While a lot of people wear braces at some point in their lives, many don't fully understands the ins and outs of how they work.
Dr. Kanani and his team know that well-informed patients are more likely to get through their treatment without any hitches.
Today, we’ll share with you exactly how braces work, so that you can better understand what’s going on in your mouth during your treatment.
What do braces do?
Braces straighten teeth by applying continuous pressure over an extended period of time, slowly moving them into the correct positions. As your teeth move, the bone around them changes shape as a result of the pressure applied.
Braces are made up of a several parts, all of which serve specific purposes. The basic parts that make up most sets of braces are as follows:
The small squares that are bonded to each tooth are the brackets. These can be made of a variety of materials, and can be placed on either the front or back sides of your teeth. Brackets hold the arch wires, which actually move the teeth, in place.
The stainless steel orthodontic bands function as anchors for the brackets.
Arch wires are the parts that are attached to the brackets and that create the pressure that moves the teeth. Arch wires can be clear, tooth-coloured, or metal.
Elastic ties fasten the arch wires to the brackets. These small rubber rings come in a wide range of colours.
Elastics or rubber bands attach to hooks on the brackets and apply pressure to move the upper and lower teeth into the desired positions in relation to each other.