Beautiful, straight teeth aren’t just important for feeling more confident in life, they’re important for your overall health. Straight teeth are easier to care for, and proper alignment reduces stress and strain on your jaw joints. This reduces your risk of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).

Not so long ago, getting braces meant getting intrusive and uncomfortable wire bands and wires, often for a few years. Today, the options for straightening teeth are more numerous, more comfortable, more effective, and less obtrusive. Treatment times today are often much shorter than they were in days gone by. Options today, being more numerous, can be individualized according to the needs of the patient. Here is an overview of the available options: 

Traditional Braces

Today’s so-called traditional braces are a world away from the types of braces available in your parents’ day. “Traditional” refers to braces that use a metal bracket and wires. While these braces are the original type of braces, today’s versions have much smaller profiles and are much lighter, making them much more comfortable to wear. And unlike the older versions that used uncomfortable metal bands to support the brackets, today’s traditional metal type of braces use brackets that are attached directly to the tooth surface. A thin archwire connects the brackets and helps shift teeth into position. During your appointments, the brackets and wires will be tightened and adjusted to keep the teeth moving toward ideal alignment.

Damon Braces

Damon braces also use wires and brackets – which may be metal or clear – but the wires are self-ligating. This means they slide, adjusting themselves without the need for frequent adjustments. Some patients find them to be more comfortable, and studies suggest that the self adjusting nature of the braces makes the treatment faster compared to traditional and ceramic braces.

Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces are similar to metal braces, except instead of metal the brackets are made of a clear ceramic material. This makes the braces much less noticeable. As with traditional metal braces, ceramic braces use archwires to connect the brackets and to shift teeth into their proper alignment.

Clear and Removable Aligners

InvisalignTM and other removable alignment systems have soared in popularity in recent years, and for good reason: as the name implies, these aligners are clear, which makes them almost invisible while being worn. They’re also removable, so teeth and gum care is much simpler. Removability also simplifies eating, since you don’t have to worry about not eating certain types of food during treatment. Both adult and teen versions are available.

So which type is right for you? That’s a decision you can discuss during your office evaluation. Once your needs have been carefully assessed, we’ll talk with you about the options that can help you achieve your goals so you can enjoy a healthier, more beautiful smile. Give us a call at (604) 266-8277 and schedule your evaluation today.