How ‘Traditional’ Braces Stack Up
Table of Contents
- Are Braces the Best Choice?
- History of Traditional Braces
- Other Options
- Making the Right Choicce
- Advancements in Traditional Braces
- How Braces Move Your Teeth
- How to Care for Braces
The term braces usually brings to mind metal brackets glued to your teeth and wired together. While this form of dental alignment is still commonly used, there are dozens of other options available to both adolescents and adults who want to straighten their teeth.
Adults in particular may prefer something much less visible than metal braces, such as aligners. Thanks to developments in the field, aligners can offer a more attractive path to straight teeth for those with mild to moderate misalignments. For more severe cases of misalignment, traditional braces might still be the best bet.
You’ll need an assessment from an orthodontic professional to determine if “traditional” braces are the best option for you in 2022. Aligner companies will assess impressions of your teeth to determine if aligners will work well for you.
If your case is too severe for aligner correction, you should visit an orthodontist to determine if traditional braces will straighten your teeth. In some cases, additional tools may be needed, such as headgear or rubber bands, to adequately correct your misalignment issues.
The history of traditional braces
Since there are so many options like clear aligners, ceramic braces, and permanent retainers available to adults who want straighter teeth, you may wonder if there is even a point in traditional braces. They may seem outdated compared to newer, less visible options. However, traditional metal braces still have an important place in orthodontic treatment.
Archaeologists have found evidence of ancient humans using metal wires to straighten teeth, so the idea behind braces has been around for thousands of years. The current technology behind braces was officially developed in the 18th century.
A book titled The Surgeon Dentist, published in France in 1728, offered a chapter on straightening teeth. A book published in 1757 titled The Dentist’s Art offered recommendations on devices that could be used to align crooked teeth. By 1819, the first wire crib was developed and used.
The term orthodontia was not used until 1841. By 1843, gum elastics were developed and used by specialized dentists whose field would become orthodontics. Rubber bands were implemented in orthodontic practices in 1850. The first medical article specifically covering orthodontics was published in 1858, and the author then completed a book on the subject in 1880.
Finally, the American Society of Orthodontia was formed in 1901, leading to establishment and certification of specific dental schools to study and promote orthodontic treatment. Braces primarily wrapped around the teeth. Once secured, they applied a certain amount of force until the misaligned teeth moved into alignment.
In the 1970s, direct bonding braces (the current idea behind traditional braces) were developed, in which the braces were bonded to the front of the teeth.
Lingual bonding, which involves putting metal or ceramic braces on the inside rather than outside surface of the teeth, became more popular later.
Advancements in traditional braces
While traditional braces have been around for decades, they’ve changed significantly in recent years. In fact, modern advancements could make these devices even more effective than they’ve ever been.
For example, modern braces come with much smaller brackets than their older counterparts. Modern brackets can be wrapped with elastics, so they don’t need the large attachment points of the versions from the 1970s and 1980s.
Modern braces also come with thermal-activated wires that are more flexible than older versions. Doctors can bend these wires into highly customized shapes during the treatment process to make tiny adjustments to tooth alignment.
If you go for traditional braces, you are still less likely to have the “metal mouth” that you might have had as a child. Metal braces that are bonded to the outside of your teeth are made from lighter, higher-grade stainless steel than in prior decades. The wires attaching them together are stronger and thinner too.
There are also variations on this type of braces that are much more unobtrusive than metal. For example, ceramic braces are made from clear, transparent, or white material so they match your teeth, making them much less obvious.
With lingual braces, smaller metal or ceramic braces are bonded to the inside of your teeth rather than the outside, so they are not apparent when you smile. Lingual braces still use traditional brackets and wires, so having these near your tongue can be uncomfortable. There is usually an adjustment period as you learn to talk, eat, and drink with these devices on the back of your teeth.
How do braces move your teeth?
All of these devices to straighten teeth involve a process called bone remodeling. This forces membranes around your teeth to reshape, allowing your teeth to align differently for a better appearance.
Traditional braces spark bone remodeling by gluing braces to your teeth and connecting them with wires. The wire is shortened and adjusted in periodic appointments with a dental professional. If the pressure from the wire isn’t enough, your doctor might use elastics. Power chains are elastic loops that wrap around your brackets and apply yet more force. Rubber bands are looser elastics that can connect your upper and lower jaw to pull them into alignment.
How to care for braces
Any kind of braces (including traditional, ceramic, and lingual) can’t be moved from your teeth for cleaning. Instead, anyone wearing these appliances must take special care in cleaning their teeth.
Use a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride-based toothpaste to clean your teeth several times per day. Follow up with a water flosser to clean the spaces between your teeth. Your dentist may also recommend a non-alcohol, non-tinted mouthwash to reduce bacterial colonies inside your mouth.
The American Dental Association says people with braces may need to avoid the following foods that might interfere with braces:
Nuts
Popcorn
Hard candy
Chewing gum
Caramel
Sticky candies
In addition to watching your diet and cleaning your teeth, do your best to keep your braces as comfortable as possible. If your brackets are sharp or uncomfortable, talk to your dentist about how to use dental wax. And if you break or otherwise damage your braces, call your dental professional immediately and make an appointment for repairs.
Are traditional braces always the best choice?
If you need braces as an adult, you probably do not want them to be obvious. You have a lot of other options besides traditional braces that can offer you a more understated and often faster path to straight teeth.
If your teeth misalignment issues are mild to moderate, you have the most options for straightening treatments. You can choose from a range of understated options, such as aligners, removable retainers, or even bonding to fix small gaps between the teeth.
In some cases, you will still need traditional braces. While the term “traditional” refers to a certain type of braces, this technology has also evolved. Today’s traditional braces are better and less obtrusive than braces from decades ago.
If you go for traditional braces, you are still less likely to have the “metal mouth” that you might have had as a child. Metal braces that are bonded to the outside of your teeth are made from lighter, higher-grade stainless steel than in prior decades. The wires attaching them together are stronger and thinner too.
There are also variations on this type of braces that are much more unobtrusive than metal. For example, ceramic braces are made from clear, transparent, or white material so they match your teeth, making them much less obvious.
With lingual braces, smaller metal or ceramic braces are bonded to the inside of your teeth, rather than the outside, so they are not apparent when you smile. Lingual braces still use traditional brackets and wires, so having these near your tongue can be uncomfortable. There is usually an adjustment period as you learn to talk, eat, and drink with these devices on the back of your teeth.
With better options for clear aligners or retainers after braces, you may not need to wear traditional braces for very long. Even if you have a severe case that necessitates an initial course with traditional braces, you may be able to progress to aligner treatment. This means you’ll wear traditional braces for a shorter period of time overall, correcting your most severe issues. More moderate adjustments can then take place with clear teeth aligners.
When you think of traditional braces, you may only think of a mouth filled with metal, but with advances in braces technology make them less visible, faster acting, and a good option for many people.
Other options to straighten teeth
With advances in metal, ceramic, and plastic strengths, there are more options for teeth straightening than ever before. Alternatives to traditional braces include aligners, ceramic braces, and lingual braces. Here’s how they compare.
In a study of aligners published in 2019, researchers said the technology works best for mild-to-moderate issues involving crowding, misalignment, and tipping. Severe cases should be treated with braces, the researchers said.
Traditional braces and ceramic braces both involve brackets glued to teeth and connected by wires. These are appropriate options for severe orthodontic problems.
Lingual braces involve brackets glued to the back of teeth. In a head-to-head study comparing these braces to traditional versions, researchers found no real differences in their ability to move teeth.
In surveys conducted by CostHelper, people without insurance report paying an average of $4,937 for traditional braces, up to $8,500 for ceramic braces, up to $8,000 for lingual braces, or an average of $5,000 for in-office supervised aligners like Invisalign. At-home, doctor-directed aligners like Byte can cost much less.
No matter what option you choose, there are few additional costs during the course of treatment, says CostHelper. Most orthodontic professionals charge one fee that applies to the entire course of care.
According to the American Association of Orthodontists, the main benefit of traditional braces is that they are not removable. People can’t take them off, so they may be more likely to comply with treatment. However, this attribute can also mean higher maintenance. You must use water flossers (not traditional versions) to clean between the teeth, and it’s easy for food and bacteria to get trapped between the wires and your teeth.
All types of braces require regular dental adjustment visits. Your dental professional must adjust the wires to ensure your teeth keep moving. Some types of aligners (including Invisalign) use the same approach. At-home, doctor-directed aligners like Byte don’t require in-person visits.
Aligners can slip off your teeth, so you can brush and floss with ease. This could make cleaning your teeth easier.
Traditional braces are visible. For some people, that’s a perk. They like using colorful elastics wrapped around the brackets to express their personal style.
Ceramic braces are harder to see, especially when paired with clear elastics. However, the wires are still visible and hard to hide.
Lingual braces sit behind the teeth, so they are almost invisible. Clear aligners are similarly hard to see, as no metal is required.
How long you’ll stay in treatment is closely tied to the significance of your dental condition. For example, if you only need to move one tooth, that will move faster than moving several teeth. The choice of device has less to do with treatment duration than your overall oral health.
How to make the right choice
Depending on the degree of your misalignment, aligners may be adequate to correct your smile. Since they are cheaper, more comfortable, and easier to use, they are often the preferred choice of customers.
If you have specific medical needs involving braces, or you have teeth that are greatly misaligned, traditional braces will usually work better for you than other options. It all depends on your particular case.
With so many teeth-straightening options, it’s worth your time to explore what will work for you.
If you think braces are right for you, visit an orthodontist. In your first appointment, your doctor will examine your mouth and take X-rays to determine the placement of your teeth. Your doctor might also use digital imaging to create a 3D model of what your teeth will look like after braces.
If you think aligners are right for you, get an assessment from an aligner company to determine if you are a good fit for their product. This generally involves taking impressions of your teeth at home. A professional will then assess your teeth and conclude if aligners can work well for you.