Your smile is unique, so your braces should be too. While orthodontists have always worked to create perfectly straight smiles, braces in the past have been made from standard designs, which your orthodontist has manually adjusted to suit your teeth. While the old system got the job done, it sometimes took time to get the braces and archwires in just the right position, leaving patients wearing their braces even while they weren't doing the whole job.
But that was then. The best orthodontists now have access to computer imaging technology that enables them to create and place your braces and wires in the perfect formation for your unique teeth, right from the start.
What do you mean "custom braces"?
Because the new custom braces are made precisely for you and your needs, they deliver some advantages over the older models. Custom braces stand out in three powerful ways.
They reduce the amount of time you'll spend wearing braces, simply because they'll get it right the first time.
They're more comfortable than the standardised forms of braces, as they are made just for you.
Because your teeth will be placed in their correct positions much earlier in the course of treatment, your teeth are much more likely to stay in their intended positions for the rest of your life.
Retaining that smile
Once you have your braces removed your orthodontist will ask you to wear a retainer to ensure that your hard work pays off and those teeth stay straight. With all the emphasis on braces, it may surprise you to know that wearing your retainer is just as important in maintaining your smile as having the braces fitted in the first place.
Retainers are also custom made to fit your specific mouth and teeth, and their aim is to keep your teeth in the new positions your braces guided them into while you wait for your periodontal ligaments to stiffen.
Depending on your teeth, you may have one of two types of retainer. A fixed retainer uses a wire behind your teeth to secure their positions. Fixed retainers can't be seen from the outside and, because they are always in place, they have the greatest effectiveness. Or you could choose a removable retainer, which may have a wire across the front of your teeth, or may be wholly made of plastic.
The length of time your orthodontist might ask you to wear your retainer varies greatly from person to person but, whatever the timeframe, it's worth it.
Once your custom orthodontics have done their work, you just won't be able to stop smiling.
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