For most people, a beautiful smile is the most obvious benefit of orthodontics. After your braces come off, you'll feel more self-confident. But orthodontics is not just about giving you a dazzling smile. It can also create a healthy, functional bite that will provide a lifetime of service.

How Orthodontic Treatment Works

Your teeth are designed by nature to move in response to light pressure from your tongue and lips. Orthodontics takes advantage of this ability, by applying light forces to your teeth, so that they will move and straighten. Orthodontic appliances can be made of metal, ceramic, or plastic. They may be removable or they may be brackets bonded to the teeth. By placing a constant, gentle force in a carefully controlled direction, braces slowly move teeth to a corrected position. This is a great time to wear braces! Gone are the days when an unsightly metal band was placed around each tooth. Modern brackets are small, and are bonded directly to your teeth. You can choose brackets that are clear or metallic color. You can choose the color of the ties that hold the wire in brackets. Wires are also less noticeable than they used to be and the latest materials move teeth faster with less discomfort to patients. In some cases it may be possible to straighten your teeth with no braces at all!

Duration of Treatment

Treatment time typically ranges from one to three years, depending on the growth of the patient's mouth and face and the severity of the problem. Patients grow at different rates and will respond variously to orthodontic treatment, so the time to case completion may differ from the original estimate. The patient's diligent use of any prescribed rubber bands or headgear is an important factor in achieving the most efficient treatment. Interceptive, or early treatment procedures, may take as few as six months.