Traditional Metal Braces in Vista, Ca
Conventional metal braces have been around for a long time, making them one of the most recognizable symbols of orthodontics.
These orthodontic workhorses are a staple of durability and reliability with a long history of successful ortho treatment in Vista CA. You'll be glad to know they are great at correcting many oral issues, including the most complex cases of jaw malocclusions that don't require surgery.
Contact Us At The Smile Patio Orthodontics For Metal Braces in Vista, CA
At The Smile Patio Orthodontics, we continue to master the basics of orthodontics, meaning we use metal braces to provide the best orthodontic care in Vista for patients of all ages in Vista, Carlsbad, San Marcos, and the surrounding areas. Call today for a free consultation!
What Are Braces Made of?
Brackets
Dr. Albaugh leverages the power and reliability of stainless steel to provide you with high-quality brackets.
These little "anchors" remain attached to your teeth and have little hooks or doors where the archwire passes through. We secure that wire with your choice of rubber bands over the wire or closed doors, depending on the type of braces you settle on.
Bonding Agent
No, we're not talking shaken or stirred here. The glue, cement, or bonding agent is the compound used by Dr. Albaugh to attach the brackets to your teeth. We use a powerful bonding agent that won't normally let the metal piece slide off or become loose.
Wire
This thin piece of metal runs from one bracket to another. Dr. Albaugh will change the shape and curvature of the wire to move your teeth in the right direction.
The wire will attach all of your bottom or upper teeth together in many cases. We might occasionally cut the wire if connecting just a few teeth is better for your treatment plan.
Elastics
If Dr. Albaugh determines that you need bite correction, elastics are essential. They’re generally strung between an upper bracket hook and a lower bracket hook.
This will pull the upper jaw backward to correct an overbite, or the lower jaw back to correct an underbite.
We may use rubber bands for many different situations, especially when we want to put extra pressure on the teeth or jaws.
Orthodontic Elastics
These are stainless steel rings that are cemented to your teeth using dental bonding agents. These bands can provide an anchor for your braces and orthodontic appliances, but they’re not used for everyone.
Spacers
These small elastic “donuts” or rings can be used by Dr. Albaugh to create space in between your teeth when needed, typically before bands are placed. They’re also referred to as separators.
Elastic Ties/O-Rings/Ligatures/Colors
These tiny rubber rings or bands are used to attach the archwire to the brackets. They’re less rigid than spacers, and at The Smile Patio Orthodontics, they come in dozens of colors and we can customize them to your liking for holidays and more!
How do Braces Work?
Before applying the brackets, Dr. Albaugh and the team at The Smile Patio Orthodontics will collect photos and X-rays of your mouth. Sometimes we’ll use our Medit Scanner to scan each of your teeth and the layout of your gums and mouth.
If necessary, this process takes 10-15 minutes and provides an extremely accurate 3D view of your mouth.
After the X-Ray and optional scan, Dr. Albaugh will use this information to create your customized treatment plan, including how each tooth needs to be moved for the best results.
Dr. Albaugh will decide how to place the brackets based on this information. For example, if you have some teeth that need to be tilted, the placement of those brackets will be different than the placement of brackets for teeth that need to be turned.
Once the brackets have been attached, Dr. Albaugh will insert the wire. Bends in the wire will provide different types of pressure on different teeth. A bend in the wire is how most orthodontists cause-specific and precise movements.
What Can I Expect From Today’s Metal Braces?
Metal braces have had a reputation for being awkward and obvious. But, because of modern orthodontics, you’ll benefit from versions that are smaller, less conspicuous, and more comfortable than ever before. At The Smile Patio Orthodontics, we’re proud to offer the latest braces technology to our patients of all ages in Vista and surrounding areas!
Sleeker brackets and lighter wires improve the appearance and feel of these braces. This means you’ll have less irritation in your mouth.
Traditional metal braces also come with a fun new twist without any extra cost - you can customize them with pops of color. The elastics that Dr. Albaugh will fit around your brackets come in a wide variety of colors that let you showcase your personality whenever you want.
Braces are great at fixing complex tooth issues for patients of all ages in Vista and surrounding communities. They can work faster at closing gaps and aligning teeth than other treatments might. This can potentially shorten your treatment time.
Metal braces are a cost-effective option because they don’t require some of the more complex technology or expensive equipment that newer treatments do.
The strength, durability, and affordability of traditional metal braces keep them the top treatment for orthodontic patients, year after year!
Pick your favorite color combination, the colors of your favorite sports team, or even your school colors! We also offer silver, gray, white, black, and tooth-colored elastics for patients seeking a more subtle look.
Our Vista Orthodontist Also Serves the Following Services.
How Long Will I Be in Braces?
This is what everyone wants to know, but it’s one we don’t have a concrete answer for. Every mouth is different, and every patient responds to treatment in their own way. Treatment time with metal braces will be different every time.
The average time spent in metal braces is around 18 to 22 months but could be shorter or longer, depending on the individual treatment plan from Dr. Albaugh. While some cases can take as little as six months, more complex problems can take over three years to correct.
With metal braces treatment with Dr. Albaugh and the team at The Smile Patio Orthodontics, you can see signs of improvement in just a short time, which gives you confidence during your treatment.