Personalizing dental braces: Colored bands, shaped orthodontic brackets.

If you do choose the traditional braces route (braces on the front side of your teeth) there are some cosmetic options (such as ceramic brackets, gold braces and minimal profile orthodontic brackets) that you can choose from. But bottom line, the fact that you are wearing braces is still going to be obvious, at least to some degree, to others.

Realizing this, some people will make a decision to go with the obvious. If others are going to be able to see your braces anyway, why not flaunt them. Have some fun with your braces. Show some individuality. And as a benefit of taking this approach, it may be the most cost-effective way to have braces.

You can have any color of bands with your braces that you want.

Every orthodontist will offer their patients the opportunity to choose the color of the elastic ties that are used with their dental braces. Elastic ties are the small "rubber bands" (bands) that are used to bind the patient's archwires (the long wires that runs across the teeth) in place on each bracket on each tooth.

This means that the traditional braces "tin grin" can be transformed into a rainbow of color opportunities. Braces wearers can choose bands that have bright, or even fluorescent, coloration. Or, if they want, they can stick with bands that have a more subdued, more tooth-matching shade, like ivory. When deciding on which colored bands, don't overlook mixing and matching. Why just go with a color when you can have a color scheme. Is it Christmas? Pick red and green ties. Are you on the pep squad? Then maybe go with bands that are your school's colors.

And don't worry. No color decision is etched in stone. A patient's elastic ties are changed at each appointment, so be adventurous and take a step towards the wild side. If it turns out to be just a little too much of an effect, or not enough, you can always choose different colored bands next time they're changed.

Shaped orthodontic brackets.

Another way a patient can display individuality with their braces is by choosing brackets that have distinctive shapes. These specialty orthodontic brackets function just like traditional ones but their bracket pad (the part that is bonded onto your tooth) has a uniquely designed shape. In most cases specialty brackets are only attached to the patient's four or six upper front teeth because these are the only teeth that really show prominently when a person smiles.

One brand name associated with this type of dental braces hardware is WildSmiles Brackets. They make star, heart, soccer ball, football, flower and diamond shaped stainless steel brackets that can be mixed and matched to give anyone's braces a totally unique appearance. And just like described above, colored bands can be used with them so to allow for even greater patient individuality.

What is the cost of creating braces individuality?

Expressing your individuality and by making your dental braces unique doesn't have to be an expensive thing. Every orthodontist's office will keep a wide assortment of colored bands on hand. They are an easy and inexpensive way for an orthodontist to please their patients and get them excited about their braces.

When it come time to place your bands the orthodontist's assistant will probably ask you what colors you prefer. If they don't, just tell them. It won't cost you any more to have them place the ones that you want.

Your orthodontist will have to charge more for using specialty orthodontic brackets with your treatment. You'll have to ask what exactly the added cost is, and it shouldn't be all that much. But these types of brackets do cost more than traditional orthodontic brackets and your dentist will need to pass this added expense on to you.