T he thought of getting braces on to achieve your dream smile is exciting but it can also be overwhelming when you’re not sure of what to expect. First, let us reassure you thatorthodontic treatment won’t drastically change your lifestyle, aside from the fact that when you’re finished, you’ll get a huge boost in confidence and oral health. In fact, the majority of our Abbotsford and Surrey braces patients are pleasantly surprised with how easy the process is and with the Aura Orthodontics team in your corner, you’ll have some fun while your new smile takes shape. Yet, we know you probably have a few questions like can you chew gum with braces? Or, how much do braces cost? We’ve got it covered with our guide to everything you need to know about getting braces on and breezing through treatment.

How do Braces Work and What are the Different Types of Braces? First things first, what are braces and how do braces work? Well, dental braces are fixed orthodontic appliances, which means, unlike a removable treatment such as Invisalign (another amazing option), braces stay in place until we’re ready to take them off. With braces, we bond brackets to your teeth and then run archwires – one on the top and one on the bottom – through them and secure everything in place with tiny elastics or metal ties. This system of brackets and wires exerts gentle, steady pressure to move the teeth into their new positions. We sometimes use additional appliances or components like bands or a power chain to provide the necessary connective forces to improve the relationship between the upper and lower jaw.

Dental braces are designed to correct malocclusion, which is when the top and bottom teeth don’t come together correctly when you bite down. Types of malocclusion include crowding, an underbite, a crossbite, spacing or an overbite (overjet). The underlying cause of malocclusion can be skeletal or dental and only a certified specialist in orthodontics like Dr. Sharma or Dr. Lin can develop an accurate diagnosis and determine if getting braces on is the way to go for your smile. In the meantime, take our “Do I Need Braces?” quiz to get a good idea if they could be a possibility.

As far as the types of braces, there’s something to suit everyone. Traditional metal braces are what most people think of. They’re made of stainless steel and have the usual brackets and archwires. They work really well for patients of all ages and can be effective in treating more complex cases. While they used to be a little unwieldy, thanks to innovations in orthodontic engineering, they’re smaller and more comfy than ever before, meaning no more stereotypical metal mouth look. Kids tend to like them because they have the option of using colorful elastics with their metal braces.

possible to give your child the healthy, beautiful smile they deserve.

 

Dr Vishal Sharma
BSc, DDS, Cert. Ortho.
FRCD(C), FCDS(BC)