How does orthodontic treatment work?

Many patients are embarrassed by crooked teeth and long for a picture-perfect smile. Fortunately, treatment with braces can help such patients achieve better outcomes. When these patients visit the orthodontist on Long Island, they often ask how orthodontic appliances do their job. Here is a brief overview of how the process works.

Orthodontics involves several components that work together to help move the teeth into the proper alignment. First, brackets are bonded to the teeth. These brackets are connected to each other using arch wires and apply pressure to the teeth to move them. Brackets can be made of metal, ceramic or plastic, which offers patients a variety of options, some of which are less conspicuous in the smile.

The arch wire, which is threaded through the brackets, is also manipulated to re-align the teeth over the course of orthodontic treatment. Arch wires come in varying thicknesses, and the orthodontist may change arch wires periodically to exert more (or less) pressure on the teeth.

Elastics, or rubber bands, might also be used in conjunction with the brackets and wires to move the jaw, if that is necessary.

All of these devices work in concert to reposition the teeth. When pressure is applied to a tooth, the periodontal ligament—which attaches the tooth to the jaw bone—transfers that pressure to the jaw bone. As a result, the bone structures that held the teeth in their original positions break down and new bone cells are created to anchor the teeth in the proper location.

Your orthodontist might recommend an alternative method known as Invisalign for straightening your teeth, as well. Rather than relying on a combination of brackets, wires and bands, Invisalign straightens the teeth through a series of clear plastic trays that align the teeth gradually over time. Because the trays can be removed when the patient eats or brushes the teeth, many patients find Invisalign to be a more convenient option.

Regardless of the method used, you will receive a retainer after the active orthodontic treatment has achieved its aesthetic goals. The retainer helps to reinforce the new placement of the teeth, and it is very important to wear the retainer as directed or else your teeth may revert to their original positions.