Braces in Alexandria

What Are They Made Of?

Braces are composed of several elements, starting with brackets and bands.

Orthodontic brackets are small squares placed typically on the front side of each tooth. Lingual braces are the exception and are placed on the rear, or interior-facing, sides of the teeth. Your orthodontist in Alexandria will attach these with orthodontic bands or utilize a special bonding agent to adhere them in place. Brackets serve as handles to hold in place the archwires responsible for actually shifting the teeth. Several kinds of brackets exist, such as tooth-colored plastic or ceramic and stainless steel. Orthodontists use tooth-colored brackets frequently as they are less visible.

Bands are clear, tooth-colored or stainless materials that wrap around the individual teeth and are cemented in place to serve as anchors for the brackets. In addition to metal braces, which are quite easy to see, are ceramic braces and invisible braces, which are more difficult to see. The tooth-colored and clear orthodontic bands are more aesthetically appealing than stainless steel but also cost more. An orthodontist, aka braces dentist, won't always use bands with every patient, however; sometimes they just use brackets alone.

Other elements of dental braces include:

• Spacers – That fit between the teeth to produce small spaces in which to insert the orthodontic bands
• Archwires – Attached to brackets to serve as tracks for guiding your teeth as they move; sometimes they’re made of metal, other times of tooth-colored or clear material
• Ties – Metal, colored or clear fine wires or little rubber rings that fasten to the brackets or archwire
• Buccal tube – Placed on the last tooth holding the archwire’s end securely in place
• Ligatures – Small, rubber, elastic bands that secure the archwires and brackets together
• Springs – May be placed on parts of the archwires between the brackets in order to open, close, push or pull spaces between the teeth
• Rubber bands or elastics – Attached to the brackets on hooks to move the upper and lower teeth against one another in order to improve the bite; there are various ways the orthodontist may position these depending on the case

In some cases, an orthodontist may also recommend headgear as part of treatment with braces in Alexandria. These are wire devices secured with a horseshoe-shaped headpiece that surrounds the face and links it to a strap at the rear of your head. These are only used with some patients to correct severe bite issues by moving the upper molars back farther in the mouth or to provide crowded teeth with additional room in which to move. To apply it, your orthodontist will include two headgear tubes on two of the bands on your upper dentures to secure the headgear’s facebow in place. If headgear is part of your orthodontic treatment plan, you will generally only need to wear it while at home or just when sleeping.

Another option for straightening crooked teeth is to use retainers. These removable plastic devices are more effective when there isn’t too much crowding among the teeth.

Give us a call to schedule an appointment with our orthodontist in Alexandria and discuss the different kinds of braces or retainers that may be right for you.

How Long Do You Need to Wear Braces?

It tends to take teeth a long period of time to shift positions. This length of time varies from person to person depending on a variety of factors, including:

• The severity of your dental problem
• How much room you have inside your mouth
• How far your teeth need to travel to achieve the correct positioning
• How healthy your teeth, gums and the jawbone supporting them are
• How diligently you follow the orthodontist’s instructions during treatment

The average treatment time for most people lasts from one to three years. Most people will also wear a retainer at all times for the first six months after the braces come off. After that, you’ll only need to wear the retainer while sleeping, though this may last for several years.

Braces Treatment

Every month or so after you have your braces put on, your orthodontist will want you to visit approximately every month to ensure they’re applying steady pressure onto the teeth. These visits will involve the orthodontist adjusting the wires or springs and replacing worn rubber bands with fresh ones; these actions will produce more pressure and tension on the teeth to facilitate further movement.

Contact us today to discuss how much do braces cost and how we can help make braces in Alexandria more affordable for you, such as through insurance options or payment plans.