METAL BRACES

Traditional Braces
Metal braces, also known as traditional braces, are the best known
dental braces. In the past, they were known to give a ‘metal mouth’
appearance, but nowadays brackets are more smaller and slighly
more discreet. With celebrities leading the way, the stigma of
wearing metal braces has been mostly removed in this modern era
and not frowned upon as much as they were in the past. Metal
braces are cheaper and much more effective and faster in getting
severe teeth problems aligned and straightened.

With the option of wearing different color bands as well it can

actually be a trendy and fashion forward choice. The goal is
straight teeth – so don’t let metal braces put you off at all as will be
working towards having a gorgeous smile to show off to everyone
and yourself.

Keep in mind how confident you will feel when your teeth are
straight. It’s so worth the effort!

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Least expensive type  Most noticeable type of braces
 Durable  Metal mouth appearance
 Best brace type for extreme  Can be irritating or painful to gums and cheeks
overcrowding of teeth in the beginning
 Faster results than other braces  Have to avoid hard, sticky and crunchy food
 Dentist has more control over smaller  More difficult to clean
movements
 Colored bands give kids a chance to
express themselves
 Easy compliance

TREATMENT PROCESS
The fitting process takes about 1 – 2 hours. The procedure itself is
painless but your teeth might feel a little sore afterwards and after
each adjustment. Small metal brackets are adhered to your tooth
surface with a special bonding cement and connected to each other
by arch wire made of high grade stainless steel that is threaded
through each bracket. The heat-activated archwires help to move
the teeth less painfully than before. In some instances longer lasting
copper-titanium or nickel-titanium, which require fewer adjustments,
might be used instead of stainless steel. To secure the wire, tiny rubber bands or sometimes metal
ties are put in place around each bracket.
COMPLIANCE
Compliance is when you do what your dentist requires of you so that the treatment plan is adhered
to and your teeth are straightened as per the set out plan.

Adjustment Visits
Every 4 – 6 weeks you will visit your dentist for an
approximately 20 minute adjustment visit, also known as
tightening where your dentist will remove both the little rubber
bands and the arch wire and inspect your teeth. Either the
same or a new arch wire will be threaded through the brackets
and new rubber bands will replace the worn out ones that were
removed earlier. Always inform your dentist if the arch wire is
poking your cheeks at any point.

The wires are tightened at strategic places to add gradual pressure to the teeth, gently forcing
them to move in the desired direction.

This is also a time for you to ask any questions or talk about any concerns that you may have. The
treatment plan is usually about 2 years but may be longer depending on the severity of your case.
Please remember that missing your adjustment visits will prolong the amount of time you wear
your braces for

RETAINERS
Orthodontic relapse is when your teeth gradually move out of place, either all or
part of their way back to their original places or elsewhere. Teeth are always
moving! Retainers ensure that your beautiful straight teeth stay straight.
.

EATING
Eating the correct type of food will make the difference between an easy
or difficult dental brace journey. Certain foods can get stuck in your braces
and if not properly removed cause plaque, tartar, stains or evntually dental
cavities. Sometimes harder type foods can even dislodge your braces, so
it really is very important to take note of what is best for them to be kept in
tip-top shape.

BRACE-FRIENDLY  AVOID 

 Softer foods  Sticky, crunchy, hard foods

 Easier to clean  Difficult to clean

 Gentle on the braces  Gets stuck in , damages, dislodges braces
 Can cause plaque buildup, tartar, stains
and dental cavities
 Hulless popcorn  Hard raw vegetables and fruit
 Yogurt  Corn on the cob, meat
 Soft fruits: bananas, grapes, organes,  Nuts, popcorn, bubble gum, ice, pretzels,
 strawberries, fruits with no pits
 Light crackers or cookies
 Cheese
 Mashed potatoes
 Peanut butter an djelly
 Ravioli, spaghetti, macoroni & cheese, other
noodle dishes
 Maintaining good nutrition is vital as this
feeds cell development and healthy gum,
bone and teeth development while they
undergo changes as your teeth are
straightened
corn chips
 Hard: taco shells, cookies, crackers,
chocolates
 Sticky: candy, chocolate, toffee, caramel
 Dough-based foods: pizza crusts, breads,
rolls, sub sandwiches
 Cut up into small pieces
 Avoid biting into hard food with front teeth

CLEANING
It is very important to keep your teeth and braces clean at all time.
Any food that remains and not properly removed will cause plaque,
tartar, stains and possibly dental cavities. Cleaning means brushing
AND flossing! For brushing, use a toothbrush with a soft, small
head, electric toothbrush or one recommended by your dentist that
can get into the tiny crevices and surfaces of the braces. The
dentist might be able to give you a special dental floss or any brand
from the supermarket will do. You could also consider investing
into a water floss, which are really very good at removing stuck food pieces and cleaning hard-to-
get-at places.

COLOR BANDS
At every adjustment visit you can splash out a bit and brighten
up your smile with different color bands! Keep it simple and
make it all one color or liven it up a bit with different colors on
each bracket or jaw. The options are endless! You can even
choose to color your braces according to an event or
something important to you. For example, Christmas time,
consider green and red rubber bands or red and white for
Valentines Day. How about your school or university colors? If
you’re a parent you can bring some laughter into the home until your next visit where you can
either go back to your usual color or choose another color set.

COSTS
Although metal braces are probably the least expensive option, it can still be costly. Costs range
between $3,000 - $6,000.