Braces

What this means for your treatment decision

Braces are recommended when they're genuinely the better path for a particular case, not as a default.

When braces are the stronger recommendation

• Complex tooth movements or significant bite correction where consistent, non-removable force control matters
• Patients, especially some teens, less likely to reliably wear removable aligners for the required hours
• Cases involving multiple teeth needing precise vertical or rotational movement
• Situations where a provider wants continuous control over tooth movement between visits

Metal versus ceramic brackets

• Metal: most durable, typically the most efficient at transmitting force, most visible
• Ceramic: tooth-colored and less noticeable, generally more fragile and sometimes slightly less efficient
• Both use the same archwire-and-bracket mechanism; the difference is primarily material and appearance
• Ceramic brackets may be recommended more cautiously for patients with certain bite patterns that place extra stress on brackets

How your plan and bracket choice are decided

The choice between metal and ceramic, and between braces and aligners generally, is made after a clinical exam of your bite, tooth positions and goals — along with an honest conversation about your lifestyle and priorities. We'll tell you plainly if we think braces, rather than aligners, offer a more predictable outcome for your specific case, even if that isn't what you initially expected to hear.

What to expect during treatment

Mild soreness for a few days after placement and after each adjustment visit is common as teeth begin moving. Brackets and wires require some adaptation in brushing and flossing technique, and certain hard or sticky foods are best avoided to protect the brackets. Occasional minor irritation to the inside of the lips or cheeks can happen, especially early on, and orthodontic wax can help while the mouth adjusts.

Adjustment visits

• Typically scheduled every four to eight weeks, depending on your stage of treatment
• Wires may be changed or tightened to continue guiding tooth movement
• Elastics, if part of your plan, are checked and may be adjusted
• Progress is reviewed at each visit against your overall treatment plan

Caring for braces day to day

Braces require more deliberate oral hygiene than aligners because food and plaque can collect around brackets and wires. A dedicated brushing routine, interdental brushes or floss threaders, and attention to areas around each bracket help protect enamel and gum health throughout treatment. We'll walk through a hygiene routine suited to braces at the start of treatment rather than leaving you to work it out alone.

Limits and considerations

Braces, like aligners, move teeth within the bone and periodontal tissue that supports them; they do not change jaw bone size or position. For bite problems with a significant skeletal component, braces can help coordinate and sometimes partially compensate for the discrepancy, but the same underlying limits discussed for other conditions apply. This is reviewed honestly as part of your treatment plan.

After braces come off

Retention begins the moment braces are removed, since teeth can begin shifting quickly without it. A retainer — fixed, removable, or both — is fitted at this stage, and ongoing wear according to the schedule discussed with you is central to keeping your result stable over the years ahead.

Questions worth asking before you commit

Because braces are a multi-month to multi-year commitment, it's reasonable to ask direct questions before starting: why braces rather than aligners for your specific bite, what the realistic adjustment-visit schedule looks like for your case, what happens if a bracket comes loose between visits, and what the retention plan looks like once treatment ends. A provider who can answer these clearly, with reasoning tied to your own exam findings rather than a generic script, is giving you the information you need to decide with confidence.

Questions patients ask