Braces are a great treatment option if you have crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw. Each type of brace that is available today serves a different function, and traditional braces, for example, might be better suited to your needs than ceramic ones.
The benefits of braces are that oral health and digestion are significantly improved. When you eat with crooked teeth you are unable to properly chew your food small enough to aid with digestion. Food can also get stuck more easily behind teeth that are at uneven angles to each other.
When choosing braces most people want the cheapest treatment option that will work the fastest, but this is not ideal. Read on to find out about the different types of braces and how you can choose a treatment plan based on the function it provides.
Durability
Traditional braces are made with stainless steel and are the most popular type of braces people choose. This tried and tested treatment has stood the test of time because it’s the most straightforward option and is especially helpful for very crooked teeth. The strength of the steel, brackets, and arch wires used make traditional braces a safe bet for anyone unsure of which style to get.
Traditional braces can also be fitted with additional metal pieces called buccal tubing. This small metal piece is welded or screwed to the back molars and assists the arch wires to put more pressure on the teeth. Buccal tubing is only used in severe cases where teeth are very crooked and require as much pressure as possible. They also need to be adjusted every 4 to 8 weeks to change the direction of the alignment.
Faster Recovery Time
If you want braces that won’t need to be adjusted often, put less pressure on your teeth, and realign crooked teeth relatively fast, opt for self-ligating braces. This style is similar to the traditional stainless-steel model, except that it uses clips instead of elastic bands to secure the arch wire.
Tooth movement is usually faster with self-ligating braces and is often made with clear material instead of metal. A bonus is that there is less friction against your teeth than with elastic bands, so the enamel on your teeth won’t erode as quickly.
Invisibility
Invisible clear braces are very different from others, in that trays made from BPA-free plastic material are moulded to the unique design of your teeth. Sometimes called aligners, clear and invisible braces look similar to a mouthguard but work just as well to straighten teeth. The clear brace cost UK is also surprisingly affordable. Invisible braces don’t use metal brackets, elastic and arch wires, and dental hygiene is a breeze.
Clear braces do require a replacement tray every few weeks to ensure your teeth are continuously being aligned. To find out the prices of invisible braces in the UK, have a look at Straight My Teeth. Specialising in invisible braces, Straight My Teeth offers treatment plans to have straight teeth in under 6 months. You have the option to pay for your invisible braces with an instalment plan, and your new aligners will be delivered to your door.
Allergy-Free
Some people may be allergic to certain metals, plastic, and elastic, so one allergy-free option is ceramic braces. Ceramic braces are one alternative to stainless steel brackets, and a bonus is they are less visible. For anyone needing an MRI, ceramic braces are also completely safe from magnetism and won’t interfere with the machine.
The only problem is that ceramic is harder to keep clean and oral hygiene may drop. Ceramic is also not as strong as metal braces, so they may be more fragile. If dental care is not taken properly, ceramic braces can stain your teeth.
Customisation and Comfort
Braces will stay with you for quite some time so it’s important to make sure that you are comfortable throughout the process. Lingual braces are one option that has been known to fix most mouth bite problems, such as a lisp. Lingual braces are placed on the inside of your teeth rather than the outside where they are visible.
Once the initial discomfort from installing lingual braces goes away, they are more comfortable than most types. More patients report less pain and lingual braces are easier to keep clean. The only real disadvantages are that they can be more expensive than traditional braces and take longer to straighten your teeth.
Braces aren’t necessarily painful, but you will have some discomfort while they are slowly realigning your teeth. Crooked teeth need time and continuous pressure over extended periods to properly straighten, so you will want braces that will get the job done. It can be daunting to choose braces because you will be stuck with them for at least a few months.
The best option is to consult a dentist to evaluate your teeth and decide on the best treatment plan.
