ANYONE WHO HAS or had braces has noticed the different parts and probably wondered what role they perform in orthodontic treatment. Some patients just have the basics: brackets, archwires, and O-rings, while others have extra components to correct a more complex issue.
Brackets, Archwires, and O-Rings
The brackets serve as the anchor points. We place them very precisely on each tooth. Then comes the archwire, which can come in different thicknesses and be made of different materials depending on what we want it to do. The archwire remembers its original shape and applies pressure on the brackets (and, in turn, the teeth) over time to return to that shape. The colorful O-rings keep the archwire fastened to the brackets but allows it to slide a little when necessary.
Elastics for Malocclusions
A common and simple add-on is the elastic band. These correct bad bites by applying pressure to the jaws to move into a better alignment. They only work on schedule if the patient uses them EXACTLY as instructed. Skipping them here or there will delay treatment, but so will doubling up! Don't try to outsmart the orthodontist's plan; it came from years of training and experience.
Other Common Braces Add-Ons
Braces are sometimes preceded by spacers to make room for them. Some patients require a palatal expander to correct a narrow palate, crowding, and/or crossbites. Holding arches can keep the space open if a child loses a baby tooth too early. If a patient has a deep bite, we can correct it with a bite plate.
Disclaimer:The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
LET’S TAKE A look at how orthodontic treatment can overlap with speech pathology. Overbites are common causes of lisps and whistling while talking, as are gaps between teeth. Air can escape through the gap while trying to make sounds that require the speaker to press their tongue against their teeth. Orthodontic treatment corrects these problems and makes it easier to speak clearly.
It Can Be Tricky to Speak Around Crowded Teeth
In order to correctly form words and control the speed of our speech, our tongues need room to move. A small jaw or dental crowding can restrict the tongue’s movement, increasing the chances of a stutter or slurred speech. Braces correct these issues and give the tongue all the space it needs to form the correct sounds!
English Versus Crooked Teeth
The English language contains several sounds that require our teeth to be correctly positioned in order to pronounce them. It’s difficult to say sounds like CH as in “chair,” SH as in “shape,” F as in “feet,” V as in “van,” J as in “jump,” S as in “soup,” the voiceless TH as in “think,” the voiced TH as in “the,” Z as in “zoom,” and ZH as in “treasure” with a bad bite, gaps, or crowding. Braces move the teeth into their proper positions, solving these pronunciation problems!
The Many Benefits of Straight Teeth
Not all speech disorders can be improved with orthodontic treatment, but anyone who struggles to make certain sounds due to malocclusions, crowding, or crooked teeth will likely see an improvement. Clearer speech isn’t the only benefit to straight teeth either — they’re easier to clean, they look great, and they even improve digestion.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
A LOT OF PEOPLE take it for granted that braces can move teeth into their correct positions, but how many people know how that actually works? It’s a pretty fascinating process, and we’re excited to give our patients a closer look at the cellular level of their treatment.
The Components of Your Braces
Each part of your braces serves an important purpose. At minimum, they will include brackets, bands (sometimes called ligatures or O-rings), and archwires, but sometimes they also include extra parts and appliances to help with individual treatment plans.
The Brackets Are the Anchors
You can sometimes tell if someone is new to braces by looking at their brackets. If they aren’t in a very straight line, they’re probably close to the starting position. At that stage, the brackets can even emphasize how crooked their teeth were before braces. We place the brackets in very deliberate spots on the teeth so that they will move into the correct positions.
Archwires Are the Guide Rails
The archwires are what runs through all the brackets, and they can vary in material and thickness depending on the best treatment plan for the patient. The archwires provide gradual, steady pressure in a particular direction as they fight to go back to their original shape. Finally, we use colorful O-to hold the brackets and archwires together.
Elastics for a Bad Bite
The most common extra with braces is elastics, which are used to correct a bad bite or misaligned jaw. They apply pressure towards the proper alignment, but they can only do their job when the patient wears them EXACTLY as the orthodontist instructs. Not wearing them will delay Braces Off Day, but so will wearing too many. Trust us: we have calculated the right amount of rubber bands and the right length of time they need to be worn for the most efficient results.
Your Treatment Goes Down to the Cellular Level
Our teeth don’t simply move. There’s a lot going on with the individual cells that make up the bone of the jaws. Ahead of the tooth, specialized cells called osteoclasts break down the bone cells that are under pressure, making room for the tooth to move. Behind the tooth, osteoblasts are busy building new bone cells to keep the tooth snug in its socket (this part takes longer). The bones are actually reshaping themselves.
Finish Off With Retainers
It takes time for bones to change shape, and until they do, our teeth still remember their old positions. This is why retainers are so important. They help our teeth and jaws get used to their correct positions. They also prevent future shifting that will happen to most people’s teeth with age.
Now You Know How Your Braces Work!
Hopefully we’ve answered a few questions you had about braces, but you should ask us at your next adjustment appointment if you have more! We believe that the better our patients understand their orthodontic appliances, the better they will understand the reasoning behind the instructions we give, and the more confident they will be about their results on Braces Off Day!
We’re looking forward to taking your “after” pictures!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
ONE OF THE LEAST fun aspects of orthodontic treatment is the banned foods list. No more movie popcorn, no more chewing gum, etc. But we don’t just ban these foods to be mean; they pose a serious threat to the complex orthodontic appliance that is there to gradually straighten a patient’s smile.
Crunchy or Sticky Foods are Bracket Kryptonite
All it takes is one poorly angled bite on something hard or pulling back off of something sticky to pop a bracket off a tooth. Every time that happens, it pushes back the eagerly-awaited Braces Off Day. This is why we urge our patients to avoid popcorn, nuts, ice, chewing gum, hard candy, gummy candy, pizza crust, bagels and other hard rolls, whole fruits like apples, hard crackers, pretzels, and chips.
Sugar: Always Bad for Teeth
Those are the ones that are actively risky to braces, but others contribute to problems too, like anything with a lot of sugar in it. It’s harder to keep plaque at bay with braces on, and eating or drinking large amounts of sugar can lead to bleached patches around the brackets and stains after the braces come off. It’s easiest to cut out most of the sugar.
Braces-Friendly Alternatives
Patients can swap puffcorn for popcorn, pudding for caramel, tortilla chips for pita bread, and slice up their apples. If a bracket does come loose, come see us! We’re rooting for our patients!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
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