Types of Braces
Life with Braces | Brushing & Flossing | Types of Braces | Braces Diagram | Types of Appliances | Retainer Instructions
Metal Braces
At Irvin Orthodontics in Greensboro and Eden, many of our patients use classic metal braces during orthodontic treatment. Traditional metal braces are the most common type of braces and are more comfortable today than ever before. Made of high-grade stainless steel, metal braces straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires. With metal braces, you have the option of adding colored rubber bands for a more unique and colorful smile. We also offer WildSmiles brackets, so you can have brackets in the shapes of flowers, hearts, stars and more!
Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces are made of clear materials 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®
At Irvin Orthodontics, Dr. Alan Irvin offers Invisalign® and Invisalign Teen™ to help straighten your smile without using metal braces. Invisalign uses a series of invisible and removable aligners to gradually guide your teeth into the final positions Dr. Irvin prescribes. The best part about Invisalign is that no one can tell you are wearing the aligners since they're invisible! Since you can remove the aligners, eating, brushing and flossing while in treatment are much less of a hassle. Since Invisalign does not use metal to straighten your smile, there are no mouth abrasions caused by your treatment. If you're wondering whether Invisalign would be a good treatment for you, schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Irvin today!