Braces are an incredible tool used in orthodontics to solve a variety of oral complications. As orthodontic technology advances, we are able to provide patients like you with increasingly effective and timely ways of delivering the smile you deserve! Each component that makes up your braces appliance relies on each other to shift your teeth in the right direction. Our team at Booth Orthodontics is here to walk you through the different parts of braces and what they do!

What Are Braces?

This advanced orthodontic appliance is placed directly on the teeth to correct and align the teeth and jaw. Each specialized component works together to put pressure on your teeth and can help you achieve the beautiful smile you are after. 

There are many benefits apart from aesthetics that make straightening your smile well worth the investment, including but not limited to a simpler sleeping experience, smoother digestion, decreased chance of jaw complications, and greater self-esteem! You have the power to stop dental issues from taking over any aspect of your life and proactively work toward improving yourself.

Treatments Provided

Booth Orthodontics provides our patients with two braces options: metal and clear. The former is a long-trusted traditional option that is able to fix just about any dental issues you have, while the latter is a little more discreet in appearance and an aesthetically pleasing option. Both are effective and reliable choices that provide the results you are looking for. Our team can customize your treatment to your unique needs and provide expert-level care. 

Archwire

This long piece of wire connects all your braces brackets together and does much of the work that slowly shifts your teeth into the correct position. Over time, Dr. Booth adjusts it to become sturdier and places more pressure on the teeth as necessary, settling into a more aligned configuration. Depending on your needs, they are available in different thicknesses and may be bent into a particular position to achieve your smile goals. 

Brackets

Affixed to your teeth are brackets, small square-shaped attachments that act as anchor points for many other parts. They are smaller than ever now and no longer stick out on your teeth as visibly. Each attachment point is able to help Dr. Booth individually control the direction of each tooth and customize placement to your specific needs.

Ceramic

For clear braces, brackets are made from tooth-colored polycrystalline ceramic material to blend in with your teeth. Though they are not entirely invisible, they do a great job of making your appliance more conspicuous. Ceramic brackets are slightly more fragile than their metal counterpart and are typically used with older teens and adults.

Metal

For traditional metal braces, brackets are crafted from high-grade stainless steel and are made to be much more durable against pressure. Whether your smile goals take a few months or a few years to reach, you can rely on them to stay in excellent shape for the entirety of treatment.

Glue

Brackets stay on your teeth thanks to a special orthodontic glue called bonding cement. It secures the brackets, so they stay on without issue throughout your treatment when taken care of properly. However, the adhesive is formulated to easily come off using the correct tools, allowing Dr. Booth to comfortably remove your brackets when your treatment is completed.

Ligatures

To secure the archwire in place, wires known as ligatures are attached after sliding it through your brackets. These are essential to help the archwire place the correct amount of pressure on your teeth by keeping them in perfect position throughout treatment. The ends of the ligature are then twisted multiple times and tucked into your archwire to avoid irritation.

Elastics

Also known as rubber bands, these small elastics are used to apply additional pressure on specific teeth. As efficient as the archwire is, sometimes your teeth need an extra push in the right direction to complete treatment. Rubber bands are placed on the bracket’s upper and lower hook and come in various sizes and strengths so as not to push a tooth farther than it needs to go.

Molar Bands

To give braces more stability during treatment, metal bands may be placed on your back molars to keep the archwire and other components in place. This metal piece is custom-made to fit over your teeth as comfortably as possible. While bands are not always necessary, Dr. Booth may find your specific case could benefit from the extra part.

Retainers

To maintain your perfect smile results, Booth Orthodontics provides each of our patients with a retainer to be worn as often as Dr. Booth recommends. Retainers come as either fixed or removable appliances. Fixed retainers are smooth metal wires permanently placed on the back of your upper and lower teeth. Taking the extra time to floss and brush the wires properly ensures they stay in top condition.

Removable retainers, conversely, are made of a long wire attached to a plastic base, which is simply placed on your teeth. You must wear them during set times of the day to prevent your work from coming undone. Typically, retainers are suggested for full-time wear the first six months after your braces are taken out, then just nightly afterward.

Your Braces Journey Starts Today!

Now that you have a better understanding of how braces work to realign your teeth, our team hopes you feel more confident in starting your orthodontic journey! Braces are a complicated appliance with many parts, so if there are any further questions Booth Orthodontics can answer for you, don’t hesitate to give us a call so we can help you out. Contact us to schedule your free consultation at our Homer Glen office.