Dental braces are the ideal orthodontic treatment to fix various oral health concerns such as crowding, crooked teeth, misalignment, and more. With the availability of modern dental care technology, there are several types of braces that one can choose from. Each of these braces has its own unique set of advantages and disadvantages.
Traditional metal braces are one of the most popular and widely used options that are available in the market today. The braces are applied to the teeth and connected via a wire using elastic ties. Even though the traditional metal braces are the most common and extremely efficient, it is very noticeable. Luckily, to solve this concern, your dental professional may suggest other types of braces that might be less visible, especially for people who feel a little conscious about wearing dental braces.
In this blog, we'll discuss the various braces that are available today apart from the regular metal ones. Let's begin!
1] Ceramic Braces:
Ceramic braces are quite similar to metal braces. However, it consists of a clear tooth-colored bracket instead of the metal one, making the braces less noticeable and visible. These braces are quite common amongst patients who wish to maintain the aesthetics of the teeth whilst wearing dental braces.
However, ceramic braces are heavier on the pocket than the metal alternative. Along with this, the brackets used in ceramic braces are larger than the metal ones, making it harder to clean around the mouth thoroughly. It has also been noticed that ceramic braces are likely to stain faster and are less durable than metal ones.
2] Self-Ligating Braces:
Self-ligating braces work in quite a similar way to the metal and ceramic ones. However, instead of the elastic ties that are used in the metal braces, this type of brace holds the wire in place via brackets or clips. Self-ligating braces do not have elastic rubber ties. These braces can be made available in either metal or ceramic material.
3] Lingual Braces:
Contrary to the regular traditional braces, lingual braces are fixed at the back of the teeth. This makes the braces very less noticeable.
One of the major disadvantages of this type of lingual braces is that they can be slightly more on the expensive side of the spectrum. Since the orthodontic brackets are fixed at the inner side of the teeth, they can cause severe discomfort at the initial stage. One may also find it more difficult to thoroughly clean their teeth whilst wearing lingual braces.
4] Clear Aligners:
Clear Aligners have become quite popular in the recent few years. This is because these braces are the least noticeable amongst the lot, giving it an aesthetic and cosmetic advantage over its metal & ceramic counterparts. Clear Aligners are custom designed for each individual and they are made of strong plastic material used to align the teeth.
Clear Aligners are removable, making it easier to ensure proper cleaning of the mouth without any hassle. They are also more comfortable than the traditional metal braces. However, depending on your dental health requirement, these braces can be quite expensive on the pocket.
It is essential to note that not all dental braces will be suitable for all oral care requirements. It is best to consult your dental professional who will be able to further examine your teeth & gums and thus suggest the best treatment depending on several factors such as dental health, preferences, budget, and more.
Always ensure to take utmost care of your dental health by regularly cleaning your teeth and gums with an electric toothbrush and water flosser. ORACURA® offers several advanced features, a higher warranty, and reliable after-sale service. Not only this but their electric toothbrush and dental flosser are suitable to clean every corner of the mouth, even if you're wearing braces or any other orthodontic appliance.
