woman with braces smiling and taking selfie

Traditional Braces

An Efficient Way to Straighten Your Smile

Traditional braces made of metal or tooth-colored ceramic are a tried and true orthodontic treatment option to straighten your smile. They allow the orthodontist to exercise tight control over tooth movement at each visit, and some tooth movements are faster with this treatment modality. Braces, or brackets, are bonded to all teeth. The brackets connect the teeth to a series of wires that exert forces on the teeth. These wires progress in dimension and stiffness, gradually moving the teeth into alignment.

What Braces Can Treat

Braces are a great option for patients who don’t want to have to take an appliance in and out to eat and drink or who know they are unlikely to be compliant with aligner wear. Although braces have been around for centuries, they continue to evolve and improve. Braces today are more comfortable, sleek and efficient than ever before.

Crooked teeth and a misaligned bite can make it difficult to properly clean your teeth. Over time, this misalignment can lead to poor gum health, cavities and tooth decay or excessive strain on the jaw joints. Dr. Pompei can treat many dental issues with the use of traditional braces, such as:

  • Crowded teeth

  • Space between teeth

  • Protruding teeth

  • Underbite

  • Overbite/Open bite

  • Crossbite

Braces Terminology

  • Spacers: Spacers are small rubber bands that are placed in between your back molars to create space for your new appliances

  • Brackets: These are small metal appliances that are bonded to your teeth using a special adhesive

  • Archwires: Archwires connect all of the brackets on your teeth. Wires apply gentle pressure on the teeth, slowly moving teeth into their desired positions over time

  • Bands: Bands are thin metal rings that are placed around your back molars to help to anchor the archwire

  • Ligature: Ligatures allow you to express yourself with your smile! Ligatures wrap around each bracket, and come in a variety colors, both bold and discreet

Dr. Pompeii with patient

Benefits of Braces

Having your smile straightened at High Line Orthodontics with traditional braces has a variety of benefits.

  • Improved self-esteem: First and foremost, a beautiful new smile achieved with traditional braces can boost self-esteem and confidence

  • More likely to smile more: When you feel more confident about your smile, you are more likely to smile more. Studies have shown that the act of smiling can make you feel happier

  • Better digestion: When your teeth are straight and your bite is aligned, you are more likely to properly chew your food. This in turn leads to better digestion

  • Improved oral health: A straighter smile makes it easier to properly brush and floss your teeth, leading to improved oral health

  • Fewer headaches: Many patients with a misaligned jaw experience frequent headaches due to uneven pressure on the temporomandibular joints. A bite that properly fits together can reduce the number of headaches you have

  • Better overall health: Good overall oral health has been linked to better overall health! A straight smile can set you up for a lifetime of healthy and happy smiles

Clear Braces

Clear braces, also known as ceramic braces, are a more discreet alternative to traditional, metal braces. Clear braces use many of the same techniques as metal braces, but clear braces brackets and archwires are ceramic and tooth-colored, rather than metal. Clear braces have both advantages and drawbacks. Because brackets and archwires are tooth-colored, patients can align their smiles more discreetly. This is great for adults or teens who want the teeth-straightening power of braces, without drawing too much attention to their appliances. However, the ceramic material used in clear braces is more brittle than metal braces, and is more likely to be damaged or break. Regardless, getting clear braces is a great way to get a healthy, straight smile!

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