Traditional fixed braces can still be the best, most cost effective option. Some people may find them unsightly, uncomfortable and difficult to clean, but there are various styles to consider which offer different pros and cons. At Integrity Dental Care, we will explain these options to you to help you make the best choice.
A fixed appliance is the most common type of orthodontic brace. Most patients require the use of fixed orthodontic appliances to straighten their teeth and achieve the best possible improvement of their smile. As there are a few stages we go through to put your braces on, this will mean you may need to have more than one appointment. They can be used either after or at the same time as removable braces or functional braces. We tend to find that a fair number of patients benefit from more then one type of brace although most will have fixed braces.
A thin archwire is fitted to link up all the brackets. Because the teeth are irregular, the wire has to bend up and down or in and out between the teeth. This is the clever bit: the wire, a bi-product of NASA research, has perfect shape memory and will gradually return to its original shape, bringing the teeth with it. As treatment progresses, larger size wires and other wire materials are used. At this time, tiny springs and elastics guide the teeth.
Empower Braces are innovative, self-ligating braces. What that means is that their archwire is allowed to move within the bracket, causing teeth to shift faster. This self-ligation technique also uses a lighter archwire, which leads to less friction.
As a result, wearing this type of braces is more comfortable than wearing traditional ones. Patients choosing Empower Braces receive many other benefits too, including the following.
Empower Clear Braces combine two of the orthodontic industry’s leading trends – clear cosmetic appliances and self ligation. They are an integral part of Empower, the most complete self ligating bracket system in the world.
The self ligating technology of the Empower system uses integrated clips to hold your arch wire in place, instead of traditional rubber bands (ligatures) that tend to stain and wear down over time. These clips allow us to make quicker wire adjustments and deliver the rewarding experience you deserve on the path to your ideal smile.
For patients with complex orthodontic cases that require bite correction, the Carriere Motion Appliance might be the perfect fit. The appliance, coming in both clear and metal colour, was created to speed up and ease bite correction for Class II and Class III patients, eliminating the need for headgear.
Carriere Motion Appliance is suitable for patients of all ages. If you or your child have been told that you require a bite correction, book a consultation with our specialist orthodontist trained to work with Carriere Motion Appliance to determine if this solution will be suitable for you.
The length of time varies from person to person because it will depend upon the complexity of each case however as a rough guide, the majority of our patients have their braces on anywhere between 12 and 24 months. During your consultation, your specialist orthodontist will be able to give you a more accurate estimate as to how long the treatment will take. This is not an exact science, and sometimes the teeth move quicker than anticipated, or slower.
We use DentalMonitoring and ScanBox pro to monitor when you need to return to the surgery as we can see when your wires become inactive and brace needs to changes. This can be anywhere from 4 -14 weeks.
As with any Orthodontic treatment, a level of mild discomfort is to be expected. Any pain experienced after the brace is fitted or the bands are changed usually improves after 48 hours and can be easily managed with painkillers if required.
