There was a time when people had to live with the teeth they had for their complete life. There was no way to correct malocclusions that resulted in over bites, under bites, cross bites and crooked teeth. However, things changed drastically in the late 19th century when two men working separately decided to change this. Norman W. Kingsley and Edward Angle worked towards correcting the irregularities of teeth and it on the foundation laid by them that modern orthodontics is able to put braces on teeth. The use of braces for teeth has increased manifold in the last hundred years and now days it is not uncommon to find children with braces.
Types of braces for teeth:
There are various types of braces for teeth and newer and more advanced options are being invented every day. Some of them are as follows:
- The most common braces for teeth are those made of stainless steel and require ties to hold them in place. These are used extensively in almost all corners of the world and are the cheapest available alternative.
- Another common alternative is the clear braces for teeth that are more of a cosmetic option. These are of almost the same color as regular teeth and are hence not easily visible. These are usually made of ceramic or plastics and are therefore more brittle as compared to metal braces for teeth thereby making their removal more time consuming. These are prices higher as compared to stainless steel braces.
- There are people who are allergic to nickel, which is an integral part of stainless steel and they are fitted with braces for teeth that are gold plated. However, these are also preferred by people who like the look and feel of gold as compared to other metals. However, they can be priced very high due to the ever increasing cost of gold.
- The most difficult to adjust braces are the lingual braces. These braces for teeth are fitted at the back of teeth while other is fitted in the front and can hence take an extremely long time to be adjusted. These are preferred by people who want to hide their braces. The biggest disadvantage of these braces for teeth is that they hinder the movement of the tongue in some way or the other.
It does not matter as to which braces you choose, the bottom line is that these devices should be used if there is a need. They go a long way in correcting the shape and position of teeth and help people gain confidence and lead a normal life. The best part is that braces for teeth are available in a wide range of prices and a person can choose the option that is best suited to his or her budget.