Everything You Need to Learn about Metal Braces for Teeth
A confident smile can be your greatest asset as it reflects happiness, health & even opens doors to opportunities. Sadly, not every one of us carries the confidence to smile widely. Crooked and misaligned teeth, overbites, underbites, open bites, etc., are common orthodontic problems that can be remedied through metal braces. Read on to learn more about metal braces for teeth, including costs, treatment duration, different types of metal braces, etc.
What Are Metal Braces For Teeth?
Metal braces for teeth are orthodontic appliances made using high-grade stainless steel brackets, with each bracket bonded to the teeth using nontoxic dental cement and held together using metal archwires. The wire follows the shape of your jaw and is supported by a bracket around the back molar. The wire and brackets work together to straighten the teeth gradually but consistently and tighten using rubber elastic bands interwoven into the brackets. Metal braces for teeth are worn anywhere from 6 months to 2 years, depending on the severity of the dental problem.
What Are The Common Orthodontic Problems Metal Braces Can Fix?
Some of the most common dental problems that metal braces can fix include:
Overcrowding:
Crowded teeth occur when there’s not enough space for the teeth to grow, causing them to overlap. On the other side, there can be plenty of space between the two front teeth, causing diastema.
Misaligned Jaws:
A misaligned jaw can cause TMJ or Temporal Mandibular Joint, leading to facial pain and other complications. Metal braces for teeth help straighten the teeth, thereby aligning them and putting the jaws back to their correct position.
Overbites:
An overbite occurs when the front upper teeth grow beyond the bottom front teeth, causing the chin to look smaller than usual.
Underbites:
An underbite occurs when the lower jaw extends over the upper jaw, causing the chin to appear as if it were pushed forward.
Open Bite:
Bad oral habits like thumb sucking or overuse of the pacifier could result in large gaps between the anterior upper and lower teeth.
How Do Metal Braces For Teeth Work?
Braces are gradually tightened, shifting the alignment of the teeth and jaws and forcing them to move to their healthy and proper position. After treatment, the dentist will fix a retainer to keep the teeth from returning to their previous position. As the name suggests, retainers help keep the teeth in the correct place.
What Are The Dietary Restrictions One Must Follow With Metal Braces For Teeth?
While metal braces for the teeth can fix most periodontal problems, you must follow instructions provided by your dentist. Some of these instructions include:
- Avoid sticky foods like caramel and gum
- Avoid chewy foods like bagels, burgers, etc.
- Stay away from crunchy foods like chips, murukku, and popcorn
- You must avoid biting into foods like apples, corn, carrots, etc.
- Avoid tough meat, raw vegetables, and sugary drinks.
- If you have a habit of chewing your fingernails, pencils, ice, etc., you must avoid
How To Care For Metal Braces For Teeth?
Brush regularly, especially after eating, to avoid plaque buildup and prevent tooth decay. For the treatment to be successful, you must follow the dentist’s instructions diligently. This includes wearing rubber bands, headgear, etc., and visiting the dentist whenever an appliance breaks.
When Is A Good Age For Metal Braces For Teeth?
For the treatment to be successful, you must wear metal braces early on – the ideal age for metal braces is between 10 to 14 years. Misaligned teeth must be fixed as soon as the child’s adult teeth grow.
The orthodontist is the best person qualified to decide if a patient needs braces. They examine the patient’s teeth, mouth, and jaws and even take x-rays of the mouth and teeth to check if permanent teeth need to come in or if the patient is ready for braces.
How Much Metal Braces Cost In India?
Metal braces treatment cost in India is relatively less compared to clear aligners. But a lot depends on the complexity of the problem, treatment duration, facilities provided by the hospital, the orthodontist’s experience, and the hospital’s location. The average cost ranges anywhere from INR 25,000 to INR 45,000.