieve optimal orthodontic results in esthetically visible areas. A new ligature technique, called the continuous ligature, is being developed that eliminates the need for elastic double-over ties and can increase the stiffness and strength of the ligation mechanism. This type of ligature is currently being tested for its effectiveness and safety.

A straight smile is not only great for your physical health but also for your confidence. However, if you have misaligned teeth or your jaw is not properly aligned, you might need orthodontic treatment to correct the problem. The good news is that there are several treatment options available, including clear aligners and braces. Both treatments work well to correct the alignment of your teeth, but there are some differences that you should know about before choosing which option is best for you.

With clear aligners, you can have a straighter smile without having to deal with the embarrassment of wearing metal braces. The process starts by taking a 3D image of your mouth and jaw. This will allow the orthodontist to create a plan for moving your teeth into the proper position. The orthodontist will then use this information to create a set of custom plastic aligners. A set can include as few as 12 aligners or up to 48. Typically, you will be provided with a set of aligners to get accustomed to the feel of the aligners before starting your full series.

You will wear the aligners for at least 22 hours a day to achieve the best results. Each aligner will move your teeth in a different direction, and you will receive a new one every two weeks. During the treatment, you will need to visit your orthodontist a few times to monitor progress.

During your visit, the orthodontist will check that the aligners are fitting properly and will not be irritating your gums. The orthodontist will also recommend any necessary adjustments to the treatment. If you have any concerns or problems with the aligners, you should contact your orthodontist right away. It is important to remember that clear aligners are removable, so you should never place them in unhygienic places such as napkins or pockets.