A Guide To Orthodontic Therapy: Common Orthodontic Appliances

A misaligned bite can give a less appealing smile, cause discomfort or difficulty chewing, and increase your risk of oral problems. Orthodontic therapy is crucial in aligning your bite to enhance oral health, smile, and self-confidence.

While traditional braces and Invisalign are among the most commonly known, orthodontic treatments encompass numerous appliances designed to address various orthodontic problems. This article explores the common types of orthodontic appliances you should know about.

1. Traditional braces

Traditional braces are the most commonly known and used orthodontic appliances. They often consist of metal or ceramic brackets fixed to the teeth and connected by archwires. While metal braces are highly noticeable, ceramic braces are tooth-colored and thus provide a more discreet option.

Traditional braces put continuous pressure on the teeth, gradually shifting them to the desired positions. Sometimes ligatures or elastic bands are used to secure the braces strongly and facilitate more tooth movements. Traditional braces are highly versatile and can correct orthodontic issues like teeth gaps, malocclusions, overcrowding, and misaligned teeth.

2. Clear aligners

Clear aligners have gained massive popularity in recent years that’s to their discreet nature and convenience. Clear aligners are custom-made, transparent, removable trays made from a durable, flexible plastic material. Thanks to their custom-fit and transparent nature, clear aligners are virtually invisible, allowing you to undergo your treatment discreetly.

Common types of clear aligners include Clear Correct aligners, 3M Clarity aligners, and Invisalign. Removable aligners allow you to eat, drink, brush, and floss normally. However, they just be worn for at least 20-22 hours daily for maximum effectiveness. Clear aligners are ideal for average orthodontic problems like teeth gaps, misalignments, and crowding.

3. Self-ligating braces

Self-ligating braces are a recent innovation in orthodontic treatment, offering an excellent alternative to traditional braces. While they look similar to traditional braces, they have a unique design. While traditional braces use ligatures or elastic bands to secure the wires to the brackets, self-ligating braces have a built-in mechanism to secure the archwire without additional components.

Like traditional braces, self-ligating braces put gradual, gentle pressure on the teeth, pushing them to the desired positions. They are effective for correcting teeth gaps, misalignments, and crowding.

4. Retainers

Retainers are often used to maintain the results obtained after orthodontic treatments like braces and Invisalign. After your teeth have been aligned, they can gradually shift back to their initial positions. Retainers help keep the teeth in their new positions and prevent them from moving back.

Based on your condition and needs, retainers can be removable or fixed. Fixed retainers consist of a thin wire that’s bonded to the back of the teeth. Removable retainers are custom-made and look like clear aligners.

5. Space maintainers

Space maintainers are primarily used in pediatric orthodontic care. They preserve the space left after losing a baby tooth until the permanent adult tooth comes in. Closing these spaces helps prevent the adjacent teeth from shifting towards the gap, helping maintain proper teeth alignment and prevent future orthodontic problems. Space maintainers can be fixed or removable based on the patient’s needs.

6. Headgear

Headgear is a less common orthodontic appliance for correcting severe teeth misalignments, underbites, and overbites. Headgear consists of a metal wire framework connected to a neck pad or strap that exact external forces on the jaws and teeth. These forces help align teeth, modify abnormal jaw patterns, and improve facial aesthetics. Due to its nature, headgear for orthodontic treatment is worn for several hours daily, say 14 hours, based on the patient’s condition and needs.

7. Palatal expanders

Also known as orthodontic expanders, these appliances widen the upper jaw to correct orthodontic problems like narrow arches and crossbites. They are primarily used in children whose jaws are still developing and thus more malleable. Palatal expanders consist of metal frameworks attached to the upper molars.

A screw is placed in the middle and activated periodically to add gentle pressure on the palatal bone in order to expand the arch gradually. This creates enough space for teeth to align correctly and improve overall oral harmony. In addition to orthodontic benefits, palatal expanders can help improve swallowing and breathing.

Visit Our Office for Appliance Therapy in Claremont, NH

Are you considering orthodontic appliance therapy? Our dentist can guide you in selecting the best suitable appliance for your needs. For more information about appliance therapy near you, contact Concord Dental Associates to book your consultation today.