Teeth Braces: Benefits, Types, Procedure, and Cost
Having a perfect smile with beautifully aligned teeth is everyone’s dream. But not everybody is lucky to have such a sparkling smile. Some of you might have crooked teeth or too much space between your teeth that doesn’t look pretty.
You might be thinking, isn’t there a way to fix those teeth and look amazing?
The answer is teeth braces.
Teeth braces or dental braces are the ideal solutions to fix your teeth’s alignment. If you want braces, you’ll require orthodontic treatment.
To make your life easier, we have covered all the details about dental braces, their types, the procedure to get them, and the expenses of incurring one, in this post. Read on to know more!
A Brief Introduction to Dental Braces
Dental braces are tools or special structures that help in aligning your teeth and solving problems like crowded teeth. Braces will straighten your teeth and improve your oral health in the long run. Moreover, they will let you eat comfortably if you previously had problems.
Braces are also helpful if you suffer from crooked teeth or a “bad bite.” Whatever is hampering your teeth’s positioning, braces can fix them. However, you need to visit your dentist to know exactly what you need to do.
Some patients get braces during their childhood or adolescence. Adults can get them too, through proper orthodontic treatment. Most importantly, age isn’t a factor here, so you can always fix your smile anytime.
When you visit the doctor’s clinic, they will take a look at your teeth and determine the correct strategy to add braces. It’s a very harmless and convenient process, so you need not worry!
What are the Different Types of Braces?
If you want to improve your teeth’s positioning, your doctor will prescribe the braces as per your requirements. The common types of braces include ceramic braces, traditional metal braces, lingual braces, and clear aligners.
Each type of brace has a specific purpose and structure. Let’s have a look at them in detail.
Metal Braces
These are traditional braces made up of metal that fix the alignment of your teeth. They are the oldest type of braces, which consist of metal wires and brackets.
The dentists attach these brackets to the front of your teeth, and the wires hold the brackets together. Some braces might have metal ties and rubber bands linking the bracket to these wires. As a result, the structure creates pressure that straightens your teeth in the process.
Traditional metal braces were bulky and made one look awkward in appearance. However, modern metal braces are lightweight, compact, smaller, and more comfortable.
To fix your teeth, the dentist will adjust the wire to create the appropriate amount of pressure. You might require 4 to 8 appointments to get it done.
Ceramic Braces
These look like metal braces but are made of tooth colored ceramic material. They are less noticeable than metal braces. However, ceramic braces work just like metal braces and can also be made of stainless steel or other transparent materials.
Ceramic braces are as effective as traditional braces in creating pressure and positioning your teeth. However, as they are less visible when compared to metal braces, these are preferred by most patients.
But these tooth colored braces are more expensive than traditional braces. That’s why adults and adolescents choose them more than others.
Lingual Braces
Lingual braces are made of metal and look similar to traditional braces. But the doctors will position them behind the teeth for better alignment. It makes them harder to see as they face your tongue.
While these braces are hidden from everyone, not every dentist can set them up. Only orthodontists having special training in placing lingual braces can do it. Plus, these take a longer time to show desired results in patients.
So, figure out your requirements before selecting lingual braces.
Clear Aligners
These braces are also called invisible aligners and have become extremely popular. They don’t have any wires or brackets but consist of a transparent tray that will fit your teeth perfectly. This is possible as you’ll get a tray customized as per your teeth’s shape and structure.
Similar to other dental braces, these products also apply pressure gently to move the teeth and straighten them. So, these are invisible, comfortable, and highly effective. Further, you’ll find clear braces very easy to remove, replace, and clean.
Clear aligners are popular as it helps you eat and drink anything comfortably. Moreover, flossing is easier too. However, you might have to wear them for almost 22 hours a day for the best results.
Self-ligating Braces
These are similar to ceramic and metal braces but utilize clips to hold the wires together on your teeth. As a result, there’s less friction on the brace’s surface, which makes it easier to clean them.
Self-ligating braces are ideal if you don’t want to go through a time-consuming orthodontic treatment. In addition, if you’re not too comfortable with metal braces, these will suit you.
Besides all these beneficial features, these braces require fewer appointments to fix your teeth, making them very convenient.
The Amazing Benefits of Teeth Braces
You might think braces are the perfect way to have a breathtaking smile. That’s not all! Braces can help you fix and avoid dental issues and enhance oral well-being.
Here are some of the top advantages of teeth braces you must know.
Helps Reduce Speech Impairment
Stuttering and speech problems can be due to misaligned teeth. It’s because your teeth play an important role in helping you speak and pronounce words properly. So, if the teeth are poorly aligned, you might stammer or stutter.
With braces, you can conveniently align your teeth and get rid of these speech problems. This is because repositioning your teeth lets your tongue move easily, aiding speech.
Prevents Tooth Decay
When your teeth overlap and aren’t positioned properly, it will affect your chewing and biting. So, when you eat, food particles might get stuck in between your teeth.
The misalignment might not allow you to clean your teeth properly. Result? Bacteria cause damage to your enamel and decay your teeth in the process.
Braces will position your teeth and also help you clean them, reducing the chances of bacterial growth.
Enhanced Comfort
If you have crooked teeth, you might unintentionally bite your tongue, the insides of your cheeks, or your gums. It happens as your upper and lower jaw doesn’t sit together properly. So, it might strain your jaws and create pressure on your gums, causing pain.
That’s why dental braces are the perfect solution to reduce this pain and align your jaw. By wearing them, you won’t accidentally bite your gums or tongue and be much more comfortable.
Also, eating, smiling, and talking will be hassle-free.
Better Digestive Health
Misalignment problems like overbite, crossbite, and underbite can affect how well you chew your food. When you suffer from these problems, you’re unable to chew and break food down properly.
As a result, big chunks of food enter your stomach, and you aren’t able to digest them properly. It can cause digestive disorders and irritable bowels.
You can get rid of all these problems by wearing dental braces, as they’ll help you chew better. So, you’ll break down the food properly, that’ll lead to better digestion.
Procedure for Getting Dental Braces
Be it metal braces or ceramic braces, the process of getting them is simple and painless. Understanding the procedure will help you be aware of what you might expect from the treatment. It will also keep you mentally prepared.
Initial Consultation
The process starts with you visiting the doctor for an initial dental check-up. Your dentist will conduct an oral examination to identify your dental problems and the necessary steps to be taken.
Additionally, the doctor might prepare a mold of your mouth and teeth. It will help the professionals select the braces as per your requirements. Moreover, the dentist might give you some tips to prepare prior to the treatment.
Positioning the Braces
In the next step of the treatment, you’ll have to select the type of braces you want. Then, the dentist will attach the brackets to your teeth using special glue. Further, they will insert the wire within the brackets and adjust them for positioning your teeth.
In case you have bite problems, the dentist might attach rubber bands within the braces to apply more pressure on your teeth.
Making Necessary Adjustments
After you put on your braces, you’ll have 4 to 8 weeks of time before your next doctor’s visit. When you visit the clinic, the dentist will adjust the braces according to their impact on your teeth. Further, they’ll check the teeth and their alignment before changing the wires or bands.
These adjustments are crucial for maintaining the appropriate amount of pressure on your teeth. With periodic checkups and adjustments, you’ll slowly observe progress in your teeth’s alignment.
These visits are also the ideal occasions to talk to your doctor about any discomfort you might be experiencing due to the braces.
Adding a Retainer
After the braces have fixed your teeth, the dentist will remove them. You will receive retainers to maintain your newly aligned teeth. These will help keep the teeth in their correct positions and prevent discomfort.
You might need to wear retainers for almost a year, according to the doctor’s instructions. However, this period varies from one patient to another.
How Much Do Dental Braces Cost?
The cost of dental braces might vary depending upon the clinic you’re getting them from. It also depends upon the brand of braces and the extent of your dental complications.
The section talks about the approximate costs of braces you’ll come across while opting for the treatment.
- Metal braces – INR 15,000 to INR 45,000
- Ceramic braces – INR 20,000 to INR 55,000
- Lingual braces – INR 72,000 to INR 1,90,000
- Clear aligners or invisible braces – INR 1,00,000 to INR 2,00,000
- Self-ligating braces (Ceramic/tooth colored) – INR 50,000 to INR 75,000
- Self-ligating braces (Metal) – INR 25,000 to INR 50,000
Parting Thoughts
Aligners are excellent for improving your appearance and self-confidence. With just a few appointments and visits, you can say goodbye to all your dental alignment issues. But it’s important that you follow the doctor’s instructions during the entire process.
Try to avoid the foods and the habits as instructed by your dentist. Also, maintain the appointments and don’t skip the sessions as they’re vital to track your progress.
It’s time to have a million-dollar smile!