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- Which braces are best to choose? Comparison of types of braces systems and their prices
- Why are braces needed and how do they work?
- Types of bracket systems
- Metal braces
- Ceramic bracket systems
- Sapphire designs
- Lingual braces
- Self-ligating braces
- Price categories of braces
- Choosing a bracket system
- The best braces for an adult
- The best braces for a teenager
- Choosing the best bracket system: results
No matter how rapidly the methods and technologies used in orthodontics develop, installing braces to correct the bite remains the most effective method of treatment.
The range of designs is represented by more than 10 different braces. Some of them are invisible during a conversation, a smile, or in a photo, others are visible, but not striking. What types of braces are there and how they work, how do they differ, how to choose the right design for yourself? To understand this issue, you need to structure the options and decide on their advantages/features.
Varieties
Based on the type of bracket systems, a distinction is made between ligature and self-ligating systems. The former are fastened using devices - ligatures made of metal or elastic material. To fix the arch on self-ligating braces, there are latches, latches or spring clips. They are larger in size, but they are also easier to care for due to the absence of ligatures.
addictive
Unfortunately, you cannot do without an adaptation stage during treatment with braces. Based on the fact that their action consists of mechanical force, the intensity of the discomfort is unknown.
The process of addiction occurs differently for each patient. Adaptation depends entirely on the patient’s desire to correct the bite and the willingness to endure the discomfort.
After wearing the structure for some time, the patient and oral organs get used to the product, and it ceases to cause discomfort.
You can visually evaluate the process of braces in the video.
Installation location
Depending on the place of installation, braces are divided into vestibular and lingual. Classic vestibular appliances are attached to the outside of the dentition. Lingual braces are relatively new and are the latest word in orthodontics. They are installed on the inside of the teeth, they are practically invisible, which is why they are often called “invisible”. This is the best option from an aesthetic point of view. However, while wearing standard lingual braces, they can cause discomfort and affect diction. Individual systems are manufactured specifically for each patient. They are less uncomfortable, but also cause inconvenience.
Physiological basis
Many patients wonder how the tooth moves in braces, because each unit is fixed in bone tissue, and they, accordingly, have a super-hard consistency.
In fact, the bony organ of the oral cavity does not have a tight connection with the jaw joint.
It is located in a recess and is completely enveloped in binding fibers, which provide it with reliable fixation and protect it from the influence of heavy loads through stretching and compression.
After installation, the braces system begins to create some force, which is transferred to the dental unit. Under the influence of pressure, the tooth begins to move to the limit determined by those same connecting fibers.
Based on this, it is not difficult to guess that on one side of the tooth the fibers will be compressed, and on the other they will be stretched. Once this process is started, the position of the teeth begins to be corrected.
Watch the video to see what happens while wearing braces.
Material of manufacture
Different types of braces look different on your teeth. Sapphire ones are the most beautiful, made from artificial sapphire, they are associated more with jewelry than with orthodontic appliances. Ceramic ones also look good. Unlike sapphire, they have a more matte shade to best match the color of the patient's teeth. However, due to the yellowish tint, they are not as beautiful as sapphire systems.
- Metal
- Plastic
- Ceramic
- Sapphire
- Combined
The most common and most reliable devices. This is the most affordable type of dental braces. Installing them won't put a big dent in your budget, but such systems do not look attractive. However, now a compromise solution has been found in orthodontics - metal braces made of steel or alloys with a Teflon coating, which gives the structures a white tint, making them less conspicuous. It is important to understand that this coating wears off over time, and by the end of treatment, the braces look like regular metal ones.
These are vestibular systems made of medical hypoallergenic plastic. Braces and locks are selected exactly to match the color of the patient’s teeth, so they are not very noticeable from the outside. In order to make plastic braces more reliable, some manufacturers experiment with the composition of the material, while others use a special substrate between the tooth and the bracket that follows the anatomical shape of the tooth surface. However, these measures do not always prevent breakdowns. In recent years, wear of such braces has been noticed due to the low strength of this material. During the process of eating, the brace changes its shape, which slows down the patient’s treatment.
Dental ceramics are used to make these vestibular structures. In appearance, it is no different from natural tooth enamel, so ceramic braces are not too noticeable.
Another vestibular system with high aesthetic characteristics. Artificial sapphires are used to make it. They are transparent and shimmer beautifully in certain lighting. Sapphire braces are ideal for those who are sensitive to their appearance, as they look like an exquisite accessory.
These are vestibular devices made of several materials. Ceramics or sapphires are used in the smile area, and metal in the chewing area. Locks on the side teeth are invisible to others, so they can even be made of dark metal. In addition, this option helps to significantly save on treatment.
Other ways to straighten teeth
It should be noted that braces
– is not the only remedy that can have an effect on teeth straightening.
The following inventions are widely used in dentistry:
- Aligners or aligners.
They are polymer plates of transparent color that follow the shape of the dentition. This is an individual product for use, which is made individually for each patient. The main disadvantage of such an invention is its high cost. They have been used for more than a year, and they should be replaced every second week.
- Veneers.
This remedy is very effective for the most minor defects (dental gaps, slight curvature). They tend to hide imperfections rather than eliminate them. However, after just 2 weeks, the teeth acquire an aesthetic appearance.
This article is for informational purposes only, please consult your doctor for details! Ask your doctor about contraindications and side effects.
Pros and cons of different types of braces
As you can see, different types of dental braces have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Metal
- Low cost.
- Reliability.
- Guaranteed efficiency.
- Lack of aesthetics.
- Risk of irritation and tissue injury.
Plastic
- Low cost.
- Aesthetics.
- Fragility.
- Unreliability.
Ceramic
- High level of aesthetics.
- Reasonable price for aesthetic braces.
- Relative fragility.
- Yellowish matte shade.
- Irritation of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity due to relatively sharp angles.
Sapphire
- Aesthetics.
- Transparency.
- Relatively high price.
- Strength is lower than that of metal.
- Irritation of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity due to relatively sharp angles. .
Lingual
- Invisible to others.
- Reliability.
- High price of devices.
- High cost of installation and maintenance.
- Irritation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and tongue.
Combined
- Affordable price.
- Aesthetics.
- Reliability.
- Metal elements are noticeable with a wide smile.
- Difficult system maintenance.
Advantages
Colored braces are safe to use and are not inferior in effectiveness to the classic options.
In addition, the original design has a number of other advantages :
- Wearing the system not only promotes physical improvements, but also provides psychological comfort .
This makes it indispensable for correcting occlusion in children who react sharply to changes in their appearance in a direction that is unfavorable to them. The main point here will be the child’s independent choice of the required color scheme; - ligatures are made from hypoallergenic material, and therefore they are absolutely safe for use ;
- On colored structures the effects of use are less noticeable. Ligatures retain their shade well and do not stain , even after regular use of coloring products;
- on bright surfaces, food residues or plaque are not so noticeable , which cannot always be removed in a timely manner;
- Despite the originality of design, such devices do not differ in cost from installing a classic design.
Also, the benefits include the positive emotions that children experience when using them. Thanks to this, getting used to the system becomes faster and less painful.
What type of braces is best?
All braces are the same in terms of effectiveness. Therefore, when choosing a system, you must be guided by your own budget, aesthetic requirements and quality characteristics. The least expensive and most proven option is metal braces. The prices for plastic braces are also low, but in terms of strength, these structures are significantly inferior to metal ones. If aesthetics are most important to you, then it is better to give preference to ceramic or sapphire vestibular systems, as well as lingual braces, which will cost more than others. However, we should not forget that choosing a corrective system should be done after a preliminary consultation with an orthodontist.
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Astashkina Margarita Dmitrievna
Orthodontist
Color selection
When choosing color designs, you must be guided by the following points:
- Own wish. This category includes favorite shades, colors of state symbols, color combinations of holidays (monthly change of ligatures allows you to change them according to the seasons) or favorite sports team.
- Color of eyes, skin and hair. Different shades look different on brunettes, blondes or people of different races. Designs that match the patient’s eye color look impressive.
- Wardrobe. If the clothes are designed in approximately the same color, then colored designs to match them would be a good solution.
- Enamel color. Colored structures can visually make the surface of the teeth more attractive, and vice versa.
Types and prices of bracket systems
Typically, prices for different types of braces vary, mainly depending on the type of orthodontic device, the material it is made of, and the category of the dental clinic. Thus, in premium dentistry you are unlikely to see the installation of metal or plastic systems in the list of services. On the other hand, lingual systems will be rare in economy class clinics.
Type of braces | Clinic category | ||
Economy | Business | Premium | |
Metal | from 50,000 rub. | from 80,000 rub. | – |
Plastic | from 100,000 rub. | from 120,000 rub. | – |
Ceramic | from 80,000 rub. | from 100,000 rub. | from 150,000 rub. |
Sapphire | from 100,000 rub. | from 150,000 rub. | from 200,000 rub. |
Lingual | from 180,000 rub. | from 230,000 rub. | from 250,000 rub. |
Combined | from 90,000 rub. | from 130,000 rub. | from 150,000 rub. |
Whatever type of braces you choose, your orthodontic treatment will be equally effective. However, keep its timing in mind when choosing a sapphire system. And also about possible inconveniences in wearing if your choice is on lingual devices.
Publisher: Expert magazine about dentistry Startsmile.ru
Features of care
There are no separate care rules for colored braces. They need to be looked after in the same way as the classic design:
- for cleaning, it is necessary to use only special brushes that allow you to efficiently remove food debris and bacterial plaque from the gaps of the locking part, from the arc and the area where the base adheres to the enamel surface;
- For the procedure, use a brush with medium-hard bristles .
- when using floss regularly, preference should be given only to a special model , since other options can bend the corrective arch or cause deformation of the ligatures;
- after drinking coloring drinks, you need to rinse your mouth with water to reduce the likelihood of staining rods and braces;
- you should minimize the consumption of carbonated drinks and hot dishes , as they negatively affect the structure of the ligatures, impairing their elasticity.
Alternative to colored rubber bands
Doctors often camouflage the metal archwire by using colored wire to help make the staples themselves attractive. The wire can be created from steel or silver, titanium or aluminum. It is more wear-resistant and lasts longer compared to ligatures. However, it has one significant drawback - under the influence of drinks and food consumed, temperature changes, its outer layer can crack, which will look unaesthetic. Therefore, orthodontists still often advise choosing braces with ligatures.