Braces, or appliances, are the general terms used to describe a variety of devices used by orthodontists to correct malocclusions and to create balanced facial appearances. They generally fall into three categories. ORTHODONTIC appliances are used to progressively alter the position of individual teeth or groups of teeth. FUNCTIONAL ORTHOPEDIC appliances are designed to alter the direction and/or amount of upper and lower jaw development. RETAINERS are generally employed to maintain bite correction after treatment has been completed.

ORTHODONTIC appliances usually consist of brackets attached to the surfaces of the teeth and a series of flexible wires that are adjusted periodically to gradually and gently move the teeth toward their intended positions. The brackets may be metal or clear ceramic. Metal brackets have the advantage of being sturdier, thus resisting breakage and permitting adjustments to be made with greater precision. Ceramic brackets have the advantage of being less visually obvious, but because of their fragility, may make detailed correction more difficult and time consuming. Drs. Ive and McNeill use both types of brackets and will be pleased to discuss with you which design is most likely to meet your personal needs.

FUNCTIONAL or FACIAL ORTHOPEDIC appliances are most commonly designed to be removable rather than fixed. They are employed to modify growth of the facial structures in order to create balance between upper and lower jaw size and position. Since their effectiveness is growth dependent, their use is limited to children and young adolescents. Drs. Ive and McNeill employ a variety of orthopedic appliances such as headgears (night braces), bionators and twin-blocks with the choice being based on evaluation of each patient’s unique presenting condition and treatment requirements.

RETAINERS may be either attached to the teeth or removable. Attached, or fixed, retainers generally consist of a fine wire that is bonded to the inner surface of the lower and/or upper front teeth with the intention that it will stay in place on a permanent basis. Drs. Ive and McNeill prescribe such fixed retainers when there is a high potential for the teeth to rebound toward their pre-treatment position. Removable retainers may occasionally be used for minor amounts of tooth movement but are in most cases designed to maintain correction after orthodontic treatment. Drs. Ive and McNeill usually prescribe full-time retainer wear to begin as soon as active treatment is completed. After careful monitoring of individual patient response, the amount of retainer wear may be progressively reduced as the teeth adapt to their new positions and the bite correction stabilizes.

INVISALIGN®

Invisalign is a relatively new, innovative, orthodontic appliance system that employs a series of clear, virtually invisible, overlay templates called aligners. 3-D computer technology is employed to translate the orthodontist’s detailed treatment plan into a series of these aligners, each of which is designed to produce a finite amount of sequential tooth movement. Invisalign is most effective when chosen for correction of relatively minor malocclusions but may, in more complex cases, be combined with conventional fixed appliances in order to take advantage of the best attributes of both systems. We would be pleased to evaluate your particular needs to determine if this orthodontic appliance system is an appropriate option for you to consider. To learn if Invisalign can help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted, we welcome you to call us at (425) 483-2828 to make an examination appointment.