Tried & True Treatment

Metal braces are what most people visualize when they think of traditional braces. They are the most common choice among orthodontic patients in Kent and the surrounding areas.

With a lower profile and an overall decrease in size, traditional metal braces with Belli & Streit Orthodontics are much more comfortable than they were in the past.

All About Belli & Streit Orthodontics Braces

Metal braces are what most people visualize when they think of traditional braces. They are the most common choice among orthodontic patients. With a lower profile and an overall decrease in size, traditional metal braces are much more comfortable than they were in the past.

What Are Braces Made of?

These orthodontic staples have a long history of successful treatment and are great at correcting many oral issues. At Belli & Streit Orthodontics, metal braces continue to be the top orthodontic treatment for patients of all ages.

Modern braces are smaller, more comfortable and more attractive. Metal braces are built from high-grade stainless steel and are the most common type of braces you’ll see.

Brackets are bonded to the front of each tooth and connect to one another by an archwire, helping to guide your teeth where Dr. Belli or Dr. Streit wants them to move.

Brackets

The brackets our doctors use are durable and made from a mix of stainless steel, nickel, and other metals.

Brackets have little hooks or doors where Dr. Belli or Dr. Streit will thread a wire. The bracket can then be secured by closing the door, or by placing an elastic over the top of the wire.

Wire

This thin piece of metal runs from one bracket to another. Your doctor will change the shape and curvature of the wire to move your teeth in the right direction.

The wire will attach all of your bottom or upper teeth together in many cases. We might occasionally cut the wire if connecting just a few teeth is better for your treatment plan.

Elastics

Wearing elastics (or rubber bands) improves the ﬁt of your upper and lower teeth.

Wear rubber bands as instructed, and remember that the rubber bands work far more efﬁciently if they are worn as prescribed.

Orthodontic Bands

These are stainless steel rings that are cemented to your teeth using dental bonding agents. These bands can provide an anchor for your braces and orthodontic appliances, but they’re not used for everyone.

Dr. Belli or Dr. Streit will determine if your treatment will benefit from orthodontic bands at your initial consultation.

Spacers

Separators are little rubber doughnuts that may be placed between your teeth to push them apart so that orthodontic bands may be placed during your next appointment by Dr. Belli or Dr. Streit.

The separators will be removed before we place the bands. Separators do not mix well with sticky foods, toothpicks, or ﬂoss.

Elastic Ties/O-Rings/Ligatures/Colors

These tiny rubber rings or bands are used to attach the archwire to the brackets.

They’re less rigid than spacers and at Belli & Streit Orthodontics they come in dozens of colors.

FAQs About Metal Braces Around Kent

How do braces work?

Before applying the brackets, the team at Belli & Streit Orthodontics will collect photos and X-rays of your mouth.

Sometimes we’ll use our iTero Element scanner to scan each of your teeth and the layout of your gums and mouth. If necessary, this process takes a couple of minutes and provides an extremely accurate 3D view of your mouth.

After the X-ray and optional scan, Dr. Belli or Dr. Streit will use this information to create your customized treatment plan. This will include how each tooth needs to be moved to get it in the best possible position.

Your doctor will decide how to place the brackets based on this information. For example, if you have some teeth that need to be tilted, the placement of those brackets will be different than the placement of brackets for teeth that need to be turned.

Once the brackets have been attached, Dr. Belli or Dr. Streit will insert the wire. Bends in the wire will provide different types of pressure on different teeth. A bend in the wire is how most orthodontists cause specific and precise movements.

What can I expect from today’s metal braces?

Metal braces have had a reputation for being awkward and obvious. However, because of modern orthodontics, you’ll benefit from versions that are smaller, less conspicuous, and more comfortable than ever before.

At Belli & Streit Orthodontics, we’re proud to offer the latest braces technology to our patients of all ages in Kent and surrounding communities! Sleeker brackets and lighter wires improve the appearance and feel of these braces. This means you’ll have less irritation in your mouth.

Traditional metal braces also come with a fun new twist without any extra cost - you can customize them with pops of color. The elastics that your orthodontist will fit around your brackets come in a wide variety of colors that let you showcase your personality whenever you want.

Pick your favorite color combination, the colors of your favorite sports team, even your school colors! We also offer silver, gray, white, black, and tooth-colored elastics for patients seeking a more subtle look.

The strength, durability, and affordability of traditional metal braces keep them the top treatment for orthodontic patients, year after year!

How long will I be in braces?

This is what everyone wants to know, but there is no concrete answer. Every mouth is different, and every patient responds to treatment in their own way. That means treatment will be different in every single situation.

With metal braces treatment with the team at Belli & Streit Orthodontics, you can see signs of improvement in just a short time. That can give you confidence you need throughout the treatment process.