Why are self-ligating braces popular nowadays?
Orthodontic treatments aim at correcting teeth alignment problems. You might aware of the teeth straightening appliances like metal braces, Invisalign, and retainers. The evolution in dentistry has brought some remarkable changes in orthodontic technology also. Self-ligating braces are an instance.
It cannot be proclaimed as the newest in orthodontic treatments but involves newer product materials and application methods. It uses the same technology as metal braces but in a more convenient & flexible manner. Keep reading to know more about this orthodontic appliance.
How do self-ligating braces differ from traditional braces?
Before knowing how self-ligating braces contrast with metal braces, you should know the elements of traditional braces and how they work. The conventional braces consist of the following elements:
Brackets
O-Ties (Ligatures)
The brackets are attached to the teeth and an archwire runs through the brackets. The archwire is responsible for applying pressure to push the crooked teeth to their aligned position. The O-ties, also known as ligatures are rubber or elastic bands that stretch around the bracket and are responsible for holding the archwires to the brackets.
The self-ligating braces differ with their ligation system as these braces do not contain ligatures. Instead, they use a metal clip with a door mechanism (i.e.) the clip opens and closes to hold the archwire in its place.
How do self-ligating braces straighten the teeth?
Similar to other orthodontic braces, the self-ligating braces also involve applying light forces to stimulate tooth movement. Meanwhile, it eliminates a common problem associated with straightening teeth with metal braces.
In traditional braces, the rubber ligatures rub against the teeth. Such frictions are bound to some difficulties and elongate the treatment duration in most cases. As the rubber or elastic ligatures are replaced with metal clips, the archwire is secured inside the bracket slot. Hence the friction between wire and bracket is eliminated
You don't need to visit your dentist frequently to replace the rubber ligatures frequently regardless of the type of self-ligating brace you wear. It is available in metal and ceramic materials. In ceramic self-ligating braces, the brackets are also transparent thereby they are hard to notice.
In essence, the self-ligating brace is the rectified version of conventional braces and streamlines your dentition with less discomfort.
Do self-ligating brace wearers need periodic adjustments?
Even though the need of replacing ligatures is eliminated, the brace wearers should get periodic adjustments. In those sessions, the Orthodontists can evaluate the progression of teeth movements and allow them to discover any shortcomings in the braces if exist.
Remember that the number of periodic adjustments for self-ligating brackets varies for different people depending on their unique situations.
What are the advantages of self-ligating braces over traditional braces?
The traditional braces are highly obvious due to the colored elastic or rubber bands. As the colored ligatures are replaced with metal clips, wearing self-ligating braces is less visible than metal braces. Similarly, this teeth straightener holds a few advantages listed as follows:
Less pain and discomfort
Easy to clean
Less chance of bacteria congregation
Mandates fewer clinical visits
Reduced friction
Even though the self-ligating braces possess more advantages than traditional braces, the treatment duration might persist longer than conventional braces at times. As mentioned earlier, the treatment duration and periodic adjustments vary from person to person depending on unique treatment needs.
Dr. Suresh