Traditional Dental Braces for Children and Adults

Why wearing metal braces is still soooo worth it!

Traditional metal braces faced serious competition as the top teeth straightening device of choice when Invisalign (clear alignment trays that straighten teeth by gradually adjusting their positions) entered the market in 2000. Why is it then that traditional metal braces remain highly popular among children and adults who want to straighten their teeth, correct bite problems and improve their smiles?

Very Effective For Complex Dental Problems

Made of high-grade stainless steel, traditional metal braces are very strong and rarely break. They exert constant firm pressure against the teeth which makes them an excellent corrective appliance to straighten severely misaligned and extremely overcrowded or rotated teeth. They are likewise exceptional at treating patients with widely-spaced teeth, as well as those with serious cases of cross bites, over bites and under bites, vertical problems where the teeth are at different heights, with some lower or higher than the others and to patients with bridgework.

Enhanced Comfort

Unlike the earlier models that used large brackets which wrapped around each tooth, today’s line of metal braces utilize smaller brackets that are bonded to the surface of each tooth and tied by wires or rubber bands called ligatures. The introduction of smaller brackets helped reduce the bothersome “full mouth” sensation while the ligatures gave a smoother feel compared to the hard, cold and sharp touch of the metal wires.

Positive Side of Being Permanently Mounted:

Teeth straightening devices such as traditional metal braces and Invisalign must be worn accordingly based on their respective treatment plans. If patients don’t wear them, their dental problems will not be resolved.

The brackets of traditional metal braces are firmly mounted on each tooth 24×7. This maximizes the effectiveness of the device and eliminates any possibility of it being misplaced or lost. On the other hand, Invisalign is easily removable and patients are often tempted to take them off for long periods of time for some “teeth rest.” Sometimes, busy patients forget to wear them or misplace them altogether.

Schedule an open talk with a licensed orthodontist to discuss if traditional metal braces will work best to treat your dental problem.

Here at Poole Orthodontics, Dr. Stacy Poole and our staff strive to provide the highest quality of orthodontic care in braces to our patients in and around the Santa Maria, Lompoc, Nipomo, Pismo Beach, and Arroyo Grande, California.