Dental braces: Which type makes the right choice for you?
Say goodbye to the old-fashioned “tin grin.”
There’s a whole world of other options.
When it comes to having your teeth straightened, you’ll find that you have lots of treatment options to choose from. Many of which can help to make the fact that you’re having orthodontic work either less inconvenient, less obvious or more fashionable.
This is our hub page for the different types of braces and options that we cover and your dentist/orthodontist should be able to offer. Start off with the links below to drill down to the information you’re looking for.
Kinds of braces. / Systems.
- Invisible (Invisalign®, ClearCorrect®, Smile Direct Club®, Simpli 5®) – With these systems, the patient wears clear removable aligners that straighten their teeth.
- Lingual (Incognito®, In-Ovation®, Harmony®, iBraces®) – Lingual braces look a lot like traditional ones, except that they’re mounted on the backside of your teeth where they can’t be seen. It’s like braces in reverse.
- Ceramic (Clear braces)- Ceramic braces are used for your case just like traditional ones. But instead of being made out of metal, their brackets are made out of white or clear ceramic so they blend in with your teeth better and therefore aren’t so obvious.
- Metal – These are the kind of braces that your parents probably wore but don’t be put off by that fact. There are a lot of options and variations available nowadays (including gold braces, fashion brackets, personalized color schemes) that can help to dress them up and make them unique.
(FYI: Don’t forget that after your orthodontic work has been completed you’ll need to wear retainers. If you don’t know much about them, here’s an overview and pictures of the different types. Kinds of retainers.)
1) Alternatives to having conventional braces.
A) Invisible braces (Invisalign®)
The dominant brand name associated with invisible braces is Invisalign®. Another prominent one is ClearCorrect®. A recent development in this field is the option of purchasing direct-to-consumer aligners like Smile Direct club.
For more details, use this link to our topic: Invisalign® / Invisible braces. Technique explained.
B) Lingual Braces (Incognito®)
As opposed to invisible braces (like Invisalign®), lingual braces are frequently referred to as being “non-visible.” That’s because on close inspection a hint of them might be seen by others. But under normal circumstances, most people won’t notice them at all.
One brand name associated with this treatment option is Incognito®.
For more details, use this link to our topic: Lingual braces (Incognito®). Technique explained.
2) Options for conventional braces – You can dress them up or blend them in.
Having traditional braces (brackets and wires on the front side of your teeth) doesn’t mean you have to put up with having an old-fashioned “tin grin.”
Nowadays there are lots of attractive or unique variations you can opt for.
A) Ceramic / Clear Braces.
For more details, use this link to our topic: Ceramic braces. Option explained.
B) Gold Braces
For more details, use this link: Gold dental braces. Option explained.
C) Colored Orthodontic Bands
For more details, use this link: Customizing conventional braces. Possible options explained.
D) Designer Orthodontic Brackets
You can opt for orthodontic brackets that have a unique or fun design, such as hearts, diamonds, flowers or footballs.
For more details, use this link: Fashion orthodontic brackets. Possible options explained.
E) “Mini” Orthodontic Brackets
Your orthodontist may be able to use miniaturized brackets with your case. Because they are smaller, they help to make your braces less noticeable.
As an added benefit, a smaller bracket means that a person’s braces won’t stick out quite as far off the surface of their teeth. This can make having them more comfortable since they won’t rub against your lips and cheeks quite so much.