If you have misshapen teeth, your dentist may recommend wearing metal braces for a certain period to align them. Metal braces are a proven and tested method for straightening and rectifying teeth alignment and facial asymmetries. Even though other types of teeth braces, such as ceramic and lingual braces, have been developed, metal braces remain the most popular.
What Are Metal Braces?
Metal braces are metal brackets usually bonded on the outer surface of the teeth to align them over time. They are made of high-quality stainless steel or titanium alloy brackets connected with a metal archwire or non-toxic dental cement. Here is a deeper look into the components of metal braces.
· Metallic brackets are attached to the front surface of your teeth, and they are visible when you smile. They are made from steel, titanium, gold, or nickel. In stainless brackets, chromium is used to prevent corrosion. They contain tiny slots where the archwire passes through and are attached to the teeth using special dent cement.
· Metallic archwires are made of stainless steel, titanium alloys, or nickel-titanium and pass through the slots in the metallic brackets to connect them. The force generated in the teeth is determined by the thickness or rigidity of the metallic archwires. Dentists use flexible archwires to align the teeth gradually and rigid wires to trigger major orthodontic movements of the teeth.
· The last component is orthodontic ligatures that resemble rubber bands, and they come in handy to hold the archwires in the metallic brackets. They come in assorted colors, and the patient can pick a different color every time they go in for replacement.
How Do They Work?
Everyone knows that metal braces are used to straighten teeth, but you wouldn’t know how that works unless you are an orthodontist. Here is the answer
The metallic archwire follows the curve of your jaw and is held steady by a metallic bracket wrapping around the back molar to form an anchorage unit. The archwire tightens whenever the dentist applies force and is held in place by the brackets. The tightened archwire moves and relaxes, creating pressure on all the teeth. Usually, front teeth are single-rooted and have less surface area, so they move easily to the required position. The rear teeth, which are multirooted and have a greater surface area, serve as anchorage.
According to Raphael Martin, an expert dentist, the archwire puts consistent pressure on the teeth, which triggers the blood cells to start bone from the existing position to the direction of the force. As long as the pressure is consistent, the teeth move around 1mm per month and stop moving when the pressure stops. The thickness of the metallic archwire determines the amount of pressure applied to the teeth.
During every dental appointment, which is usually after 2-4weeks, the dentist replaces the ligatures and adjusts the archwires to ensure they are tight enough. The cycle continues until the dentist is satisfied that your teeth have finally moved into a straight position for a healthy and beautiful smile.
Final words
Metal braces are a proven and affordable dental treatment for misaligned teeth.