Orthodontic Advances in Braces Could Mean Less of a Tin Grin

Today, advances in materials and techniques for use in outer space and in computers are changing the way your orthodontist improves your smile. If you're considering braces and thinking of pictures of your parents, or even your grandparents, with smiles full of metal, think again. New options in orthodontic technology and technique are making braces less noticeable and more comfortable. In some cases, these advances also mean you'll achieve that new smile faster.

In the past, the most noticeable part of your braces was the stainless steel bands wrapped around and cemented to individual teeth. Today, you may need bands on only a couple of teeth. The majority of your teeth will have smaller, more comfortable brackets bonded directly to them with adhesive.

Another innovation is in the wires that are attached to the brackets. Called 'space age' because they were developed for use in the NASA space program, these wires are made of flexible metal. They're also called 'memory wire' because they return to a pre-formed shape, which is how they move your teeth. These new wires are easier to install, require fewer replacements and adjustments, and work faster.

If your orthodontic condition permits, there are nearly invisible orthodontic options. Brackets made of ceramics are tooth colored or clear. Lingual braces are applied to the inside of the teeth, so they're not visible at all. For adults and mature adolescents whose teeth require only minimal straightening, there are also clear aligners, which really aren't braces in the old-fashioned sense at all. A computer generates a set of clear aligners that are worn in succession to straighten your teeth.

Advancements aren't just in braces, either. Computer technology is rapidly changing and improving the way your treatment is planned. Your orthodontic records can now be done digitally, with digital X-rays and digital photographs that are saved directly to computer. There are computer programs that aid your orthodontist in diagnosis and in creation of a treatment plan. You may even be able to see an image of the way you're going to look with your new smile.

And the advances continue. Heat activated wires, bent into their memory position by robots using digital photos of your mouth, are already available. Your orthodontist doesn't have to adjust these wires as often, and you can tighten your own braces by drinking something hot. While these wires don't actually move your teeth faster, they may shorten treatment time by moving them along a shorter path. There is even a promising technology in development that will move your teeth using opposing magnets.

By the time you read this, there will be even newer technologies to help you achieve straighter teeth. The 'tin grin' of yesteryear may not be fashionable today, but a healthy, shiny, beautiful smile will never go out of fashion!