Braces
What are braces?
Dental braces straighten your teeth and correct a wide range of orthodontic issues, such as:
- Crooked teeth.
- Crowded teeth.
- Gapped teeth.
- Malocclusion (issues with the way your teeth fit together).
How do braces work?
Braces use mild, constant pressure to shift your teeth into their proper positions over time.
What are the types of braces?
There are several different types of braces. The type that’s best for you depends on a few factors, including the kind of issue you have, the severity of your condition and your personal preferences.
Metal braces
When you think of braces, traditional metal braces might be what you imagine. Metal braces use stainless steel bands, brackets and wires to gently shift your teeth over time. The orthodontist will bond (glue) a bracket on each tooth, then place a thin, flexible arch wire over the brackets. Tiny elastic bands called ligatures keep the wire firmly in place.
Metal braces are visible when you smile. You can choose silver coloured ligatures to make your braces less noticeable. Or, if you’re feeling festive, you can choose colours!
Ceramic braces
Ceramic braces work the same way as metal braces. The key difference is that the brackets are tooth-coloured, so they blend in with your smile. Ceramic braces are still visible, but they’re less noticeable.
Clear Aligners
Clear aligners therapy is a series of custom made clear aligners that move your teeth little by little. We start with photos and an intra-oral scan of your teeth. The orthodontist then directs the aligner software how the the teeth are to be aligned over time to achieve your ideal result.
Clear aligners are custom made for comfort, and because they are removable there are no dietary restrictions or change to your oral hygiene routine. We advise our patients to wear their aligners 24 hours per day (except for eating, drinking anything other than water and cleaning their teeth) for one week at a time.