What types of orthodontic treatments exist?
The history of tooth straightening
Orthodontic conditions have been present in humans and animals alike since ancient times, as it is indicated by a wide range of archaeological sources. Orthodontic conditions have even been described numerous times by various famous authors of antiquity, including Hippocrates, the father of medicine himself. However, nobody was able to treat these conditions appropriately, or even suggest anything reasonable for their treatment. Orthodontics has only started to become its own field of dental science during the past 300 years. One of the biggest milestones was the invention of adhesives that could be used in dentistry in the 1970s. These adhesives alongside the widespread use of stainless steel in dentistry have provided the foundations for the popularisation of braces. While today there are many alternatives to metal braces, they are still an extremely important resource for treating orthodontic conditions. If you are interested in getting treatment to straighten your teeth with orthodontics in Colchester, book an appointment to speak with us. 
Metal braces
Metal braces work based on relatively simple principles. The brackets are attached to the surface of the teeth using a dental adhesive. Through these brackets an archwire is introduced, which links together the brackets. The orthodontist applies increasing pressure to the teeth through applying tension on the archwires. This happens every few weeks, depending on the stage and type of the treatment. Metal braces are capable of treating nearly every orthodontic condition, regardless of its severity. This is a great overall benefit, as certain alternatives are only suitable for the treatment of milder, cosmetic conditions. If you are interested in consulting with us about treatments using orthodontics in Colchester, get in touch today for an appointment.
Alternatives to metal braces
One of the most well known alternatives to metal braces are Invisalign invisible aligners. These are moulds of a person’s dental arches, which fit perfectly on the teeth. The aligners are made out of a transparent plastic, thus they are hardly noticeable from an external point of view. During the treatment with these aligners a set of the devices is manufactured, typically at least 6 to allow the progression of the treatment. The aligners are removable, which means you can prevent them from getting stained by removing them before drinking coffee, red wine or black tea. Other alternatives include clear braces. These braces work on the same principles as metal braces, with the main difference being that they are manufactured from tooth coloured or transparent materials. Another alternative are lingual braces. These braces work on similar principles as metal braces as well. The custom made metal brackets are attached to the teeth, which are then bound together using an archwire. The main difference between lingual braces and traditional metal braces is that lingual braces are attached to the inner surface of the teeth, unlike other metal braces. This property makes them nearly invisible from external points of view. Due to the nature of the inner surface of the teeth, the brackets must be custom made for each patient, therefore their price is slightly higher than that of traditional metal braces. If you are interested in consulting about orthodontics in Colchester we would be only too happy to talk to you about all the treatments available to help you.
