Braces

What are braces?

Most patients require the use of fixed braces, or “train tracks” to have straight teeth, and to achieve the best possible improvement in their smile and bite. Small intricate attachments called brackets are bonded to the teeth, whilst sometimes metal bands are placed around back teeth.

The brackets and bands are then connected to each other using a thin wire, called an archwire. The archwire is held in place using a variety of methods, such as a coloured rubber ring, or a self closing clip in the bracket. These wires are adjusted at regular intervals to straighten the teeth and correct the bite.

Fixed braces are small and don't really affect speech and eating, so long as care is taken. You can fully enjoy the flavour of your food with braces on. As the braces cannot be removed they work very efficiently. Fixed braces are very good at achieving the fine detail necessary for an excellent result.

Each bracket might be considered as a handle with which it is possible to precisely control the individual teeth in three planes of space. Braces are very sophisticated and each tooth has it's own bracket designed to achieve correct position, angle and tip. The wires used to straighten the teeth have a perfect shape memory and will gradually return to it's original shape, moving displaced teeth along with it.