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How Do Braces Actually Straighten Teeth?

Live Life Smiling

teeth braces
  • Holmes and Palmer Orthodontics
  • July 21, 2021

 

BRACES ARE SO common for teenagers (even though they aren’t the only ones who can have them) that a lot of people might take it for granted that these bits of metal can move teeth into their proper position, but how exactly do they do that? The process is pretty cool, so let’s take a closer look at it.

The Anatomy of Braces

Why do braces consist of brackets, O-rings (also called bands or ligatures), and archwires? Because each of those parts plays an important role in orthodontic treatment. Sometimes there are additional parts and appliances depending on the patient’s specific treatment plan, but everyone who has traditional wire braces has these three parts.

Brackets: Anchor Points

If you look closely, you can tell if someone is closer to the beginning of their orthodontic treatment than the end because their brackets aren’t in a straight line. For some patients, the brackets might even emphasize the crookedness of their teeth. The placement of the brackets is very deliberate. It’s what allows braces to move teeth to where they need to be. The colorful o-rings then go on top of the brackets to hold the archwires in place.

Archwires: The Guiderails

Running through the brackets is the archwire, which varies in material and thickness depending on the treatment plan. Archwires provide steady, gradual pressure in the right direction as they try to straighten back to their original shape. Once the archwire is in place, the colorful O-rings go on top, holding brackets and archwire together.

The Elastics: Connective Tissue

Elastics are the most common addition to the main three braces ingredients. They’re used to correct a malocclusion (bad bite) or misaligned jaw by applying pressure towards the proper alignment. However, the only way they can do their job is if the patient wears them EXACTLY as instructed. You cannot speed up your treatment by wearing extra rubber bands. In fact, you will probably only make it take longer.

Orthodontic Treatment at the Cellular Level

When braces apply pressure to our teeth, they don’t simply move. There’s an intense cellular process happening in our jaw bones in response to that pressure. In front of the tooth, specialized cells called osteoclasts break down bone cells that are in the way, while osteoblasts build new bone cells behind the tooth to keep it fitting snugly in its socket.

The bone is actually reshaping itself!

Why Retainers Matter

The bone-reshaping process takes time, and our teeth still remember their old position after the braces come off. This is why it’s so important to wear retainers. They help the teeth and jaws get used to the new position, and they also prevent separate shifting that happens to most people’s teeth as they get older.

Learn More About How Your Orthodontic Treatment Works

Maybe we’ve answered some of your questions about braces, but you probably have others. Make sure you bring them with you to your next adjustment appointment. The more patients know about how their braces work, the better they understand why we give the instructions we do, and the more confident they are in their future results!

Our patients’ smiles are the very best!

Top image by Flickr user Hana Yamada used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

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EVERY SMILE TELLS A SPECIAL STORY

We are thankful for the opportunity to serve our community with excellent care and take pride in our mission of having a patient-centered philosophy. Check out what our patients are saying about us!

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Lola D.
We absolutely love Holmes & Palmer..horrible experience elsewhere, and was leary... they go above and beyond from the moment you step in the door.
Lola D.
We absolutely love Holmes & Palmer..horrible experience elsewhere, and was leary... they go above and beyond from the moment you step in the door.
Sarah M.
From the first step in the door we were impressed!! Professional, friendly, explained everything thoroughly. So happy we chose Holmes and Palmer. Highly recommend 😀
Kelley M.
This is my second child to receive orthodontic care with Dr. Holmes. This practice is efficiently run and the staff is always friendly. We’ve never waited more than 10 minutes to be seen. Highly recommend!!
Kelley M.
This is my second child to receive orthodontic care with Dr. Holmes. This practice is efficiently run and the staff is always friendly. We’ve never waited more than 10 minutes to be seen. Highly recommend!!
Ilissa P.
Wonderful and caring staff. My kids don’t mind going to the dentist, which is huge and speaks for itself.
Ilissa P.
Wonderful and caring staff. My kids don’t mind going to the dentist, which is huge and speaks for itself.
Carrie B.
We have been very impressed with the staff and orthodontists here. They communicate with us as the parents and treat our daughter well while she is here for treatment. We will definitely choose them again when it’s time for our youngest to get her braces.

Sarah B
Carrie B.
We have been very impressed with the staff and orthodontists here. They communicate with us as the parents and treat our daughter well while she is here for treatment. We will definitely choose them again when it’s time for our youngest to get her braces.

Sarah B
Lenon H.
This is the best orthodontist office in the tri-state! A very nice and efficient staff! Getting braces was quick and easy!
Lenon H.
This is the best orthodontist office in the tri-state! A very nice and efficient staff! Getting braces was quick and easy!
Francesca H.
We always have the best experience here! Such a clean and friendly environment. They are patient and understanding and will walk my daughter through any of her fears or concerns. 100% recommend!
Alison W.
Wonderful staff and atmosphere! Everyone is friendly and takes time to explain every step! Highly recommended!
Alison W.
Wonderful staff and atmosphere! Everyone is friendly and takes time to explain every step! Highly recommended!
Shawna B.
My son is a patient and everyone is so nice and very Great with Patients.Dr is amazing and always so good at explaining everything...I would refer these Drs and Nurses 100 times over...Thank You all for everything you do to make sure my babys have a beautiful smile...😁
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