Reliable Treatment
About everybody around Fort Collins and Windsor has seen traditional ceramic metal braces, and they are probably the most orthodontic treatment option at Timock Family Orthodontics and Northern Colorado Orthodontics. Learn how our orthodontists combine cutting-edge technology with these orthodontic staples to correct any severity of malocclusion and create stunning smiles in less time.
The Classic Choice for a Picture-Perfect Smile
Ceramic and metal braces have been the cornerstone of orthodontic treatment for decades. Dr. Timock and Dr. Mioduski refined this classic approach with the latest advancements to serve our communities around Fort Collins and Windsor.
Let's explore the components that make this treatment so effective.
What are Braces Made Of?
Brackets
Metal brackets are durable and made from a mix of stainless steel, nickel, and other metals to impart ideal characteristics. Ceramic brackets are made with a crystalline structure, imparting a color and translucency to better match the shade of your teeth.
Most brackets have little hooks or doors where a wire is threaded. A bracket can be secured by placing an elastic (colored or clear) over the top of the wire.
Glue
Dr. Timock or Dr. Mioduski will use a special dental adhesiveglue to attach the brackets to your teeth. This material is similar to a tooth colored filling and must be strong enough to last throughout treatment, yet not so strong as to prevent the orthodontics from removing the bracket at the end of treatment.
Wire
This thin piece of metal runs from one bracket to another and can be made of different metal alloys depending on the stage of treatment and desired characteristics. Dr. Timock or Dr. Mioduski will change the shape and curvature of the wire to move your teeth in the right direction.
The wire will usually attach all of your bottom or upper teeth together, but we might occasionally cut the wire if connecting just a few teeth is better for your treatment plan.
Elastics
If you need bite correction, elastics are essential. They’re generally strung between an upper bracket hook and a lower bracket hook. This will pull the upper jaw backward to correct an overbite, or the lower jaw back to correct an underbite.
We may use rubber bands for many different situations, especially when we want to put extra pressure on the teeth or jaws.
Orthodontic Bands
These are stainless steel rings that are cemented to your teeth using dental bonding agents. These bands can provide an anchor for your braces and orthodontic appliances, but they’re not used for everyone.
Spacers
These small elastic “donuts” or rings can be used to create space in between your teeth when needed, typically before bands are placed. They’re also referred to as separators.
Elastic Ties/O-Rings/Ligatures/Colors
These tiny rubber rings or bands are used to attach the archwire to the brackets. They’re less rigid than spacers and come in dozens of colors.