As a Memphis Orthodontist, I’m constantly looking for things that can help give our patients a reason for coming back. While I know the unlimited free soda and coffee may have something to do with it, how we practice orthodontics is always at the forefront of our core values and customer service.
In an effort to keep our patients happy and make the process of getting braces as smooth and painless as possible, we have introduced the technique of Indirect Bonding. Indirect Bonding allows for a quicker installation process and ensures proper bracket placement on each individual tooth. What this means for you is less time in the chair when your braces are bonded to your teeth, and less time with those pesky cheek retractors holding your mouth wide open.
What is Indirect Bonding?
The practice of indirect bonding starts with creating a mold of your teeth. This process only takes a few minutes and provides us with an exact replica of your mouth. From there, we get to work in our lab, where we create a 1:1 model of your teeth. I then go in and meticulously position each bracket precisely where it should go on each tooth. For the final step, we create a custom tray that allows us to transfer the brackets from the lab model to your teeth.
By taking the time to place the brackets in a proper position on the lab model, it eliminates the difficult process of placing orthodontic brackets directly on the teeth. It also takes much less time, is more comfortable, and causes for fewer loose brackets.
Once your custom tray is finished, your braces are ready to be installed. You’ll come back into the office to have your custom tray fitted and your braces attached. Indirect bonding allows all of your brackets to be placed at once, taking the traditional braces installation time from around 40-60 minutes down to just 15-25 minutes! To get a better idea of how the Indirect Bonding process works, take a look at this video I made:
What’s the Difference?
Indirect bonding is typically more accurate than traditional bracket placement because the brackets are placed on a lab model which can be rotated 360 degrees as needed to visualize every angle and detail. With precise placement of each bracket, it allows for us to start in the right direction from day one, moving teeth more accurately, and causing for a smoother and quicker journey through your orthodontic treatment.
The adhesives that are applied to the teeth and brackets are also done in a very methodical and consistent way, allowing for a more systematic bonding process. Also, since the process is quicker, there is less chance for saliva to contaminate the brackets. So, each bracket is properly secured in less time, leading to fewer loose brackets during treatment.
How Do I Learn More?
This state-of-the-art application technique is a growing trend, however (to my knowledge) is currently only offered in the Memphis area by our office. Our team of technicians can answer any of the questions you have on indirect bonding or other orthodontic techniques, and if Indirect Bonding is the right choice for your treatment plan.
To ask any questions about this technique, contact the Saddle Creek Orthodontics team.
Thanks for reading and see you soon!
Best,
