Dental Braces in Saskatoon
Orthodontic treatments involve the correction of irregular or misaligned teeth. It is a way of aligning the teeth to improve their appearance, health, and functionality. Orthodontic treatment also allows for improved oral hygiene, clearer speech and a more pleasant looking smile. Dentists in Saskatoon use orthodontic treatments to correct various alignment issues, including overbites, underbites, crowding, excessive spacing, and other aesthetic concerns.
Who is a Candidate?
There are different types of braces available to choose from depending on your specific case. Your Saskatoon dentist will typically decide the treatment process that is most suitable for you. Children above the age of 7 are often recommended orthodontic treatment in the form of traditional braces, if the child has severe misalignment issues. Typically, your dentist will recommend the use of braces for teenagers and preteens as they are the stage of development that involves the most changes. However, many adults today are confidently wearing metal braces to help correct the look and function of their smiles.
Alignment issues often require the use of braces, especially in more severe cases. The following alignment issues are grounds to seek a orthodontic consultation:
- Underbite: the lower teeth project further out than the upper teeth.
- Overbite: the upper teeth project further out than the lower teeth.
- Overcrowding: occurs due to lack of space in the mouth, which prevents normal positioning of the teeth.
- Aesthetic problems: misalignment or improper positioning of a tooth or multiple teeth.
These conditions can be corrected through a series of orthodontic treatment techniques which include, the use of metal braces, ceramic braces, lingual braces and self-ligating braces.
Different Types of Braces
Metal Braces: Often also called “traditional braces,” metal braces have two basic components. These are the metal bracket that is applied to the teeth and the bendable metal wire that is threaded through the brackets in order to apply pressure to the teeth and ultimately move them. This is the type of braces that most teenagers get, because they are the least expensive version and are often the fastest way of moving teeth into their ideal locations.
Ceramic Braces: Ceramic braces were once a very popular alternative to metal braces. Because the brackets were made out of a ceramic material that is the same color and has the same texture as teeth, it would be very difficult to see the ceramic brackets on the teeth. Many dentists would also use wires that were the color of the patient’s teeth, so the entire treatment would be virtually impossible to see. Because they were far less noticeable than metal braces, once the system was developed, it was in high demand.
Lingual Braces: Essentially the exact same as metal braces, except that they are on the inside of the bite, instead of on the outside, lingual braces provide a number of benefits. They can be just as effective as traditionally placed braces, whether of metal or ceramic, but they cannot be seen from outside of the mouth. While they can be spotted when the wearer opens their mouth, they are far less intrusive and likely to be noticed than brackets and wires on the front of the teeth.
Self-Ligating Braces: Similar to traditional metal and ceramic braces, self-ligating braces make use of the bracket and wire system. This may be the type of braces that most dentist use today, but many still use a more traditional system. This type of braces uses brackets with clips or doors that hold on to the wire, instead of the rubber band tie system. These braces are supposed to hold on to less food and be less painful than other types of braces, and they are also supposed to reduce the number of trips to the dentist the patient has to make.
Typically, braces are worn for 12 months depending on the patient’s specific case. A person’s adherence to the treatment plan also plays a huge part in their treatment period, as adjustments should be made on a schedule and dietary restrictions should be followed. When they neglect these aspects of the treatment plan, the treatment period may be prolonged as a result.
Are you interested in a dentist in Saskatoon? Contact our dental office today to schedule your appointment for a braces in Saskatoon. Our patient-focused dental office strives to provide each patient with quality dental care they can’t find anywhere else. Our skilled and friendly dental team would be happy to help you find the perfect braces in Saskatoon.
* All dental services offered at Saskatoon Smiles are provided by general dentists at each location.