Metal Braces
The most common type of appliance used and they are made of high-grade stainless steel. Today's metal braces are smaller, more comfortable and more attractive than the ones in the past.
Clear Braces
Clear braces are made of various translucent materials and some may have small metal components. They are more popular with patients that are more concerned about aesthetics. Some of the drawback to clear brackets are that they are more fragile, may be more bulky, and the clear elastic ties can discolor between orthodontic visits. In some cases treatment may take longer due to these drawbacks.
Self Ligating (SL’s) Braces
Self Ligating brackets are one the more high-tech brackets available. Instead of the wires being secured by colored elastic ties they are held in place by a gate that snaps shut. This allows the wire to move more freely and may result in faster tooth movement.
SureSmile
The SureSmile technology is cutting edge and is used in conjucntion with braces. It is through the advanced technology that we offer as a standard of care we're able to offer this technology. We are able to design your wires and plan your tooth movement without you even being in the office. You can also be an active participant in designing your own wires and see your potential final result. We use a robot located in Richardson, Texas to bend your custom hi-tech wires to achieve the desired tooth movements and in turn this can decrease your treatment time by 4-8 months over traditional braces and wires. This can result in a final result involving fewer appointments in a shorter period of time.
ClearCorrect
The ClearCorrect is a series of clear overlay templates—called aligners—that have been generated by computer simulation to gradually move the teeth. This system is available to adults and some teen patients with certain orthodontic bite problems. You wear each aligner 22 hours a day for 3 weeks before moving into the next one. This progression continues until your treatment is completed. The majority of patients can be treated with any of the traditional or high tech braces, however ClearCorrect does have treatment limitations. Ask us if you are a candidate for ClearCorrect.