How Braces Improve Your Smile
Whether you're looking for an Akron orthodontist for yourself or wonder which orthodontic treatment is right for your child, it's common for patients to have questions about how braces work. Braces are orthodontic appliances that are made up of many different parts that work in unison to align your bite and straighten your teeth for a healthier and more attractive smile.
The Different Parts of Braces
Conventional metal braces and ceramic braces are both made of the same moving parts. Even though each individual part is small, each part of your braces is very important for bringing the teeth into proper alignment. The different parts making up braces includes the following.
Archwire
The archwire is a thin, strong and flexible wire that is threaded through each bracket. When pressure is applied to the archwire, the teeth are gently guided into their ideal position.
Bands
The bands are designed to anchor the archwire and the rest of the braces system to your mouth. A band is a ring made of metal that is custom-fitted to your molars. Bands are attached to the molars using a special adhesive that contains fluoride to help prevent tooth decalcification.
Brackets
The brackets on your braces are the metal or ceramic pieces that are bonded to each tooth to hold the archwire while guiding tooth movement. Brackets also come with built-in hooks to hold the ligature ties in place.
Ligature Ties
Ligature ties, often called O-Rings, are small rubber rings designed with the purpose of attaching the archwire to the brackets. O-Rings come in a wide variety of fun colors, allowing patients wearing braces to have some fun while they're improving their smiles. Sometimes a fine ligature wire tie is used to achieve more activation of the archwire into the bracket.
Coil Spring
The coil spring is a small part that is fitted over the archwire and between the brackets. This part of your braces helps control tooth movement.
Hooks
Hooks are on each bracket and are designed to hold the elastics in place over the archwire.
Contact Your Akron Orthodontist Office
Drs. Najem & Lehky, along with their staff understand that seeking orthodontic treatment can be a bit intimidating, and more so for children. That's why we always take the time to answer your questions and listen to your concerns. If you would like to schedule an appointment with us to find out how you or your child could benefit from wearing braces, please contact one of our office locations. Our Fairlawn office can be reached at (330) 864-3331 and our Cortland office at (330) 638-7004. We proudly serve patients living in Akron, Fairlawn, Cortland, Warren and all of Western Cuyahoga County. We look forward to hearing from you soon!