Dental braces straighten teeth and address a variety of orthodontic problems, including crooked, crowded, or spaced teeth, and malocclusion (Issues with the alignment of the teeth).
There are several different types of braces:
Metal Braces
Metal braces are durable, affordable stainless-steel brackets and wires that reliably straighten teeth over 1-3 years. They’re highly visible but effective, with options for clear, tooth-coloured, or colourful elastic bands.
Ceramic braces
Ceramic braces work like metal braces but use tooth-coloured brackets and wires that blend in for a more discreet look. They’re less noticeable but also more fragile and slightly more expensive, with a similar treatment duration of 1-3 years.
Lingual braces
Lingual braces work like traditional braces but are placed on the back surfaces of your teeth, making them invisible from the outside. They offer a discreet straightening option, but it can be
harder to clean, more uncomfortable, and typically cost more than standard metal braces.
Self-ligating braces
Self-ligating braces resemble conventional metal braces in appearance. The primary distinction is that self-ligating braces use an integrated mechanism to secure the archwire rather than ligatures, which are tiny elastic bands.
Clear aligners
Clear aligners, also known as "invisible braces," are an alternative to traditional braces. Clear aligners use a series of specially designed trays to straighten your teeth, replacing braces and wires gradually.
