There are a number of different types of braces in Downers Grove. Traditional metal braces are by far the most common; they use brackets, arch-wires and rubber bands. Lingual braces are fitted on the back of the teeth and cannot be seen but are expensive, clear ceramic braces are less visible but they tend to require more maintenance. Clear aligners are invisible and have a number of benefits including the fact that they can easily be removed while eating, brushing and flossing.
Self-ligating braces are similar to traditional braces and are made from the same material; the big difference is they do not require rubber bands. With traditional braces each tooth is tied separately to the arch-wire, with self-ligating braces the bands have a small catch which grips and tie to the arch-wire, thus eliminating the need for rubber bands.
Self-ligating braces in Downers Grove have a number of advantages. They take less time to fit and require fewer visits to the orthodontist for maintenance. Each band has a small trap which can quickly be closed over the arch-wire; this makes it much faster than having to tie each tooth to the wire. This design results in far less time be expended when the braces are first being fitted as well as all subsequent adjustments. This type of braces is commonly referred to as “speed braces” because of how quickly they can be installed and adjusted.
As the arch-wire can move slightly many people who wear self-ligating braces feel they are somewhat more comfortable than traditional braces. The fact that the arch-wire can move a little along the front of the teeth results in less stress which in turn results in less pain to the patient, the downside is the orthodontist does not have the same control over individual teeth. As each tooth is not tightly attached to the arch-wire precise adjustments are somewhat more difficult to accomplish.
Self-ligating braces are certainly easier to maintain, as a result there is less possibility of food particles become lodged in the braces which means there is less problems with decay. In most cases the base of the braces are made of metal but they can also be made from translucent ceramic which makes them less visible. These braces not only mean fewer visits to the orthodontist, they also shorten the total treatment time considerably; they can often cut a full six months off the total time to do the job.
Self-ligating braces in Downers Grove offer a patient a number of positive benefits. To discuss the various options for braces you are invited to visit Oakbrook Orthodontics at www.web.com/downers-grove-traditional-braces.
