Options For Braces
Aurora, CO
Orthodontic appliances known as braces are designed for correcting crooked and crowded teeth. Braces also have the power to align the bite and correct jaw problems. Sometimes, problems may exist in the mouth or jaw, causing issues with eating, speaking properly, or keeping your teeth healthy and clean. The technology of today’s braces continues to advance. Braces are now sleeker, smaller, more aesthetically discreet, and more comfortable than ever.
Traditional Metal Braces
Traditional braces consist of small metal brackets adhered to your teeth with a solid adhesive compound. They utilize metal brackets joined together by a thin metal wire called the archwire. This wire is what works to gradually “pull” your teeth into place throughout treatment.
Materials such as elastics may be used to help in traditional orthodontic treatment. There are two main types of orthodontic elastics: ligatures and inter-arch elastics (rubber bands). The elastics offer solutions to some treatments. They can be applied in a number of configurations, but the most common is inter-arch (from top to bottom). Options for different elastic colors also exist to personalize the appearance of your appliances. The appliance will be adjusted periodically throughout treatment so constant pressure can continually straighten and align your teeth or jaw.
Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces are made of composite materials that are designed to blend in with the color of your natural teeth, so they are less noticeable than metal braces. While ceramic braces function in the same way as traditional metal braces, this option appeals to those who wish to maintain a more discreet appearance during treatment but want the same trusted level of effectiveness that braces are known for.
Self-Ligating Brackets
Self-ligating brackets are one of the many technological advances in orthodontics. The science behind self-ligating braces is having a smooth metal door securing the archwire. Instead of using a high friction rubber tie, teeth are freer to slide along the wire, resulting in less discomfort, faster treatment times, shorter appointment times, fewer orthodontics trips, and teeth that are easier to clean.
The self-ligating brackets used in our office are truly versatile, coming in both metal and ceramic.
The most significant and evidence-based advantage of a self-ligating bracket is the ease of improving oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment. Therefore, self-ligating brackets are crucial to ensuring the best treatment possible for our patients!
LightForce Custom 3D-Printed Braces
LightForce braces take personalization a step further than any other bracket system available today. Instead of using mass-produced brackets designed for an “average” tooth, LightForce brackets are 3D-printed from scratch for each individual patient, based on a digital scan of your teeth and bite.
Dr. Garlock uses your scan to build a complete digital treatment plan before a single bracket is made. From there, LightForce’s software designs a bracket that matches the exact contours of each tooth, then 3D-prints it in a durable, tooth-colored ceramic material. Because every bracket is custom-fit, a personalized bonding tray allows Dr. Garlock to place your entire set of braces accurately in a single visit, rather than adjusting each bracket by hand.
Patients choosing LightForce can expect:
- A more discreet, tooth-colored appearance compared to traditional metal brackets
- Greater comfort, since each bracket base is shaped to fit your unique tooth anatomy
- Fewer adjustment appointments, thanks to the precision of the digital planning process
- A treatment plan you can visualize from day one, since your entire smile journey is mapped out digitally before treatment begins
LightForce combines the reliability of traditional braces with the accuracy of modern digital orthodontics, giving patients a treatment experience that’s built specifically around their smile.
Oral Hygiene With Braces
Oral hygiene is an essential part of healthy living. It’s not brushing alone that results in better hygiene. Orthodontic treatment is designed to help facilitate a healthy smile, so if you have any questions about your current hygiene practices please ask us! When you visit Dr. Garlock at our office in Aurora, CO, we make sure that you receive the highest level of service and quality orthodontic treatment.
Taking Care Of Your Teeth
Thanks to better at-home care and in-office dental treatments, it is easier to have a healthier smile that lasts. Brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash are all healthy habits to get into. When braces are introduced, brushing and flossing may be a little more difficult. Our team can help make any recommendations when it comes to tools specially designed for cleaning around braces.
The most common treatable issue with teeth and gums is the build-up of plaque. Plaque is a sticky layer of bacteria, a combination of food particles and saliva, which forms on your teeth. Sugary food and starches are the most harmful because these products combine with bacteria to create acids that eat at your teeth and gums. Sugars aren’t the only enemy. Most all bacteria in plaque make acids that cause cavities. Plaque also leads to periodontal (gum) disease. This can become a serious disease that can stun your immune system making you more susceptible to other diseases and illnesses. Gum disease will damage bone and destroy the tissues around your teeth if it’s not treated.
The best defense against plaque is to remove it before it has a chance to build up and cause problems. Brushing and flossing is the best at-home method to remove plaque. Brushing removes plaque from the large surfaces of the teeth and from just under the gums. Brushing alone can’t reach between every nook and cranny so flossing between your teeth can remove plaque brushing can’t reach.