Thanks to braces and orthodontics, it’s possible to correct issues like crooked teeth, overcrowding, or a misaligned jaw without surgery. At Smile Orthodontics, Joseph Eliason, DDS, MSD, APC, and Kelly Choi, DMD, MSD, offer Invisalign®, the Damon™ System, and Damon™ Clear to children, teens, and adults.
Our team recommends different types of braces depending on your age, orthodontic issues, and treatment goals.
Traditional Metal Braces
Traditional or classic braces are the most common type of braces, and are customized to the individual needs of each person. Metal brackets are cemented to each tooth, and an archwire is connected to the brackets with elastic O-rings. The archwire puts pressure on the teeth and jaw to move everything into proper alignment over time.
As your teeth move, your orthodontist adjusts the wire and changes the elastic bands to maintain the appropriate amount of pressure.
Damon Braces
Most often, our office uses the Damon system. Unlike traditional braces, the Damon system utilizes self-ligating braces. Self-ligating braces are made from the same materials as traditional braces, however, they do not require the use of elastics, meaning fewer appointments and less friction being placed on the tooth.
Self-ligating braces come with traditional metal, ceramic, or clear brackets. They are the same size as metal braces, but use a specialized clip in place of elastics to help the archwire guide teeth into place. The clip helps reduce the amount of pressure being placed on the tooth, and requires fewer adjustments because there are no elastics to replace. While the Damon System applies pressure to realign teeth, similar to traditional braces, most patients find Damon more comfortable.
The lack of elastics with the Damon System makes cleaning your teeth easier as there are fewer parts to clean around. Still want the fun of colors? No problem! Our team can add colors around the brackets to give you that colorful smile traditional braces are known for.
Damon Clear (Ceramic) Braces
Damon Clear braces work the same as the Damon System, but they provide the additional benefit of being transparent. Ceramic braces are made from a nearly invisible, polycrystalline alumina (PCA) material, and are therefore less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, ceramic braces are used mainly on older teenagers and adult patients who have cosmetic concerns.
While they are visually less prominent, they do require more attention to oral hygiene as ceramic braces are larger and are more brittle than their metal counterparts. For these reasons, ceramic braces tend to be used more on upper front teeth than on lower teeth.
Invisalign®
Invisalign, or clear aligners, are a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable acrylic trays that straighten your teeth like braces. Not only are the aligners nearly invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are less of a hassle.
Learn more about Invisalign® by clicking HERE.
Interested in learning more? Schedule your free consultation! With convenient locations in either Santa Rosa, Windsor, and Rohnert Park, California, we can help you determine which option is right for you. Making an appointment is easy; just call or use our online booking tool today!
