Most patients want to achieve a perfectly aligned smile with bright teeth. However, not everyone is fortunate to be born with a perfect smile. Luckily, this issue can be solved through orthodontic treatment.
Whether it is used to simply enhance the patient's appearance or correct a malocclusion that is causing pain or oral issues, orthodontic treatment can improve the patient's condition.
However, one of the most prominent downsides of orthodontic treatments is aesthetic issues throughout the treatment. Orthodontic procedures involve wearing different appliances on the teeth for several months. These appliances are usually made of metal. Therefore, they are unaesthetic and highly noticeable while talking or smiling.
Nonetheless, this issue can be solved using ceramic brackets instead of their metal counterpart.
Orthodontic ceramic brackets are special appliances that are used to align teeth. They were developed as a countermeasure to the aesthetic problem that patients experience throughout the orthodontic treatment.
Orthodontic ceramic braces are small and square appliances that the dentist or orthodontist bonds to the front surface of the teeth. They are made of ceramic material instead of metal. As a result, they are white and resemble the teeth' enamel color. This makes them less noticeable and aesthetically pleasing.
Nonetheless, the dentist still needs to use a metallic wire, molar bands, and orthodontic garters to efficiently align the teeth. This could slightly compromise the patient's aesthetics. However, it is still less noticeable than treatment with metal brackets.
The only difference between metal brackets and ceramic brackets is the color. Both alternatives are essentially the same but made of different materials.
Orthodontic ceramic brackets have identical mechanisms to metal brackets.
Therefore, aside from their look, both options are capable of achieving the same results in the same timeframe.
The dentist must perform a thorough case assessment to efficiently fix a malocclusion with orthodontic ceramic brackets. The case planning is done through a radiographic study, dental models of the patient, and photographs.
Once ready, the dentist bonds the orthodontic ceramic brackets to the buccal aspect of each tooth. This is done using composite resin. Furthermore, the brackets must be placed in the middle portion of the teeth.
Afterward, the ceramic brackets are connected through a metal wire.
This applies pressure to the teeth and causes them to move and realign in the intended position. Furthermore, the dentist can control how much pressure and force are applied to the teeth.
Throughout the treatment, the dentist performs periodic adjustments to ensure that brackets work in the desired way, achieving a perfectly aligned smile at the end of the treatment.