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If, like many others, you too are suffering from de-aligned teeth problems, braces are the perfect solution. Your teeth alignment can be done perfectly by having the right type of braces that suits your teeth best.
Most people wonder about the biomechanics system of braces and they want to know the actual working process so that they can get the best out of it.
If you too are interested in knowing the way braces actually work, you are at the right place. Just go through this article to know everything you need to, regarding braces and their biomechanics.
How Do Braces Work?
The answer is yes, braces move your teeth to alter the smile as desired by exerting a continuous pressure on teeth and jaws. The working mechanism works by exerting a constant pressure on your teeth through the brackets holding teeth and archwire to place them in your desired position gradually and slowly.
Your teeth are surrounded by the soft tissue that can stretch and compress with the movement of your teeth. The tissues are medically known as periodontal ligaments.
The ligaments play their role in setting your teeth alignment by changing teeth position under pressure exerted by the braces. When a tooth is moved towards the left by the braces, the ligaments on the left compresses and a new bone forms on the right to fix the teeth and fill the gap.
Do Braces Move Teeth as Desired?
The braces are designed to correct the following medical issues:
- They cater to the overcrowding issues that occur when jaws are large and teeth are small and vice versa.
- Braces can deal with your overbiting issue that occurs due to the overlapping of upper and lower teeth.
- Braces can exert enough pressure to move your teeth towards the lip as well as towards the palate as per your need and existing teeth structure.
Braces’ Treatment Process
Braces and their outcomes are dissimilar with individuals but generally the patients go through the following three stages:
- Edges in The straight Line
Let’s call the first step of the treatment a process of moving teeths up and down or across in order to align the edges in a straight line. You can notice this thing even by observing your teeth through a mirror.
- Treating Crossbites by Fixing Teeth Gaps
Once your teeth’ edges sit in a straight line, the second step will be to get your braces readjusted to treat the overbiting or cross biting issues. The adjustments are highly critical to your teeth issue. So for the patients with the gaps between their teeth, are recommended to visit their dentist to readjust their braces for the next step of the treatment.
- Tuning and Tidying
Well, we clearly know your desire to get your teeth perfectly finished, and for that your third step would be to get a regular tuning and tidying during the final days of treatment to fix your teeth in a perfect desired sitting before braces’ removal.
Types of Braces
While knowing about the types of braces, the thing you need to understand is the type of teeth you have. For example, if your teeth are having an overbite issue, your orthodontist will suggest to you the type of braces that suits you the best as per your medical condition. Consider the following types of braces:
Fixed Braces
The most common type of braces are fixed braces, and as obvious from the name, they are fixed to the teeth while you need to bear the braces all the time like during brushing and even during sleep. Fixed braces include:
- Traditional Braces
- Self-ligating Braces
- Lingual Braces
Removable Braces
Just like the name suggests, these braces are removable, giving you an option to remove them while cleaning, brushing or eating. If you want to go for the removable braces, you have two options generally available in the market:
- Clear Plastic Aligners or Invisible Braces
- Removable Plates
Do You Know About Retainers?
Retainers are more like a post treatment thing which orthodontists advise you to wear after your braces are removed, in order to maintain the long lasting streightnes of your teeth.
It depends on your teeth structure and medical reasons. Orthodontist will suggest to you after examining your medical condition about how long you will need to wear the retainers. The recommendation is to wear them for a lifetime to keep your teeth fixed at the right places.
Braces: Do They Really Hurt?
Hurt is not a suitable word for a dull throbbing caused by braces. The patient should not feel pain while wearing his or her braces. In any other case you are advised to take a pain reliever after medical consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much braces cost?
Braces are not any buy as its cost ranges from $5000 to $7000 depending upon the age of the patient as per American Academy of Orthodontists but if you have some kind of insurance coverage that is another thing.
How long braces take to align teeth?
The treatment period varies from person to person but generally the treatment period stays between one to three years depending upon the patient’s condition and need.
Do braces work for adults?
The answer is straight and simple. Braces do the same job with adults as they do with the children. There are several options for adults to choose among the types of braces they want. The results are satisfactory. You just need to follow the instructions of your orthodontist carefully.
Is it possible to make braces work faster?
You might have heard this verse which says,”For everything there is a season”. But these days there are certain products available in the market that help in boosting the braces treatment.
