Last month, we told you how healthy, straight teeth can give you a better, healthier heart. And while brushing, flossing and rinsing can keep your teeth healthy, we also believe you need the assistance of a well-trained orthodontist and treatment plan to actually do the straightening. We’re known locally for our Invisalign treatment, but many Gorman & Bunch Orthodontics’ patients also choose braces. So how do we straighten teeth with braces? Great question! Read on to find out how braces work, when to expect results, and how to get started on your journey to a straight, beautiful smile.

The Components of Braces

First, let’s discuss the pieces and parts in a full set of braces that work to straighten your teeth.

Brackets

These are made of metal or ceramics. We use dental bonding material — really strong glue that keeps the brackets in place over the course of your treatment — to attach them to each tooth.

Archwire

This is the thin metal wire that runs between each bracket and puts pressure on your teeth in order to become aligned or straightened — whether it’s up and down or side to side.

Elastic Ties

The elastic ties — also known as elastic rings, ligature elastics, or donuts — hold the archwire to the brackets. Our patients love these pieces because they come in an endless variety of colors! Customizing your smile is just one perk of braces for teeth. Each time you come into one of our Central Indiana offices to get your braces adjusted, you get to choose a new style.

Rubber Bands

Depending on your bite, we may use rubber bands or elastics that hook from a bracket on the upper teeth to a bracket on the lower teeth. These create additional pressure to straighten and direct your teeth and jaw into proper alignment.

In some cases, there are other tools we may use during your treatment time, such as tubes, hooks, loops, springs, steel ties, and headgear. But don’t worry, we’ll keep you informed every step of the way.

The Process of Aligning Your Teeth With Braces

Now that you know the ins and outs of braces components, you’re probably asking yourself, “How do braces work?” Your braces do more than rearrange your misaligned teeth. In fact — through a process called bone remodeling — we apply constant, gentle pressure against your teeth that actually encourages your bones to adapt and hold your teeth in their new positions for the rest of your life.

Here’s how it works. The bracket and archwire work together to align each tooth into proper position. When we first place your braces, we use a narrow, flexible archwire, as your teeth ease into the new force and pressure. Then, as your teeth become straighter, we eventually use thicker archwires that fill more of the brackets’ slots and provide additional pressure.

Once your teeth move to the right spot, we hold your teeth in place while the bone tissue around your teeth and jaws changes. And voila, your new and improved smile is set in place!

How Long it Takes for Braces to Straighten Your Teeth

The most popular question we hear from our patients is, “how long do braces take to create a straight smile?” It usually talks about three days for the bone remodeling process to start. You may feel some soreness in your mouth the first few days or weeks as your teeth and jaw get used to this new pressure as braces move your teeth a little everyday. As far as when teeth start to straighten with braces, once the process is in place, it takes about three months to grow new bone, and then generally 1-3 years to fully stabilize. This is why it’s so important to wear a retainer!

Exactly how fast teeth move with braces depends on each patient. But, there are things you can do to help the process. Proper dental hygiene during your treatment will make your individual process the most efficient. Flossing between each bracket is extremely important, as well as brushing every curved angle around gums and brackets. We, of course, discourage chewing hard candy and gum (unless it’s sugar-free gum), and encourage eating some foods in smaller bites, like slicing an apple instead of biting into it directly.

Getting Started With Braces at Gorman & Bunch Orthodontics

We follow the American Association of Orthodontics guidelines that recommend an orthodontic evaluation for every child by age seven or sooner. Our First Phase Evaluation helps us determine the best time to begin any necessary treatment and allow us to watch growth patterns as your child develops, and gives us a chance to explain how we straighten teeth with braces.

If you think you or a family member are ready to talk about orthodontic treatment, reach out to us today and let us help you take the first step toward a happier, healthier smile.