What are brackets?
Brackets are commonly used to refer to all types of fixed or removable orthodontic appliances for aligning teeth. However, it should be noted that brackets are each of the pieces that are held in place by a ligature or a ring that is usually made of metal or an alloy that is bonded to the front surface of the tooth.
There are many ways to straighten teeth, although the orthodontic treatment that is carried out will depend on the options available and the patient’s preferences. Today there are numerous types of brackets, although the most frequently used and best known are metal brackets, esthetic brackets and lingual brackets.
- Metal brackets: these are the most common and the most widely used. It is a very effective system for correcting defects and moving the teeth, allowing all types of malocclusions, although they are the most unsightly brackets.
- Aesthetic brackets: within the traditional brackets are aesthetic brackets, and are usually made of porcelain or sapphire. They are aesthetic and go quite unnoticed.
- Lingual brackets: these brackets are invisible to the naked eye and are very precise and effective.
Why are braces used?
Both orthodontics and braces are used to correct a poor bite or misalignment of teeth that are crowded or crooked.
In other cases, the teeth are well aligned and straight, but the upper jaw and lower jaw are not aligned and do not fit together perfectly.
Braces are part of orthodontic treatment and are used to correct anomalies and malformations of the teeth with respect to their position in the mouth. In fact, the use of braces and orthodontics is not only for aesthetic purposes, but the non-correction of a poor bite can lead to the development of other oral health problems such as, for example:
- Dental caries
- Periodontal disease
- Loss of teeth
- Both speech and chewing are affected.
- There is unusual wear on the tooth enamel.
- Jaw problems
There are several cases for which braces may be used:
- There are problems with crowding
- The jaws are not well aligned, there is dental malocclusion.
- There are interdental spaces that need to be corrected or closed.
- It prevents future malocclusions by correcting alterations in facial development.
What do braces consist of?
Brackets allow the individual movement and displacement of all teeth in any direction, thus correcting bite problems or dental crowding.
As such, brackets are made up of two distinct parts. On the one hand, there is the active part of the brackets, which is responsible for applying and generating force. On the other hand, there is the passive part, which is responsible for transmitting the force generated by the active part to the tooth. This joint action achieves the movement of the dental piece towards the desired position.
Preparation for braces
First of all, in the face-to-face appointment with the dental specialist, a detailed orthodontic study will be carried out in which the following actions will be performed:
- Study models
- Intraoral and extraoral photos
- Cephalometric analysis
- X-rays
Subsequently, after the orthodontic study, the patient will have an interview with the orthodontist, who will assess the objectives, the type of treatment used, whether or not tooth extractions are necessary, the approximate treatment time and the care that the patient should take in his or her mouth.
Care after the procedure
Once the brackets and orthodontics are removed, the teeth that have just been straightened need to be stabilized for a period of time, known as the retention period. During this period, retainers made of plastic or metal are used to prevent the teeth from returning to their original position.
Retainers are a passive instrument, since their function is only to prevent tooth movement. There are two types of retainers, fixed retainers and removable retainers, i.e., removable. They are normally worn for 24 hours a day for a period ranging from three to six months, and are then used only for sleeping, although there are cases in which retainers are worn for life.
Alternatives to braces
Dental esthetics is an aspect that generates more and more interest in modern society. Therefore, it is not surprising that there are alternatives to the use of orthodontics or braces to align teeth and correct bite problems.
- Invisalign: This type of invisible orthodontics uses a series of transparent splints that perform micro movements on the teeth. Invisalign can be removed and put on, is very aesthetic and very comfortable.
- Lingual orthodontics: this is a very aesthetic and very precise option. It uses a series of brackets that are placed on the inside of the tooth, so it is not visible to the naked eye.
- Damon self-ligating brackets system: they present an esthetic appearance and have a great capacity of movement in the teeth, almost without discomfort and shortening the treatment time.