Orthodontics – Traditional & Invisible Braces

Dental braces are easily the most common form of orthodontic or cosmetic dentistry, and are commonly carried out soon after the adult teeth have all come through, and therefore is most associated with tweens and teens, although many adults undergo orthodontic treatment also.

We also offer Invisalign Braces, click here to learn more.

A confident smile isn’t the only benefit of correcting your smile, and although most people endure braces for cosmetic appearance, your oral health can be positively enhanced as well. Some common issues that can be corrected are:

• Overcrowding simply means a lack of room within your jaw for all of your teeth to fit normally. This can lead to an increased chance of gum disease, with your teeth being harder to clean, and can prevent the normal function of your teeth.
• Widely spaced teeth occur when you have extra space within your jaw, perhaps due to small sized teeth, abnormal growth of the jaw bones, genetics, missing teeth or for other reasons. Spacing issues can lead to some periodontal diseases including gingivitis and periodontitis that, if left untreated, can lead to tooth loss.
• When the upper and lower jaws are both misaligned, a cross bite occurs. It usually causes one or more upper teeth to bite on the inside of the lower teeth. This issue can cause wear of the teeth, gum disease and bone loss
• An overbite is when the upper teeth overlap the lower teeth significantly, and is typically caused by either genetics, bad oral habits (eg thumbsucking), or over-development of the bone that supports the teeth. This can lead to gum problems or irritation, and wear on the lower teeth, and causing painful jaw and joint problems.
• Under bites occur when the lower teeth protrude past the front teeth, usually caused by undergrowth of the upper jaw, overgrowth of the lower jaw, or both, and can also be caused by missing upper teeth. This issue can prevent the normal function of teeth, and lead to tooth wear. It can also cause painful jaw and joint problems.

Metal Braces

When thinking about dental braces, most of us imagine the standard metal wires and brackets.The wire is placed into the ideal position and is then threaded between the brackets which are glued to the front of the teeth. Over time, the wire will return to the original, ideal position, moving the teeth with it.

Ceramic Braces

Favoured by adults trying to reduce the appearance of braces, ceramic brackets more closely match the colour of the teeth, are made from composite materials, don’t stain and are just as strong as metal braces.

These less visible brackets can be complimented by white metal ties or clear plastic ties to further create the impression of “clear” or less visible braces.