Metal Braces

Memphis Braces

Traditional Treatment

You’ll see traditional metal braces rank at the top of Saddle Creek Orthodontics’ treatment list — and for good reason!

For 100 years, orthodontists like Dr. Kyle and Dr. John have used braces to straighten smiles the same way we do at our two offices in Germantown and Collierville.

All About Traditional Metal Braces

Traditional metal braces are robust, durable, and affordable, making them the top treatment for orthodontic patients at SCO year after year. At Saddle Creek Orthodontics, we’re proud to provide the latest braces technology to kids, teens, and adults everywhere around Germantown, Collierville and Memphis.

After standing the test of time for about 100 years in one form or another, doctors and patients alike trust braces as a reliable, effective, and economical treatment choice.

Combining high-grade stainless steel, nickel, and other metals, you’ll see bands wrapping around the back molars and smaller metal brackets cemented to the fronts of the other teeth.

The thin, springy metal wire called an archwire runs through the brackets and may be fixed to the brackets with elastics, metal ties, or another type of clasp. These parts all cooperate to gently guide your teeth over time into their new positions.

Although you may know past versions as bulky, awkward, or even painful, today's metal braces look smaller and feel lighter and more comfortable to wear than ever before. (Did you know that you can even personalize your braces with your elastic colors?)

Strong

Doctors around the world use traditional metal braces more than any type of fixed or removable orthodontic appliance because they’re strong and efficient. Dr. Kyle and Dr. John put braces to work, efficiently correcting mild issues to complex problems.

Braces are great at fixing all kinds of tooth issues, including complex problems. Dr. Kyle and Dr. John can actually use braces to close gaps and align your teeth faster than other treatments. Who wouldn’t want a shorter overall treatment time.

Cost-Effective

Metal braces are cost-effective because they don’t require some of the more complex technology or expensive equipment that newer treatments do.

How Braces Work

Scan

Before applying your brackets or putting on your braces, we need to see your problem areas. So first, our team will shoot some pictures and collect X-rays of your mouth.

Sometimes, we’ll use our iTero Element scanner to scan each tooth and the layout of your gums and mouth. This 10-15 minute process gives Dr. Kyle and Dr. John an extremely accurate 3D view of your mouth.

Plan

Then, Dr. Kyle or Dr. John will use your X-ray and scan data to formulate your customized treatment plan. This plan will include how each tooth needs to be moved to get it in the best possible position to bite correctly and look attractive.

Based on this plan, Dr. Kyle or Dr. John determine how to place the braces brackets. For example, if your tooth needs to turn, we’ll place that bracket differently to a bracket for tilting your teeth.

Remodel Your Teeth

Once we attach your brackets, we’ll insert the wire. Most orthodontists like Dr. Kyle and Dr. John create precise movements using this bend in the wire. Bends in the wire will provide different types of pressure on different teeth.

For example, we might need to help a twisted tooth turn and face the right direction or align a tooth that’s too far forward with another tooth that’s too far back. This process of tooth movement is called remodeling, and it involves minor changes in the bone surrounding the roots of your teeth.

Remodeling Science

Want to know more about the science behind remodeling?

When we put pressure on a tooth, cells called osteoblasts and osteoclasts form around the tooth’s root. The force of the wire and the osteoblasts and osteoclasts together create a negative pressure on one side of the tooth.

At this site, bone is removed. On the other side of the tooth, bone is reformed. Then, while we put pressure on your tooth, it slowly moves to its new position. This is how we remodel the bone of your tooth and jaw!

We can only make this process happen if we put constant pressure on your tooth. The tooth can move as bone is absorbed on one side and then deposited on the other.

When we take off your braces and stop the pressure, your tooth settles into its new position. However, most teeth will start to drift back to their old positions over time.

That’s why we’ll give you retainers. Wearing a retainer as directed helps keep your new teeth in their new, improved positions and prevents this natural drifting.

Parts of Braces

Brackets

Dr. Kyle and Dr. John use brackets typically made from a mix of stainless steel, nickel, and other metals, making them strong and long-lasting.

Brackets feature little hooks or doors, and we thread the wire over these. Then, we secure the bracket by closing the door or placing an elastic over the top of the wire.

Glue

Dr. Kyle and Dr. John attach your braces brackets to your teeth with a type of composite bonding material that we call “glue”. If you need more serious treatment, we’ll use metal bands with the glue to to stabilize the braces and give them more leverage.

Some orthodontists might hold a tooth in place by attaching the bracket to a metal band and then crimping it around the tooth. These days, it’s more common to glue the bracket right to your tooth.

Wire

This thin piece of metal runs from one bracket to another. Dr. Kyle and Dr. John shape and curve the wire to move your teeth in the direction they determined in your custom treatment plan.

They’ll crimp the wire to push or pull any especially stubborn teeth.

For some people, we’ll attach all the bottom or upper teeth together with the wire, but we may strategically cut the wire if we only need to connect only a few teeth.

Elastics

At Saddle Creek Orthodontics, we use rubber bands for many different situations, especially when we want to put extra pressure on the teeth or jaws. If you have a bite issue, Dr. Kyle and Dr. John correct it using elastics.

We normally string elastics between the hooks on the upper and lower brackets. This pressure can correct an overbite by pulling the upper jaw backward. In the case of an underbite, elastics will pull the lower jaw back.

Orthodontic Bands

We cement these stainless steel rings to your teeth using dental bonding agents. Dr. Kyle and Dr. John don’t always use orthodontic bands for everyone, but they provide an anchor for your braces and orthodontic appliances.

Spacers

If you need space between your teeth, we’ll create it using these tiny elastic “donuts” or rings to create space between your teeth if you need it. Sometimes you might hear them called "separators".

Elastic Ties/O-Rings/Ligatures/Colors

Dr. Kyle and Dr. John use these tiny rubber rings or bands to attach the archwire to the brackets. Elastics flex easier than spacers, and you can get them in dozens of colors.

Metal Braces FAQs

How are modern braces different?

Sleeker brackets and lighter wires improve the look and feel of the braces you‘ll find at Saddle Creek Orthodontics. This means you’ll feel 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 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, or even your school colors! If you’re looking for a subtler look, choose from silver, gray, white, black, and tooth-colored elastics.

How do I care for my metal braces?

Eating, Brushing & Flossing

Food particles can get stuck in the various nooks and crannies of braces, giving bad bacteria a place to grow, so it’s more important than ever to keep your braces and teeth clean and free of debris during the orthodontic process.

Brushing and flossing thoroughly with brackets, wires, and bands can be tricky. Fortunately, you can get many accessories that will make oral hygiene much easier. Oral irrigators like a Waterpik use a pressurized stream of water to help rinse out those hard-to-reach places, and ortho-picks are an excellent choice for braces-specific flossing.

You’ll also need to adjust to the food restrictions that come with traditional braces. Avoid anything too crunchy or too chewy, like some raw fruits and veggies, popcorn, gum, nuts, and several types of candy and sweets.

This will protect your brackets and wires while you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment with metal braces. Remember, this part is only temporary and will be worth it for the smile you see in the mirror when your braces come off!

Follow-up Visits

Our front office will schedule you for follow-up visits with us at regular intervals throughout your treatment, usually about every 6-10 weeks. During these adjustment appointments, Dr. Kyle or Dr. John will change the bands that attach to your brackets, and may also replace the wire, too.

We do our best to keep these appointments short (around 20 minutes) so you can get back to work, home, or school as quickly as possible! You may experience some slight residual soreness following an adjustment appointment, but it should only be temporary.

Don’t skip these follow-up visits! They’re a very important part of your overall treatment plan, and will help us ensure you get very best results in the least amount of time possible.

How long will my braces treatment take?

The million-dollar question! But, it’s the one we don’t have a concrete answer for. Sorry!

While this is what everybody around Germantown and Collierville asks, but every mouth is different, and every patient responds to treatment in their own way. Treatment time with metal braces at Saddle Creek Orthodontics will be different every time.

The average time spent in metal braces is around 18 to 22 months, but it could be shorter or longer, depending on the individual and the treatment plan.

Dr. Kyle and Dr. John treat some patients with braces for as few as six months. For complex issues, on the other hand, it can take more than three years to complete the treatment process.

Remember, though, with metal braces from Saddle Creek Orthodontics, you’ll see signs of improvement in just a short time, and straighter teeth will give you confidence during your treatment journey.

What’s the Next Step?

If you’re ready to improve your oral health and smile with confidence, schedule your free consultation at our office in Germantown or Collierville and talk to Dr. Kyle Fagala or Dr. John Boling.