Traditional Braces
Portland, OR
 Many of us are familiar with dental braces. Whether we know someone who has undergone orthodontic treatment, or we happen to be personally wearing them or have worn them in the past, it is easy to see why many patients elect to get braces. Braces can help improve the appearance of your smile, allowing you to regain your self-esteem. They can also help improve the function of your smile, as well, making it easier to bite and chew with ease. If you are curious about learning more about how braces work, we here at Senestraro Family Orthodontics can help shed some light on this important orthodontic procedure.
The Components of Braces
Before you can fully understand how braces work, you must first be able to recognize the various parts and components that make them up. Braces consist of a number of different parts, including the brackets, the wires, and the bands. The brackets are the small pieces attached directly to your teeth. They may be either metal or ceramic. The arch wire is the part of the brace that attaches the brackets together, and they run from tooth to tooth. The bands are also known as the “ligature elastics” or the “o-rings.” These are the part of the brace that connects the bracket with the arch wire and the bracket. Many patients enjoy customizing the bands with fun colors, allowing them to express their personality while undergoing orthodontic treatment.
There are, of course, other components that make up the braces. These may include the bonding material (or the glue that attaches the bracket to your teeth), the orthodontic bands (which are different than the ligature elastics and are used in more advanced cases of malocclusion), and the spacers (which, like their name suggests, help provide space for the bands between your teeth). Not all patients may require all of these parts when they get braces, however.
How Braces Actually Work
The way braces work is fairly straightforward. In order to carefully and gently move your teeth, they need to apply continuous pressure to them. You may be interested in knowing that braces are not only affecting your teeth, but also the bones in your mouth. Your alveolar bone is simply the part of your jawbone which holds your teeth, and braces do carefully manipulate this bone. Braces also work on the periodontal membrane, allowing for the teeth to be shifted back into the correct position.
Every patient is unique, and therefore, each treatment process is one of a kind. The duration of your treatment may vary, and some patients respond to braces more quickly than others. The severity of your malocclusion may be a key factor in determining how long you may need to wear braces. We can help explain this process to you during your appointment with us, allowing you to feel confident while undergoing orthodontic treatment with our professionals.
Braces can be a fantastic way for patients to feel happier and more confident when they smile. To learn more about braces and if you may be a candidate for them, or to set up an appointment with our skilled professional team here at Senestraro Family Orthodontics, please give us a call today at (503) 228-1945.
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