Damon braces - metal self-ligating brackets
As I mentioned before in another article, the metal braces can be of 2 main categories: the braces with brackets that have their own system to connect to the archwire (self-ligating) and the ones that need ligatures to do this. This article will present the self-ligating bracket braces; the best known being the Damon braces.
These are still metal braces, but with a revolutionary ligating system, excellent results and in many cases no need for extractions. The system was created by the orthodontist Dwight Damon.
In many cases for the adults who cannot wear palatal expanders (it’s useless since they are no more kids so their bone structure now is final) extractions are needed. When the teeth are too big for the small mouth, the only way to make them “fit” is to extract some (usually the first pre-molars are extracted thus leaving enough space that will not show. The Damon System doesn’t require extractions all the time since it can solve the problems without any teeth being pulled.
In my case for instance extractions were needed since my teeth were way too large for them to fit. In this case the Damon braces needed these extractions too so that they can arrange the teeth properly. It all depends on your personal case and the way your orthodontist sees your treatment.
The good thing about the Damon braces is they no longer need those colourful ligatures. Sure, they can be cute, but why use them if we can do without? This is what Damon thought when he implemented the “sliding-doors” system on the brackets that close and open with no external help from ligatures.
The Damon braces have their brackets smaller (there are already some partially ceramic ones) and they look pretty good. I haven’t worn braces on all teeth, but I saw many patients who were fully braced and their braces really looked nice. The small stainless steel brackets looked like small silver jewels on their teeth.
And, if you want a funny aspect: they do attract the magnet. Yeah, I tried it too 
Here are some of the advantages of the Damon braces:
- the brackets are smaller and look pretty nice
- no ligatures mean less chances to catch all that food in there
- they work faster and the results are sometimes astounding (in my case I had an incisor move 7 mm in just 4 months)
- it’s a new system and it’s getting improved constantly.
The disadvantages now, sure we have them too:
- they are still metal braces and offer you that “metal mouth” look
- the treatment is more costly than in the “classical” braces case
- the orthodontists need to be accredited to use the system. For a list of them, please consult the official DAMON site.
- the treatment can be painful in the first days, you’ll also have mouth sores (treatable with dental wax).
Still the Damon System is a great idea if you want to have a good metal braces orthodontic treatment. I used them for just 7 months in preparation for the Invisalign treatment, but the results were just amazing.
Tags: Damon braces, metal braces
July 12th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I have damon braces and they just hurted during the first week, but now it’s been 3 months since and i haven’t expirience any pain at all, not even when they adjust them. And my friends who have normal braces are complaining all the time that it hurts.
So i think damon braces are a great option
July 13th, 2008 at 4:00 am
Hello Leslie and thank you for coming to our blog.
I also had some very bad days in the first week, but afterwards it was pretty OK. The normal braces may hurt some more since they are bulkier and they also have those ligatures that might prove harder on the teeth. Still both systems are OK since the results are the ones we have in mind.
Should I have to chose between the 2, I’d chose Damon once again because of the clear advantage.
July 19th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
i still havent decided which braces i want 2 get, but i was wondering if metal ligatures were harder 2 clean than the coloured rubber ones?
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:51 am
Hello Zak.
There is no such thing as metal ligatures, you have rubber ligatures for “regular” braces and nothing for Damon. The Damon System uses something called “sliding doors”, the brackets have the option of closing on the wire, you don’t need a ligature to “tie” them to the archwire. If you have the money I’d recommend getting Damon. It’s really good.
As far as cleaning is concerned, they are all hard since the food gets stuck in there. With good brushing, flossing with a special thread and also going for regular cleanings you’ll be just fine. Normally Damon is easier to clean since its brackets are smaller …
September 8th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Wow! I wish I would have heard about Damon braces a month ago. My daughter just got an expander and partial braces. She also has to wear a mouth piece at night. In a few years she will need a full set of braces. I’m wondering if she could have skipped this expander step, and just done the Damon braces.
September 27th, 2008 at 6:28 am
I went to my orthodontist yesterday and told me i was going to have to have surgery to have my wisdom teeth out and then braces for about a year. When i remembered my friends who had had regular braces, they told them a year and they had them two. He gave me a brochure and it was for Damon braces, after studying up on the Damon Systgem I am very excited to be getting Damon braces intead of just regular braces. I’m not so excited about the wisdom teeth coming out though….
October 13th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Anne, only a specialist can tell if Damon would have saved her the hassle or not. Anyway, it’s good to be on the track with the treatment and, even if scary and with discomfort now, she’ll do just fine. I am keeping my fingers crossed
Siobhan, don’t worry about the wisdom teeth. Most of the time they are or can become an annoyance, so it’s good to just get rid of them.
Best of luck with the treatment and please keep us posted
October 21st, 2008 at 8:53 pm
All major orthodontic bracket companies have a self-ligating bracket on the market now. There is much anecdotal “evidence” about the Damon bracket that has been pushed by a huge marketing effort by the makers of the Damon bracket. Many in the orthodontic community feel that some of their claims are unsubstantiated and not backed up by scientfic proof. I and many of my peers believe it is the wire and not the bracket that is the major factor in treatment. If you see a commercial geared to the general public (ie Viagra, Cialis etc.) realize that it is a public company pushing its product on an uneducated public.
October 27th, 2008 at 3:49 am
so..its there differencess between the self ligating system with the damon? i keep wondering about that coz i had mine which is the self ligation system and it also had sliding door..i was finding it weird coz it do not had color on it thou…anyone to come out with some explanation..i am abit confused
October 27th, 2008 at 4:08 am
Hello Dr Straight and welcome to the blog. Thank you for the comments, it’s nice knowing more from the specialists.
In Romania Damon is already a “premium” system .. there are non-self-ligating systems and the ones I saw are horrible. The cheapest ones placed by orthodontists who don’t want to pay more for Damon (or a similar system), put these (which come very cheap for them) and in the end you pay over 3000 Euro for a “classical” system, more than you’d pay for Damon. These people don’t care about good or worse, they are in for some more cash.
I haven’t seen a similar system to Damon, I have worn Damon though and it’s been amazing. I have a friend who wears “normal” braces (with ligatures) and they are bulkier and unpleasant. Not to mention she has to go every 2 weeks to the ortho, while I would see him once a month.I had Damon 3 and was hugely pleased with them. Sure, now I like Invisalign more, but Damon did the trick fast and well.
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Apple: Damon and other similar systems is self-ligating. The small brackets have that small “door” and don’t need ligatures to tie them to the wire. The colour is given by those ligatures you don’t need anymore, this explains why the brackets are only “metal colour” and nothing fancy.
November 7th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
hi
I am 23 years old and have a very ugly teeth structure since my age 12.now after reading this article i am confusing in ‘ceramic’ and ‘metal’ braces. My doctor says you have to year ceramic braces for only 1 year.both demon or ceramic dosent matter.
Can you help what can i do?
December 16th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Most self-ligating brackets are going to be bulkier than non ligating brackets just because of the very nature of the bracket having a closing door mechanism. I have found breakage less of a problem with non-ligating and there is never a problem with gate mechanisms failing or being hard to open.
I don’t know the general orthodontic environment in Romania and what non-ligating brackets might be bulkier than self-ligating. I have posted an blog on this topic at http://www.askdrstraight.com. Look in the archives section.
Have a happy holiday!