Understanding How Braces Move Your Teeth
Each bracket serves as a handle that gives your orthodontist precise control over individual tooth movement. The archwire running through all brackets creates the roadmap for where teeth need to go, and elastic ties or clips hold the wire in the bracket slots. As teeth move toward their intended positions, the wire is adjusted or replaced during regular appointments to continue guiding movement.
Teeth move through bone remodelling—pressure on one side of a tooth causes bone cells to break down, while the opposite side builds new bone. This biological process happens gradually over months, which is why orthodontic treatment can’t be rushed despite everyone wanting instant results. The controlled forces applied by braces trigger this remodelling efficiently while keeping teeth and roots healthy throughout the process.
Small elastic bands sometimes connect upper and lower teeth to correct bite relationships, and temporary anchorage devices—tiny screws placed in bone—occasionally provide fixed points for moving teeth in specific directions. These tools give orthodontists options for handling even the most challenging cases.
Types of Traditional Braces Available
Metal braces are the standard option most people picture. Today’s stainless steel brackets are significantly smaller than older versions, making them less noticeable and more comfortable. They’re the most economical choice and work efficiently for all orthodontic problems. Some systems offer self-ligating brackets that don’t need elastic ties, potentially reducing friction and appointment times.
Ceramic braces function identically to metal braces but use tooth-colored or clear brackets that blend with natural teeth. They appeal to teens and adults who want less visible orthodontics than metal provides but need the comprehensive treatment that braces offer. The ceramic material is slightly more fragile than metal and costs more, but the aesthetic improvement matters to many patients. The archwire remains metal, though some orthodontists offer tooth-colored wires initially.
What Traditional Braces in Parma Can Correct
Braces handle virtually any orthodontic issue. Severe crowding where teeth overlap significantly responds well as brackets and wires create space and guide teeth into proper positions. Large gaps between teeth close predictably. Rotated teeth that sit sideways in the jaw can be turned precisely. Teeth that have erupted too high or too low can be moved vertically into correct positions.
Bite problems of all types—overbites where upper teeth extend too far past lower teeth, underbites where the lower jaw protrudes, crossbites where some upper teeth sit inside lower teeth when biting—all improve with braces treatment. Sometimes orthodontic treatment alone corrects these issues, while severe skeletal discrepancies might combine braces with jaw surgery for comprehensive results.
Teeth that need extraction for proper alignment, impacted teeth that haven’t erupted naturally, and situations requiring complex three-dimensional movement all fall within braces’ capabilities. This versatility explains why braces remain the gold standard against which other orthodontic options are measured.
The Treatment Timeline and Process
Getting Started with Braces
Your orthodontic journey begins with diagnostic records, including X-rays, photographs, and impressions or digital scans. These help create your customized treatment plan. Before brackets go on, you’ll typically have a cleaning appointment to ensure your teeth are spotless. The bonding appointment itself takes about two hours as each bracket is carefully positioned and secured with dental adhesive.
Initial discomfort is normal as your mouth adjusts to having hardware inside. Teeth feel sore for several days as they begin responding to pressure, and cheeks and lips might feel irritated where they rub against brackets. Orthodontic wax provides relief by creating a smooth barrier over brackets in problem areas. Most people adapt within a week or two.
Living with Braces Daily
Certain foods need to be avoided to prevent broken brackets—hard items like ice and hard candy, sticky foods like caramel and taffy, and chewy things like bagels and tough meat. Popcorn kernels lodge under wires, and whole apples or corn on the cob should be cut into smaller pieces. These restrictions sound limiting initially but become routine quickly.
Oral hygiene requires extra diligence since brackets and wires create numerous spots where food and plaque accumulate. Brushing after every meal prevents white spots from forming on teeth around brackets—these decalcified areas are permanent and visible after braces removal if hygiene is neglected. Special floss threaders or water flossers help clean between teeth despite the wires.
Regular Adjustment Appointments
You’ll visit every four to eight weeks for adjustments, where the orthodontist evaluates progress and makes wire changes or other modifications to continue tooth movement. These appointments typically last twenty to forty minutes. Teeth might feel sore again for a day or two after adjustments as they respond to new forces.
Treatment duration varies widely based on case complexity—simple corrections might finish in twelve to eighteen months, while comprehensive treatment addressing severe crowding and bite problems can take two to three years. Consistent appointment attendance and proper care keep treatment on schedule.
Retention Maintains Your Results
After active treatment ends and brackets come off, retainers hold teeth in their new positions during the stabilization period. Teeth naturally want to drift back toward their original positions, especially during the first year post-braces. Most patients wear retainers full-time initially, transitioning to nighttime-only wear long-term. Some orthodontists place permanent retainers—thin wires bonded behind front teeth—for maintenance-free retention.
Skipping retainer wear is the primary reason teeth shift after successful treatment. Protecting your investment means consistent retainer use according to your orthodontist’s instructions.
Achieve the Healthy, Aligned Smile You Deserve
Traditional braces transform smiles and improve oral health through precise, comprehensive tooth movement. Schedule an orthodontic consultation at Trailridge Family Dental to explore whether braces are the right solution for achieving your straightest, healthiest smile.