5 Different Types of Orthodontic Treatment

Exploring the various types of orthodontic treatment options by yourself can seem scary at first. Fortunately, the treatment plans are actually very easy to understand and are generally safe and effective. Our article is going to help educate you about the most common types of orthodontic treatment nowadays, telling you a little bit about each of them.

What Is Orthodontic Treatment?

We’re going to start our article off by defining what orthodontic treatment is. In its most basic sense, orthodontic treatment is a branch of dentistry that seeks to correct a wide range of bite and jaw issues.

Their treatment plans can be quite varied based on the scope and severity of the given problem. In many cases, the treatments are designed to correct mild bite issues that are strictly for cosmetic purposes. However, there are also more complicated procedures that are used to correct malformed jaws in both children and adults. The most common orthodontic treatments available will be explored in the next section.

woman at the dentist

5 Main Types of Orthodontic Treatment Plans

1. Wire Braces

Braces are one of the most varied and common types of orthodontic treatments that are performed each year. Braces can be used to correct various bite issues as well as mild jaw structure problems. In children, braces have a much higher success rate of correcting jaw formation issues due to the continued development of children’s bone structure.

Although there are many different types of orthodontic braces available, the most common is still traditional wire braces. These braces utilize metal brackets and wires to apply pressure to your teeth. Over time, they cause your teeth to shift into the desired position to correct spacing issues and leave you with a beautiful smile.

The main benefit of these types of braces is that they are one of the most affordable options currently available. In addition, they are much more suitable choices for individuals who have severe crowding issues or who otherwise have a much more difficult case to treat. In many cases, wire braces may be covered by your dental insurance for children up to 18 years of age.

2. Clear Aligners

Clear aligners are another very popular orthodontic treatment plan option. Just like traditional wire braces, they encourage tooth movement into the desired position by applying force to specific teeth. The important thing to keep in mind is that these types of braces have many different pros and cons.

Starting with the pros, one of their biggest benefits is that they are virtually undetectable to the naked eye. Outside of a brief adjustment period where you may have difficulty pronouncing certain words, most friends and family members will not be able to tell you are wearing them.

There are also typically no restrictions on the types of food and beverages you can enjoy while using them. The reason for this is that the aligners can be removed at any time to eat and drink normally. For many individuals, this is one of the main things they like about this treatment option.

However, there are some drawbacks to explore as well. For starters, clear aligners are usually more expensive than wire braces. Depending on your dental insurance carrier, they may only agree to pay a small portion of the total treatment cost associated with this option. Another issue to keep in mind is that clear aligners are not as powerful as traditional metal braces.

This means that individuals who have severely crooked teeth or major spacing issues may not be good candidates for this option. In addition, the ability to take the aligners out whenever you want can sometimes lead to increased treatment times due to poor program adherence rates.

3. Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are one of the lesser known orthodontic treatment options currently available. At first glance, they have a very similar structure to traditional wire braces. The reason for this is that they use virtually the same type of technology to move teeth.

The key difference is that they are mounted behind your teeth instead of the front. The fact that they are conveniently hidden is one of the most important benefits associated with this option. However, there are still multiple limitations and considerations to take into account.

close up of lingual braces using a mirror

For starters, they are more expensive than traditional metal braces. Their cost tends to fall somewhere higher than metal braces and a bit lower than clear aligners. They are also not quite as powerful as traditional braces, and are not suitable choices for severe spacing issues. The average readjustment time for these types of braces also tends to take significantly longer too.

4. Ceramic Braces

If you’re concerned about visible metal and don’t want to sacrifice effectiveness, ceramic braces may be an excellent choice. Ceramic braces have pretty much the same size, shape, and structure of traditional wire braces.

The difference is that the mounting brackets are tooth-colored to help reduce their visibility. In addition, newer ceramic braces tend to also use a lighter archwire that blends in nicely with your teeth too.

Unfortunately, ceramic braces are a bit more expensive than wire braces. They are also much easier to stain too. This means that certain food and drinks like coffee and tea are strongly discouraged while wearing them.

5. Surgical Solutions

In rare instances, surgical methods may be necessary to correct particularly severe jaw problems. This usually involves breaking and resetting the jaw in the correct position. These types of procedures are completed in a hospital and typically have a lengthy recovery period.

The good news is that surgical options are not that common. Your orthodontist will generally want to exhaust all of the available less invasive options before resorting to this type of procedure.

Conclusion

Now that you have a basic understanding of the main types of orthodontic treatment available, you can work with your orthodontist to select the best one for your needs. Just remember to discuss any concerns you may have with them before starting the procedure. If you have any advice you would like to share, or if you want to tell us about your experience with the main types of orthodontic treatment you’ve tried, feel free to leave us a comment down below.

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