Often times at our Ortho3 Sydney CBD and Bondi Junction practice Dr Kerry Lester is asked the question “how do braces work?”
Each and every person has a unique smile. If your teeth are out of line or your bite doesn’t line up when you close your mouth, the need for braces or other orthodontic treatment may be necessary to realign your smile.
What kind of braces are there?
First off, let’s explain what different kinds of orthodontic treatment could be used to fix it. Here at Ortho3, we provide a few different types of braces and other orthodontic treatments. Take a look at our mini video to see what they are called and what they look like:
How do braces work?
Each type of orthodontic treatment works a little differently.
Traditional braces and ceramic braces
The traditional braces pictured above are what we think of when ‘braces’ are mentioned. These braces and ceramic braces work to straighten teeth by using three basic mechanisms:
- Brackets – the metal or ceramic piece that is in front of the tooth
- Bonding or band – the substance that glues the metal in place
- Archwire – the metal wire that runs from bracket to bracket
When the wire is placed into the slot of the bracket, the wire begins to slowly move the tooth into alignment. If the tooth doesn’t move completely into the correct position, the orthodontist will place bends into the wire to help move the tooth into alignment.
Lingual Braces
Much like traditional braces, lingual braces use brackets, wires and bonding to secure them in place but they are secured on the other side of the teeth instead. Dr Lester is especially recognised for the lingual braces technology he uses with two different types of lingual braces available for patients.
Transparent aligners
Invisible aligners are custom-made plastic trays. They work by putting a light pressure on the teeth to bring them into position. The aligners themselves are clear and custom designed to fit the exact shape of your smile.
Why do you need to wear a retainer after you have your braces removed?
A retainer is a custom-made appliance that helps keep teeth in their new straightened position after braces have been removed. Retainers can be used to treat more minor orthodontic problems and they can be both removable and fixed depending on your treatment needs.
Do you think you might need braces and you live near the Sydney CBD or Bondi Junction?
Dr Kerry Lester has 20 years of experience as a specialist orthodontist and over 10 years teaching as a clinical tutor at The University of Sydney in the Discipline of Orthodontics. With two locations in Sydney’s CBD and Bondi Junction, book a consultation with our expert team today.