Brackets: What they are, how they work and types

 

BRACKETS, WHAT ARE THEY?

Surely you have heard many times about braces and orthodontics. Therefore, you may want to know more about braces, what they are exactly. Let's start by saying that braces are used in orthodontics to correct the position of teeth when they are misaligned, too far apart or crowded, bite problems, overbite, etc. Brackets are the most visible part of orthodontics, small square-shaped pieces that are placed and adhered to the teeth. They are specifically designed for each tooth and a metal arch is placed on them that is held by ligatures. To ensure good adhesion, at the beginning of orthodontic treatment, the surface of the teeth is treated with pumice stone powder paste and a gel that etches the enamel and removes bacterial plaque.

In the brackets, we can differentiate several basic parts: the base, the wings, and the slot.

• The base of the bracket is on which the special cement is placed to adhere it to the tooth surface. To make it easier for this cement to be fixed to the bracket, a mesh is incorporated so that the cement penetrates through these rough spots. The shape is curved to adapt to the specific morphology of each tooth.
• The fins are the parts that protrude into the lip. They allow the ligatures to be placed around them to fix the arch. They are polished so that the finish is smooth and rub the oral mucosa as little as possible.
• The slot is the space between the fins. There is one vertical and one horizontal, which is where the bow is placed.

BRACKETS, HOW THEY WORK

Surely you will also wonder about how braces work and straighten teeth in the right way. Today the brackets are designed in a specific way so that the information is transmitted in a precise movement. That is to say, they are the ones that carry the necessary information so that, through the arch, the movement that the orthodontist plans is carried out. Its design is specific for each tooth so that the arch transfers enough force to move the teeth to the desired position, slightly but constantly.

It must be taken into account that the orthodontist must plan how the teeth are to be moved three-dimensionally since the teeth move in three planes: horizontal, vertical, and transverse, movements that are called 1st, 2nd, and 3rd order.

As you have been able to see, the brackets have an operation that seems simple but that is behind great research and development that continues to improve and evolve in order to obtain the best results and the greatest comfort for the patient.

TYPES OF BRACKETS

In the matter, there are different types of orthodontic brackets that will be used in the treatment depending on each case, taking into account the diagnosis, age, and preferences of the patient.

• metal braces

  

  Metal braces are the most popular dental appliances. We also know them as fixed or conventional brackets .and are made of steel and titanium. They are visible as they are placed on the outside of the teeth. In addition, of the different types of orthodontics that are practiced today, the use of metal brackets is usually the most economical. They require a wire or rubber band ligation to fix the arch on the teeth. It is a very resistant orthodontic system that applies a constant force to move the teeth, being ideal for treatments in children and young people, although, taking into account that for certain diagnoses they obtain better results than other systems, it is also used to treat malocclusions in adults. those who do not care that the devices are seen. Being a visible orthodontic, the great advantage is that the results are easily appreciated throughout the process.

• colored braces

  In reality, colored braces do not exist. What gives them color are the colored rubber bands that are placed on each bracket. They are ideal for children, they make orthodontics more fun and allow them to choose between their favorite colors, the colors of the rainbow, phosphor colors, etc. In addition, at each visit to the orthodontist to adjust the appliances, the style can be changed with new colored rubber bands.

• transparent braces

  Within the group of transparent brackets, also known as aesthetic brackets, we can include ceramic and sapphire brackets. Aesthetic or transparent braces have a color similar to teeth and are the first alternative to metal braces. Normally they are the type of appliances that we use in people over 18 years of age who want orthodontics that is less visible to the naked eye. In addition, these more aesthetic visible orthodontic options are cheaper than invisible orthodontics, which occupies the highest ranking within orthodontic treatments. With transparent brackets, we can use white archwires, ligatures, and rubber bands. Even so, it is not a totally invisible method.

  Regarding the advantages and disadvantages of ceramic and sapphire brackets, each type has some characteristics that we will review below.

• ceramic braces

  ceramic braces, also known as aesthetic or transparent braces, are the most common alternative to metal braces. The difference is precise in that they are more aesthetic because they are less visible to the naked eye since they have a similar color to teeth. Good quality ceramic brackets, such as the 3M Clarity Advanced, are as resistant as or more resistant than conventional ones, work mechanically the same, and do not stain. What can sometimes be stained is the elastic that holds the wire to the bracket, so it is recommended to use white Teflon-coated metal ligatures that do not stain. The wires are made of a very resistant composite material and can be white to further disguise the ceramic brackets. In other words, they constitute a more aesthetic visible orthodontic option, with invisible orthodontics being more economical. For greater discretion, depending on the treatment, archwires, ligatures, and rubber bands can be white. However, although it seems that you do not wear braces, the truth is that it is not a totally invisible method.

• sapphire brackets

  sapphire braces are the ones that aesthetically best blend with the tooth to which they are cemented since they are practically transparent. However, they have a major problem and that is that they are extremely fragile. When we use the stiffest arches or wires (those that are used after month 8 of treatment), the wings of the sapphire bracket begin to fracture. This is a great inconvenience since they must be re-cemented, delaying the evolution of the treatment. In addition, being more fragile, as soon as we are in the final stages of orthodontics and we must make bends in the wire or arch to finish the case with precision, we find that the sapphire bracket fractures and does not resist the force of the bends. or application of torque to tilt the root of the tooth.

• porcelain braces

  They are very aesthetic brackets that perfectly resist the rigid arches that we place once the orthodontic treatment is advanced, as well as the bending or application of torque without fracturing. Within porcelain brackets, there are various commercial brands and different qualities. At Tres Torres Orthodontics we only use Clarity Advance brackets as they are the ones that best combine resistance, without fracturing in the precise movements applied by the orthodontist in the detailed completion of each case, and dental aesthetics, as they are excellently integrated with the color of the underlying tooth.