What are dental braces?

Dental braces are devices that are placed on teeth to move the teeth. For most of us, braces are the most common method to achieve straight teeth. Aside from straightening teeth, braces are used to improve the relationship of how our teeth come together between the upper and lower jaws. Braces for tooth movement fall under the dental specialty of "orthodontics" which is the study and treatment of improper bites (malocclusion). Orthodontic treatment with braces can be for cosmetic as well as structural improvement.

Who is a good candidate for braces?

Braces can be for any age group, but there are optimal times to begin treatment. These days, it is recommended that children have an orthodontic evaluation at the age of 7 to determine if early intervention is needed. If recommended, early intervention optimizes results by taking advantage of a child's skeletal bone growth and may require two-phase orthodontic treatment. The first phase ("phase-one") is considered interceptive orthodontic treatment as it addresses overcrowding of teeth or bite problems at an early age

Metal wired braces: These are the most common and traditional type of braces.

Ceramic wired braces: Also called "clear braces," these provide a cosmetic alternative to the metal wired braces

Lingual braces: These are braces that are placed on the lingual surface (backside) of the teeth and are not easily visible. This is mainly for cosmetic purposes and usually lengthens the time for treatment.