Providing Care for Families in Clermont, Groveland, Minneola and surrounding communities.

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metal braces

Metal or stainless steel braces are the traditional and most common type of braces used in orthodontic treatment. Today’s metal braces are more comfortable than ever. Their small size and smooth surfaces mean patients get used to them much more quickly. After one to two weeks of adjustment, patients routinely inform Dr. Adams and his team that they no longer feel the braces. It’s like the braces are a part of their teeth.

Braces not only incorporate the metal braces or brackets but also arch wires that are attached to the metal braces and promote the movement of teeth. Patients can have some fun with their braces by choosing many colored elastic ties that hold the arch wire into each individual metal brace or bracket. These color ties will be changed out at every monthly appointment - colors for special occasions, Christmas, Halloween, etc. Go crazy with different colors!!

clear braces

Ceramic braces are an alternative to metal braces. Some teenagers and adults want their braces to be less noticeable and thus choose ceramic braces. This is especially true for adult patients with jobs that involve interacting with clients or making presentations. Treatment plans and results are the same whether one has metal or ceramic brackets and the time to complete treatment would not be affected by either braces choice. Ceramic brackets are a little more expensive than metal and there is an additional cost for their use in treatment.

There are special-colored elastic ties made for ceramic braces that secure arch wires into the ceramic brackets that are less noticeable as well. It is funny, though, to witness about 50% of adults with ceramic braces at some point during their treatments will choose bright colored elastic ties to secure the arch wires to the ceramic braces. They want to have some fun too!

Clear Aligners (Invisalign®)

invisalign

You may hear clear aligners or Invisalign being referred to as another type of braces. Clear aligners or Invisalign are NOT braces. Clear aligners/Invisalign is a treatment alternative, but they are limited in what they can achieve. Orthodontic treatment not only involves creating a beautiful and confident smile but, more importantly, establishing a healthy and stable bite that will prevent future wear and tear of the teeth, dental pain and suffering, and dental costs associated with a poor bite.

If an adult patient presents with a healthy bite at his or her consultation appointment and has minor to moderate crowding of the front teeth, then clear aligners/Invisalign is an acceptable treatment choice and Dr. Adams will present that choice. However, if a patient has a bite issue to correct, Dr. Adams will only provide the superior treatment modality to address bite issues and that is treatment with braces, whether metal or ceramic.

Clear aligners/Invisalign does have some conveniences over braces in that it’s easier to brush and floss and there are really no food restrictions. Other than that, metal and ceramic braces cost less and achieve superior results in less time. This topic is covered in more detail in Braces vs Clear Aligners/Invisalign section under the Treatments Tab.