TRADITIONAL BRACES

Making Beautiful Smiles In Northern Virginia

Get the smile you’ve always wanted! A beautiful smile can make a lasting first impression. If you suffer from uneven or jagged teeth, dental braces may be the solution for you. Not only can they help fix crowded teeth, but they can also help improve your speech. If you are ready to have a bold, beautiful smile, it may be time to explore your treatment options. We provide personalized orthodontic treatment in Burke & Annandale, VA using braces. Keep reading to learn more about how this dental treatment works and how it can benefit you.

Modern dentistry offers a variety of treatment options to meet your specific needs. Metal braces are a popular type of braces for kids because of their durability, and this traditional bracket-and-wire option can be an affordable solution for many families. Much like their metal counterparts in shape and size, ceramic braces tend to be white or clear so they can camouflage with your teeth. Clear braces, also called invisible braces, use clear plastic trays to correct the position of your teeth.

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Types of Braces

Braces are still the best option for getting a healthy, straight, beautiful smile. At Virginia Orthodontic Partners, we offer two types of braces, metal or ceramic braces. Braces are easily placed in one sitting and managed with visits to the orthodontist for adjustments throughout treatment. Braces correct almost any orthodontic issue for children, teens and adults. One of the things children like most about braces is that they allow them to express themselves with the different color elastics used.

Metal Braces

When most people think of braces, metal braces are what come to mind. Modern metal braces are sleeker, smaller, less noticeable and more comfortable than ever before. Braces can correct almost any orthodontic issue, including crooked and crowded teeth, a misaligned bite, and jaw problems. Braces also eliminate problems you may have with eating, speaking properly or keeping your teeth clean.

Ceramic Braces

Modern advancements in both the durability and clarity of polymers now allow our orthodontists to provide patients with a more discreet solution to traditional metal braces. Clear braces are made from a ceramic polymer that blends in with the teeth revealing only the thin metal archwire. Clear braces offer the same treatment flexibility as metal braces, just in a less visible design.

Signs I Might Need Braces

There are many reasons people get braces, some are obvious, and others aren’t as obvious. Braces have proven to be highly effective for straightening teeth and fixing other orthodontic problems. Braces can be used to treat many different oral conditions beyond cosmetic ones. If you are ready to have a bold, beautiful smile, it’s time to explore your options.

Your results matter! See how traditional braces can create a beautiful smile for you!

Early, late, or irregular loss of baby teeth
Adult teeth came in late or delayed
Teeth that meet abnormally or not at all
Speech issues
Crowded, misplaced or blocked-out teeth

Missing or extra teeth
Incorrect jaw position or jaw shifting
A disorder of the jaw joint
Overbite or underbite
Top and bottom front teeth don’t touch

Teeth are crooked
Too much space between teeth
Difficulty biting or chewing
The jaws are out of proportion

Parts Of Braces

Braces are still the most popular orthodontic option because they work to straighten your teeth the quickest and are the most cost-effective option available. These are the main parts of traditional braces:

Brackets

These are the small metal or ceramic pieces that are bonded to each tooth center using special glue. Brackets hold the archwire in place, and they act like handles that grab onto the teeth to move them.

Archwire

Archwires are the thin metal wires that connect the brackets attached to your teeth. These wires play a crucial role in orthodontic treatment by applying gentle and consistent pressure on the teeth, guiding them into their desired positions over time.

Ligature Elastics or O-rings

These are the rubber bands attach and hold in position both the archwire and the tooth. O-rings can be grey or clear to match the brackets, but they also come in many different fun colors.

Bands

Bands are small metal rings that encircle and secure the back molars. They serve as anchor points for various components of braces, such as brackets and archwires, helping to apply controlled pressure on the teeth to achieve proper alignment.

Elastics or Rubber Bands

Elastics, also known as rubber bands, are small, stretchy bands that connect various brackets or hooks on your braces. They play a vital role in orthodontic treatment by exerting additional force to align your teeth, correct bite issues, or adjust the position of your jaw. If your orthodontist asks you to wear consistent wear as instructed is essential for the success of the treatment.