{"id":892,"date":"2019-07-17T18:52:39","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:52:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/desimoneorthodontics\/dental-care-blog\/how-braces-work\/"},"modified":"2019-07-17T18:52:39","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:52:39","slug":"how-braces-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/desimoneorthodontics\/dental-care-blog\/how-braces-work\/","title":{"rendered":"How Braces Work"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

WE ALL KNOW THAT<\/b> braces shift misaligned teeth into their proper position over time, but have you ever wondered exactly how that process works? Today, we\u2019re going to walk you through it, because it\u2019s actually really neat.<\/p>\n

The Pieces Of The Braces Puzzle<\/h3>\n

The different parts of your braces all contribute<\/a> to the orthodontic treatment process in specific ways. You might have additional appliances tailored to your specific treatment plan, but everyone with traditional braces has brackets and archwires, tied together with o-rings (also called bands or ligatures).<\/p>\n

Brackets<\/h4>\n

If you look carefully at braces brackets, you may notice that they aren\u2019t all placed in a straight line. At first, the braces may even seem to emphasize the crookedness of the teeth. The way the orthodontist positions the brackets is what allows braces to shift teeth<\/strong> into their proper place. By the end of the treatment, the brackets \u2014 and, more importantly, the teeth \u2014 will be straight!<\/p>\n

Archwire<\/h4>\n

The archwires run through the brackets on each row of teeth. The orthodontist chooses the thickness and material of the archwire carefully based on your treatment plan. As they try to straighten back into their original shape, archwires provide steady, gradual pressure in the right direction<\/strong> so that your teeth will shift towards their proper position. The colorful o-rings are what keep the archwires in place in the brackets.<\/p>\n

Elastics<\/h4>\n

The most common addition to braces beyond the basics of brackets, archwires, and o-rings are elastics<\/a>. If you have a malocclusion (bad bite) or misaligned jaw, elastics apply pressure to bring your jaws into proper alignment. In order for them to do their job, however, it is essential to exactly follow the orthodontist\u2019s instructions<\/strong>. Wearing too many or too few rubber bands will interfere with your treatment and make it take longer.<\/p>\n

The Biology Of Shifting Dental Alignment<\/h3>\n

So what\u2019s actually happening on the cellular level during orthodontic treatment? Specialized cells called osteoclasts and osteoblasts respond to the pressure around the periodontal membrane (the pocket of gum tissue connecting the tooth\u2019s root to the jaw bone). Osteoclasts break down the bone tissue so that the tooth can move, while osteoblasts gradually form new bone tissue behind it. So it\u2019s not just your teeth moving into position; your jaw bones are reshaping themselves too!<\/strong><\/p>\n