Braces use constant, gentle pressure, which over time, move
teeth into their proper positions. Your braces are at work every moment of
your orthodontic treatment. The two main components of your braces are: the
brackets that are placed on your teeth and the main archwire that connects
them. The bracket is a piece of shaped metal or ceramic that we affix to
each tooth. The archwire is bent to reflect your "ideal" bite. In other words,
it reflects the way we want you to look after treatment.
The wire threads through the brackets and, as the wire tries
to return to its original shape, it applies pressure to move your teeth.
Picture your tooth resting in your jaw bone. With pressure on one side from
the archwire, the bone on the other side gives way. The tooth moves. New
bone grows in behind.
Attached to your braces, elastics (rubber bands) exert the
proper force that creates the right amount of pressure to move teeth. In
order for this force to remain constant, elastics must be worn all the time
and changed every day.
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