What are braces like?

We are all very familiar with braces. Although not everyone uses them, there are always friends around us who wear braces. Generally, the braces we see are made of steel or metal. When the braces are worn on the teeth, they look like iron teeth and copper teeth. So, how much do you know about braces? If you want to use braces for correction now, you can read the following article first.

1. Understand some terminology

The professional term for straightening teeth is called orthodontics. The principle of orthodontic treatment is to use archwires and brackets to create a lasting and gentle traction force on the teeth (the brackets are glued to the tooth surface, and the archwires are fixed on the brackets), so that each tooth can be moved to its proper position according to the treatment plan, thereby making the teeth neatly arranged and the occlusion normal.

The structure of traditional braces

With the development of technology, brackets are now made of ceramic, transparent and invisible materials in addition to metal, which makes them more beautiful. Some brackets and archwires are even installed on the back of the teeth, and the orthodontic treatment process cannot be seen from the front.

2. The process of orthodontic treatment

Initial visit - make plaster models of the upper and lower jaws and take oral photos - the doctor formulates a treatment plan based on the models - separate the teeth and install brackets and archwires - several follow-up visits to replace the archwires - correction is completed, brackets and archwires are removed, teeth are cleaned, photos are taken - retainers are worn. (Of course, some treatment plans also require extraction of teeth or wisdom teeth depending on the situation.)

The preliminary work in orthodontic treatment is relatively easy to handle, but the monthly follow-up visit is a long-term battle, which is also the key step in the treatment. We know that the principle of orthodontic treatment is to generate traction on the teeth through the archwire. During each follow-up visit, the doctor will "bend" out archwires of different shapes based on the dental model and the actual movement of your teeth, continuously pulling the teeth and continuing to change their position.

Since the traction force of the archwire is continuous, the teeth will feel very swollen and painful when touched in the few days after the follow-up visit. This symptom usually eases after a few days because the teeth are in the position the doctor wants them to be and they will no longer feel the traction of the archwire. At this point, the mission of this archwire has come to an end, and you have to wait for the next follow-up visit for the doctor to replace the archwire with a new one and continue traction. Sometimes, the traction direction provided by a single archwire cannot fully meet the doctor's treatment needs. At this time, some auxiliary instruments will be added to change or adjust the traction force.

After several follow-up visits, the teeth will gradually become aligned. Of course, neatness is just the layman's intuitive feeling. The doctor will also consider whether the bite relationship is correct and whether the upper and lower teeth are aligned. Note: If the bracket falls off, it must be glued back in time to avoid incorrect traction.

3. Notes

1. Seek treatment as early as possible. Orthodontic treatment often takes into account the growth potential of the mandible. If the mandible has already been shaped, the difficulty of treatment will increase, and sometimes even "combined treatment of orthodontics and orthognathic surgery" is required to ensure the effect.

2. Maintain oral hygiene. During treatment, it becomes more difficult to clean your teeth, so be sure to keep your mouth clean. You can consider buying orthodontic toothbrushes and interdental brushes designed specifically for friends who wear braces.