BRACES

TRADITIONAL AND CLEAR BRACES IN RICHMOND AND NEW KENT, VA

Braces

Holbert Family Orthodontics in Richmond and New Kent, VA is proud to offer both traditional and clear braces! These appliances are the cornerstone of orthodontic treatment for the majority of patients. Both traditional and clear ones are effective at straightening your smile and correcting bite misalignment, and are more comfortable than ever before.

DO I NEED ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT?

Most patients choose orthodontic treatment to achieve a beautiful, perfectly aligned smile. This not only enhances appearance, but also increases self-confidence, which is important as teens develop into young adults. However, orthodontic treatment offers so much more. If you have a malocclusion or an improper bite, your teeth are vulnerable to excess pressure and wear, which can break down the enamel, eventually leading to decay. If teeth are not correctly aligned, they can chip or wear inconsistently, causing unnecessary dental complications.

Through orthodontic treatment, a patient can achieve the “ideal bite,” or the optimal alignment, between the top teeth and the bottom teeth. The alignment or relationship between the top and bottom jaw becomes an essential part of your oral health. 

Straight teeth are healthy teeth! Teeth that are properly aligned are easier to keep clean by flossing and brushing, and may help prevent other health problems in the future. There are several conditions or malocclusions that may require orthodontic treatment, including:

  • Crowded teeth – teeth that do not have enough room to erupt

  • Open bite – upper and lower teeth that do not touch, usually caused by thumbsucking or pacifier use

  • Overbite – upper teeth protrude out much further than the lower teeth bite. This type of bite may increase the chance of injury to upper front teeth

  • Missing teeth – due to injury or congenital

  • Underbite – lower front teeth extend out beyond upper front teeth

  • Excess spacing between teeth

  • Crossbite – upper teeth erupt inside the lower teeth, usually on one side

Braces-orthodontic-treatment-cleaning-exam-orthodontics

TRADITIONAL BRACES

Traditional metal braces are made of high-quality stainless steel or titanium. Orthodontics today utilizes modern materials to make them equally durable and more comfortable than ever before. Each bracket has smooth, rounded edges and a lower profile to optimize patient comfort. The archwires are pre-shaped to deliver a uniform force, thereby enhancing patient comfort. And last, but not least, elastics used around the brackets to hold the archwire in place are small, smooth and drastically reduce sores on the inside of the cheeks. You can’t go wrong in choosing this orthodontic appliance to straighten your smile.

BRACES TERMINOLOGY

As you start your smile journey, you will be learning about all of the components of braces and how they work together to create your beautiful, healthy smile. Dr. Holbert and his smile team will guide you through your treatment by explaining the various parts of your new appliances so you will know what to expect at your first visit and every visit thereafter. They have four main components and one temporary component, spacers, that will be removed after approximately a week. These components include:

Spacers are temporary, small rubber bands that are used between the molars, or back teeth to create space for the bands

These are the small metal or clear squares that are attached to the front and side of the teeth. They are usually made of stainless steel or titanium and are bonded directly to the enamel with a special adhesive. Brackets will provide a track for your archwire.

Archwires are the thin, flexible wires that connect all of the brackets and bands together. The archwire comes in different sizes and is used to move the teeth into the proper position. The upper and lower archwires will be changed at each appointment

 These thin metal rings that fit around the molars in the back of your mouth are called bands. Bands provide an anchor for the archwire

The fun part of traditional braces – choosing the colors of your elastics! Elastics fit securely around each bracket to hold the archwire in place. The elastics will be changed at each orthodontic visit and you can customize your look by choosing your favorite colors in any combination you wish

BRACES APPLIANCES

In some cases, Dr. Holbert may utilize other appliances to help align your bite. These include:

Carriere Distalizing Appliance

To address malocclusion of the back teeth, Holbert Family Orthodontics utilizes the Carriere Distalizing Appliance, also known as the Carriere Motion Appliance (CMA®). This appliance is typically used before Phase 2 or regular orthodontic treatment to treat molar bite problems. Using elastics to help achieve the desired bite position, the goal of using the Carriere Distalizing Appliance is to rotate and straighten the first molars. With the back teeth in proper alignment, Phase 2 orthodontics will be easier, predictable and possibly even shorter in treatment duration.

The Powerscope Class II Corrector is a fixed functional universal appliance used to address mandibular deficiency during active growth and treat Class II malocclusions, or when the upper molars are too far in front of the lower molars. This appliance greatly reduces the need for extractions and can address most cases of asymmetry.

CLEAR BRACES

Holbert Family Orthodontics is pleased to provide an aesthetic solution for orthodontic treatment with tooth-colored brackets and wires. Clear or ceramic braces consist of brackets made of tooth-colored ceramic or clear plastic. They work the same as traditional metal ones but offer a more aesthetic and discreet look while straightening your smile. Clear brackets are small, comfortable and blend in nicely with the natural tooth color making a great alternative to traditional metal ones. It is important to note that not all patients are good candidates for clear brackets, and Dr. Holbert will let you know if clear braces can accommodate your unique orthodontic requirements.

TAKING CARE OF YOUR BRACES

At Holbert Family Orthodontics, we teach our patients that one of the most important aspects of orthodontic treatment is making sure to keep your teeth clean by regularly brushing and flossing (or using a water flosser). Maintaining a good oral hygiene routine and being mindful of the foods that you eat during your orthodontic treatment will yield the best possible results. Explore our braces guide to learn more.

READY FOR YOUR NEW SMILE?

As you start your smile journey, you will be learning about all of the components of braces and how they work together to create your beautiful, healthy smile. Dr. Holbert and his smile team will guide you through your treatment by explaining the various parts of these appliances so you will know what to expect at your first visit and every visit thereafter. They have four main components and one temporary component, spacers, that will be removed after approximately a week.