Orthodontic braces: so many to chose from …
Fri, May 9, 2008
If we turn back time and try to take a trip 20-30 years ago, we can clearly see how orthodontic braces would look like: we all have the image of that teenager with metal braces, smiling and feeling complexed because of his/her metal mouth look.
The “nerd” or “geek” who has eyeglasses and those braces that make talking and smiling so difficult. What most movies fail to show us is how that “geek” will look in just months after the treatment is over. Metal braces and any kind of orthodontic devices in the end do look funny and might be uncomfortable, but the results are always stunning. In 1-2 years (maybe a little more for some very complex orthodontic cases) that metal mouth will sport an amazing smile, just great to use to advertise a new brand of toot-paste or any other product that requires a lot of smiling.
Even if most orthodontic patients fear braces, we do advise you to use them and do the treatment. After some months you won’t recognize your teeth, you’ll have a perfect smile and a new face to show.
We used that “time machine” analogy since today things are different in orthodontics. Now we have more than just metal braces. We can use ceramics, lingual braces, even invisible plastic ones that really don’t show. Did you think that you don’t have what to chose from? Think again.
And now, to the goal of our article: HOW DO I CHOSE THE ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT?
- the severity of your orthodontic case. If your teeth are too crooked you might not qualify for the Invisible braces (Invisalign). In this case your orthodontist can advise you to use another system: Damon or Lingual (Incognito)
- the need for extractions (or not). Some braces types (Damon comes to mind) might not require extractions, others might do
- what your orthodontist can provide. Not can provide you with Incognito, Invisalign or Damon. Most of them have just “regular” metal braces (with ligatures), while others are licensed to use all systems.
- price. Some orthodotic treatments are more expensive while others cost less. Not to mention some are not covered by your health insurance.
- the need to wear other devices: headgear for example.
- treatment time: some systems work faster, some slower
- diction: in some cases the lisp the patient faces (at least in the first days) is more noticeable. For a radio DJ for instance or a public speaker, this can become a problem
- looks. Some might not love the “metal mouth” look (for a 30-40 year old this might be harder), while others don’t care about aspect too much and can settle for anything.
- allergies. Some people might develop allergic reactions to Nickel.
So, here you have some things to consider when chosing an orthodontic treatment. It’s not that simple anymore and thank God we have some excellent systems to chose from. There are good solutions or even combinations so that we can straighten our teeth the way we want.
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Tags: braces, Damon braces, Incognito, Invisalign, invisible braces, Lingual braces, metal braces, orthodontic treatment, orthodontics
January 20th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
??
“In this case your orthodontist can advise you to use another system: Damon or Lingual (Incognito)”
Or SmartClips, or In-Ovation, or Clarity, or Mystique, or STb (linguals), or Inspire ICE, or Carriere, or Time 2, or Opal, or TruGold, or InVu, or NuEdge, or … the comment implies only a couple of alternatives to Invisalign, and yet in terms of bracket brands they are extremelt numerous. More helpful though would be to suggest that if Invisalign is not an option, then instead the prospective patient can consider other _types_ or orthodontic appliance, such as lingual brackets, regular metal braces, gold braces, or ceramics braces. This type of decision is a meaningful one, whereas there’s not really much point to me, as a patient, trying to choose between (say) SmartClips, Carriere, or In-Ovation any more than it would make sense for me to choose my handyman based on whether he uses a Bosch or a Makita powerdrill. The average patient does not have the training or expertise to know the subtle ins and outs of one bracket brand vs. another, and at the end of the day it is the skill of the orthodontist that is of paramount importance any way.
“the need for extractions (or not). Some braces types (Damon comes to mind) might not require extractions, others might do”
The marketing machine at Ormco would have us believe that only through the use of Damon braces can extractions be avoided in certain cases. But the cold, hard truth is that the bracket brand does not determine what results are and are not possible, or what treatment approach is achievable. There is nothing that can be achieved using Damon braces that a skilled orthodontist could not achieve with any of the competing bracket brands. Remember too that results aren’t just how the teeth look and how the bite ends up when active treatment is done, but also include how stable those results will be in the longer term.
“what your orthodontist can provide. Not can provide you with Incognito, Invisalign or Damon. Most of them have just “regular” metal braces (with ligatures), while others are licensed to use all systems.”
Whilst it is true that comparitively few orthodontists offer lingual braces and/or Invisalign, the majority do generally offer some sort of aesthetic bracket option (ceramic, or plastic, or even systems like In-Ovation C), and a great many offer self-ligating bracket systems (In-Ovation, SmartClips, Carriere, Damon, etc.). Again, Ormco’s marketeers would have us all believe theirs (Damon) is a unique system, but there are many competing self-ligating systems on the market and in common use.
“price. Some orthodotic treatments are more expensive while others cost less. Not to mention some are not covered by your health insurance.”
Prices vary country to country, and city to city within a country. What is covered under health insurance, or by your Government is massively variable. However, many dental plans in the USA do not cover orthodontia at all, or cover it only for children. Most who do cover it provide only very limited coverage, with a maximum payout that is generally significantly less than the total fees.
“treatment time: some systems work faster, some slower”
Yes and no. Computer-assisted systems (Insignia, SureSmile) can generally be expected to trim a significant amount of treatment time. But claims from certain manufacturers of self-ligating brackets boasting massive time savings are commonly held to be greatly exaggerated. Again, bracket brand is unimportant.
“allergies. Some people might develop allergic reactions to Nickel.”
This is true, although it turns out that even if a patient is known to have contact dermatitis with nickel, they will often be able to get through orthodontic treatment without issues. Nickel-free brackets (several brands!) are available, and can be used to minimise risks, but there are still the archwires to consider; however, in practice, these generally do not present a problem.
More common is an irritation from latex if elastics need to be used (or, for that matter, resulting from the gloves that are commonly used) However, nitrile gloves are available, and latex-free orthodontic elastics can be ordered, if these are necessary for the patient.
So, in terms of allergies/contact dermatitis, this is certainly something to discuss with your orthodontist at consultation, if these conditions apply to you, but any good orthodontist should be able to work around such issues without any problems.
My advice really is to focus most on choosing an orthodontist you trust, with whom you can communicate well, and whose treatment plan makes sense and is acceptible to you.
January 20th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Hello and MASSIVE thanks for all the information. I had access only to those systems I have mentioned since in this part of Europe you chose from Damon/Incognito/Invisalign. I really enjoyed all the information and I am sure all our readers here will benefit a lot. Please do come back with more info
September 7th, 2009 at 1:14 am
When we turn back to the previous years we have been using orthodontic braces and until now is going on smoothly. Before we mostly use metal braces and it feels comfortable while smiling because of the metal mouth look but now new braces has come up which will not make uncomfortable while wearing it some of them are: ceramics, lingual braces and even invisible braces. For me I prefer to wear invisible braces that others will hardly recognized when wearing it. There are so many braces to choose from but it depends on the condition of the teeth and the orthodontist. If we have crooked teeth, we cannot use invisible braces and so we should try for another system. Most of the orthodontist is not license to use all systems. So when doing a treatment, we should choose a perfect orthodontist that will suit you. Price of the treatment it will depends from place to place and for insurance, I have a good plan for treatment everyone can apply to it. Some patient’s feels allergies to wear and should be discussed with your orthodontist and good orthodontist will solve the problem.
During treatment, the most important is to choose the best orthodontist for a better result.
September 7th, 2009 at 1:21 am
When we turn back to the previous years we have been using orthodontic braces and until now is going on smoothly. Before we mostly use metal braces and it feels comfortable while smiling because of the metal mouth look but now new braces has come up which will not make uncomfortable while wearing it some of them are: ceramics, lingual braces and even invisible braces. For me I prefer to wear invisible braces that others will hardly recognized when wearing it. There are so many braces to choose from but it depends on the condition of the teeth and the orthodontist. If we have crooked teeth, we cannot use invisible braces and so we should try for another system. Most of the orthodontist is not license to use all systems. So when doing a treatment, we should choose a perfect orthodontist that will suit you. Price of the treatment it will depends from place to place and for insurance, I have a good plan for treatment everyone can apply to it. Some patient’s feels allergies to wear and should be discussed with your orthodontist and good orthodontist will solve the problem.
During treatment, the most important is to choose the best orthodontist for a better result.
September 8th, 2009 at 1:44 am
When we turn back to the previous years we have been using orthodontic braces and until now is going on smoothly. Before we mostly use metal braces and it feels comfortable while smiling because of the metal mouth look but now new braces has come up which will not make uncomfortable while wearing it some of them are: ceramics, lingual braces and even invisible braces. For me I prefer to wear invisible braces that others will hardly recognized when wearing it. There are so many braces to choose from but it depends on the condition of the teeth and the orthodontist. If we have crooked teeth, we cannot use invisible braces and so we should try for another system. Most of the orthodontist is not license to use all systems. So when doing a treatment, we should choose a perfect orthodontist that will suit you. Price of the treatment it will depends from place to place and for insurance, I have a good plan for treatment everyone can apply to it. Some patient’s feels allergies to wear and should be discussed with your orthodontist and good orthodontist will solve the problem.
During treatment, the most important is to choose the best orthodontist for a better result.