What Makes Braces Function
Malocclusion, or crooked teeth and a misaligned bite, is a common issue. Many people’s teeth come in crooked, overlapping, or crooked. This may occur when a person’s mouth it too small for their teeth to fit properly, which causes crowding. Other times, a person may have upper and lower jaws that aren’t the same size or that did not form correctly. This can cause an overbite or an underbite. If you have malocclusion, Dr. Burgess and Dr. Henry may recommend braces in Austin and Bastrop, Texas.
Braces continuously apply pressure to the teeth over a period of time to move the teeth towards their ideal positions. Braces are made up of many components, including:
Arch wires – Metal or tooth-colored wires that attach to the brackets and guide the movement of the teeth.
Brackets – Small squares that are bonded to the front of each tooth or are attached using orthodontic bands. Brackets hold the arch wires in place that move the teeth. Brackets are occasionally bonded to the back of the teeth, for a more discreet option.
Orthodontic bands – Stainless steel, clear, or tooth-colored materials that wrap around each tooth to provide an anchor for the brackets. Orthodontic bands are cemented to the teeth. Orthodontic bands are not used in every case. Some patients have brackets without orthodontic bands.
Elastics or rubber bands – Are attached to hooks on the brackets and worn between the upper and lower teeth. They move the upper teeth against the lower teeth to achieve proper fit of individual teeth.
We welcome you to contact Ortho 360 today for more information and to schedule an appointment with our orthodontists.