

The wire is regularly tightened by the dentist or orthodontist to gradually shift your teeth and jaw. The braces usually consist of small brackets cemented to your teeth, connected by a wire and held to the brackets by rubber bands. These tend to cost a little more than metal ones do and they don’t work for everyone’s teeth, but you can ask the orthodontist if they are an alternative for you.Ī: Braces move teeth by applying pressure. In addition, you may know there are now clear braces (called aligners), such as Invisalign, that are nearly invisible.

And if you’re feeling expressive, the rubber bands that connect to the brackets in place now come in different colors. If metal braces will do the job the best, know that many metal braces today are smaller than they used to be, less obtrusive, and can be clear or colored to match the color of your teeth. Q: Do I have to have a mouth full of metal?Ī: Your dentist or orthodontist will need to make that determination based on your dental exam. Wearing braces now can go a long way toward helping you maintain healthy teeth and gums down the road. Crooked or crowded teeth can be hard to clean, causing inflamed and infected gums and other forms of dental disease. Not only will you look better, but it will also help you maintain good dental hygiene. (Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry dealing with irregularities in the teeth by straightening them.) So while you may have foregone wearing braces as a kid, you’re never really too old to do something about straightening your teeth.Ī: Simply put, braces will straighten your teeth. According to the American Association of Orthodontics, these days, one out of five orthodontic patients is over the age of 21. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about braces, provided by dental experts at FDA. FDA is responsible for reviewing these devices for safety and effectiveness and, as appropriate, granting marketing authorization for the devices before they can be sold. Braces have evolved over the years and new alternatives in both look and materials are available. Your dentist tells you that you need braces, bringing back not-so-fond memories of kids being called “Metal Mouth.”
