Metal Braces | Braces Lancaster | Willow Street Braces

Lancaster Braces

Traditional braces have been around for a long time, and they’re probably the most recognizable symbol of orthodontics in Lancaster and the surrounding area.

All About Howard Orthodontics Braces

What Are Braces Made Of?

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

They can work faster at closing gaps and aligning teeth than other treatments might. This can potentially shorten your treatment time.

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

At Howard Orthodontics, we use 3M pre-pasted brackets to provide you with clean, sterile care. Our braces are pre-pasted and packaged in a tamper-evident, factory-sealed container, so you can be sure that these brackets are new and used just for you.

This system allows us to place your brackets quickly and efficiently, so your bonding appointment with Dr. Howard can be shorter and more comfortable!

Brackets

The brackets Dr. Howard uses are durable and made from a mix of stainless steel, nickel, and other metals. Brackets have little hooks or doors where Dr. Howard 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.

Glue

This is what Dr. Howard will use to attach the brackets to your teeth. It’s common to attach the bracket directly to the tooth with glue.

Wire

This thin piece of metal runs from one bracket to another. Dr. Howard 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

If Dr. Howard determines that you need bite correction, elastics are essential. They’re generally strung between an upper bracket hook and a lower bracket hook. This will pull the upper jaw backward to correct an overbite, or the lower jaw back to correct an underbite.

We may use rubber bands for many different situations, especially when we want to put extra pressure on the teeth or jaws.

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. Howard will determine if your treatment will benefit from orthodontic bands at your initial consultation.

Spacers

These small elastic “donuts” or rings can be used by Dr. Howard to create space in between your teeth when needed, typically before bands are placed. They’re also referred to as separators.

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 Howard Orthodontics they come in dozens of colors.

FAQs

How do braces work?

Before applying the brackets, Dr. Howard and the team at Howard 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 10-15 minutes and provides an extremely accurate 3D view of your mouth.

After the X-Ray and optional scan, Dr. Howard 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.

Dr. Howard 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. Howard 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 Howard Orthodontics, we’re proud to offer the latest braces technology to our patients of all ages in Lancaster and surrounding areas!

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 Dr. Howard 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, or even your school colors! We also offer silver, gray, white, black, and tooth-colored elastics for patients seeking a more subtle look.

How long will I be in braces?

This is what everyone wants to know, but it’s one we don’t have a concrete answer for. Every mouth is different, and every patient responds to treatment in their own way. Treatment time with metal braces will be different every time.

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

At Howard Orthodontics, we have patients in braces for as little as six months. However, with more complex issues, it can take over three years to complete the process.

Treatments using metal braces with Dr. Howard and the team at Howard Orthodontics, you can see signs of improvement in just a short time, and that gives you confidence during the treatment process.