Bracing is a method to help correct the misaligned teeth to the correct position on the jaw. Currently, there are many methods of bracing with many advantages and disadvantages and different treatment costs. The variety inadvertently makes users feel bewildered and do not know how to choose a suitable method. The following article will help you understand more about types of bracing nowaday.
Index
1. Bracing
Bracing is the leading technology in orthodontics, which uses a system of fixed appliances on the teeth to bring the teeth into the correct position. The following are the types of bracing:
Metal bracing
Metal bracing is a method of using a system of brakets, archwires and elastic bands fixed on the tooth surface, thereby creating traction to move the teeth to the correct position on the jaw.
Advantages
Lowest cost of all types of orthodontics
The brackets are designed to be small and durable to withstand the pulling force on the teeth, avoiding the breakage of brackets
Highly effective, suitable for many misaligned teeth, shortening the treatment time compared to other methods.
Disadvantages:
There are some cases of metal allergies
Poor aesthetics, when smiling, the instrument will be exposed, causing loss of confidence in communication
Instruments that rub against soft tissue can easily damage lips, cheeks, and gums.
Porcelain bracing
Porcelain bracing also uses appliances to fix on teeth, but there is a difference that brackets are made of porcelain, with high aesthetics.
Advantages
High aesthetics, the color is similar to the real teeth, helping customers feel confident when communicating
The edges of brackets are smoothed to ensure comfort when using, limiting friction with soft tissues in dental cavity.
Safe for the body, absolutely no irritation
Disadvantages:
Fragile porcelain material, complicated design, for those who regularly practice sports should not use this type of brackets.
If not being taken care of carefully, porcelain brakets are prone to discoloration, yellowing, and loss of aesthetics.
*Types of archwires:
The archwire is an important instrument for bracing. It has a long and thin fiber structure, fixed on brackets with elastic bands. The archwire helps to create traction that regulates tooth movement. Here are two common types:
Stainless steel archwire:
Stainless steel archwires have been in use since 1929. This type of archwire has low cost, high strength, flexibility and corrosion resistance. Stainless steel alloys of the “18-8” austenitic grade contain Chromium (17 – 25%) and Nickel (8 – 25%) and Carbon (1 – 2%).
Nickel-Titanium (Niti) archwire:
In 1960, the Nickel - Titanium archwire was researched and developed by William F. Buehler. This is the most commonly used alloy in bracing. With composition including 55% Nickel and 45% Titanium, has low hardness, super ductility, high elasticity.
Crystal bracing
This is an improved method from metal bracing, with a bracket system designed from clear crystal to make it difficult for the opposite person to recognize you are bracing.
Advantages
High aesthetics, brackets design with clear colors, so you don't need to worry about it showing like metal brackets.
Very safe for the body: Crystal material usually causes very little irritation to the body.
Highly effective, can completely fix the teeth misalignment from moderate to complex.
Disadvantages:
Crystal material is very fragile: because crystal cannot be as strong as metal. You need to pay special attention to avoid strong external influences that cause the brackets to break.
Crystal brackets are easily stained: brackets and braces are white, if daily cleaning is not careful, it is easy to change the color of the appliances.
Inner bracing
This is an orthodontic method in which the appliances are attached to the inside of the teeth, both ensuring to help overcome the problems of overbite, underbite, and crowded teeth, but also can hide the brackets.
For those who have high requirements for aesthetics can apply this method. In addition, some cases cannot apply metal braces on the inside such as: blood diseases, hemophilia, too many porcelain crowns, etc.
Advantages:
Optimizing aesthetics, it is difficult for people around you to realize that you are bracing because the brackets are hidden inside.
Limiting the risk of developing dental diseases: after removing the brackets, it will not affect the outer surface.
No damage to the lips and cheeks: if the brackets on the outside can make you vulnerable to soft lips when the impact occurs, the brackets on the inside can avoid this phenomenon.
Disadvantages:
Orthodontic time is usually longer than the method of attaching external brackets
The operation of attaching brackets is more difficult than others
Difficulty in daily dental hygiene
Automatic bracing
Improved from traditional bracing, this method integrates brackets designed with a sliding cover system or metal wings with a lid to fix the archwire. The wire will then move freely in the bracket groove.
Advantages:
It is possible to limit the situation of loosening and slipping of brackets because the bracket system has a firmly fixed archwire
Helps reduce friction with teeth and orthodontic time
With a design with flexible collapsible latches to help fix the archwire in the bracket groove, creating a steady impact force, not affected by the elasticity of the elastic band like traditional bracing.
Brackets have a small and round face, making it easier to clean your teeth.
Based on the material of bracket design, this method is divided into 2 types:
- Automatic metal bracing: With a sophisticatedly designed bracket system, it helps to reduce the friction of the archwire in the slot of the brackets, reducing pain and discomfort when using. However, the aesthetics of metal bracing is not appreciated.
- Automatic porcelain bracing: Highly aesthetic but easily affected by daily food leading to dullness. It is made from porcelain and inorganic alloys, so they are completely benign. But compared to metal bracing, it is more expensive.
*Treatment process
To get the expected orthodontic results, the orthodontic process must ensure the following standard stages:
Stage 1: Examination, consultation and taking X-ray
The initial examination is extremely important to help the doctor accurately assess and make an accurate diagnosis. Therefore, the doctor needs to directly examine, take X-ray film of your teeth.
After that, the doctor will advise customer on the current general condition as well as the most suitable types of brackets so that you can choose the right method.
Stage 2: Making a treatment plan and taking dental impressions
When customer agrees, the doctor will make a treatment plan for customer. At this point, you can also know if you need to extract teeth, or intervene to perform any procedures or not.
Stage 3: Designing treatment plan
After taking the impression, the jaw sample will be transferred to the bracket design department and designed to best suit each patient. This phase takes about 1 week.
Stage 4: Starting treament and periodic re-examination
After that, the dentist will make an appointment for you to install the brackets. Then, you will need to go to the clinic for a follow-up visit according to your doctor's instructions to continue with the plan. Usually once a month to ensure close monitoring of tooth movement.
Stage 5: Finishing process and wearing retainer
When the teeth have moved into the correct position, the dentist will assign to remove brackets. But in order for your teeth to be stable like keeping your teeth after bracing, you need to wear retainer for a while longer.
The cost of bracing
The cost depends on the condition of the teeth, more or less deviation, the skill of the doctor performing and the method of orthodontic implementation:
For metal bracing, it will usually range from 35-40 millions / case.
For porcelain bracing method, it will usually range from 45-50 millions / case.
For automatic bracing method, it will usually range from 40-55 millions / case.
For inner bracing method, it will usually gigher than others, range from 80-100 millions / case.
Leetray Clear Aligner
Bracing without brackets (clear aligner) is the most modern method of orthodontic treatment today. By using a system of clear aligners of different sizes to create force to push the teeth to the desired position, this method is highly appreciated for its aesthetics.
Among more than 27 famous brands, there are 2 popular types: Invisalign and Leetray.
Advantages and disadvantages
Similar to other orthodontic methods, clear aligner also possess different advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages
– The highest aesthetics: with transparent trays designed to hug the tooth form, helping you feel more confident when communicating.
– Do not use brackets, so you can avoid entanglement and friction causing soft tissue damage. At the same time, avoid the hassle of unpacking and slipping brackets
– Clear trays are easy to use, can be removed when eating and drinking, easy to clean every day
– Saving time going to the dentist for follow-up visits because you can be instructed to change trays and monitor at home
– Material is extremely safe, does not cause any irritation
Disadvantages:
– The highest cost, so not everyone can afford to experience it
– Requiring daily care: remove the aligners before eating and clean them thoroughly every day.
– Because it can be disassembled, it is easy to forget and lose the trays, affecting the orthodontic process.
Clear aligner treatment process
Modern dental technology helps the process to be supported more optimally in terms of time and effort. The process includes the following stages:
Consultion, examination: The doctor will take an impression of the initial jaw sample, take a panoramic film, digital film to understand the jaw bone correlation, malocclusion to assess the condition, cause and advise specific treatment directions.
Making treatment plan: Because orthodontic treatment is a long-term treatment process, detailed planning can help you visualize the results in advance, know if you need to intervene to extract teeth, use any supporting appliances or not, etc. mentally and economically. If you agree with the plan proposed by the doctor, the dentist and you will sign an orthodontic contract before starting the plan.
Manufacturing trays: Once the patient has finalized the plan, the doctor will send the request, documents and jaw sample to the manufacturer to make the trays. Depending on the brand, it can be mass-produced or not and the production time will vary.
Starting treatment: After the aligners are manufactured, the doctor will make an appointment for the patient to come to deliver the aligners and advise the necessary problems during use. After that, you need to visit the clinic for regular check-ups according to the instructions of your doctor.
Finishing treatment and wearing retainer: When the plan is finished and the teeth are in balance as desired, the doctor will prescribe to remove the trays. Instead, you will wear retainer to keep them in place after orthodontic treatment.
The cost of clear aligner
Along with outstanding advantages in terms of aesthetics and convenience in use, the technology of clear aligner requires a high level of expertise and a system of modern dental equipment. All become the reason why this method is often more expensive than other types. Currently, the cost of clear aligner can range from 80 to 120 million VND / case, depending on each person's case.
Just now is the analysis information about the types of bracing and the price today. Although all have the effect of straightening the teeth to the correct position on the jaw, each method has its own advantages and disadvantages to be able to suit the situation of each person. Therefore, to be able to find the right treatment method, you need to directly visit and consult a specialist.
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