Different Types Of Braces

  1. Standard Braces

These come in two forms, metal and ceramic. Metal is very obvious on the teeth (and patients normally choose the color of the bands that are attached to each tooth), whereas ceramic braces are harder to see and can be made in the color of the patients’ teeth. Standard braces are installed onto the front side of the teeth using a special type of cement that adheres the braces onto the teeth using blue light. The biggest pro of this method is that it is very flexible to the person’s needs. If a tooth is extremely out of place, this method will fix that through the use of extra chains.

The main issue that a lot of people have with standard braces would be that the brackets can be very uncomfortable. In addition, if the dental practitioner is newer, they might cut the wires too long and it can poke the back of your cheek, which can be very painful. This issue is common, and some orthodontists provide wax to help remedy this issue. This wax should be applied to all sharp edges that may be bothering the patient, including long wires and uncomfortable brackets.

The average cost of standard metal braces is $5,000, while that of ceramic is $6,000 without insurance.

  1. Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are similar to standard braces in that they can come in metal form. Technically, they could be ceramic as well, but there’s really no need since the braces are installed on the backside of the teeth where they are unseen. One of the biggest questions a patient may have when considering this type of brace would be if they are painful. It definitely may be a painful adjustment, especially since it would be difficult not to scrape your tongue against the brackets with them being on the backside of your teeth. However, most people will definitely say that the pain of having these braces is worth having a beautiful, perfect smile!

The average cost of lingual braces is around $9,000 without insurance.

  1. Invisalign

Invisalign is a type of brace that is almost completely invisible. They are similar to lingual braces in that they can mask the fact that someone has braces. However, functionally, they are different. Invisalign does not work with more severe cases of misaligned teeth, and they are comparable to retainers. Retainers do have a slight ability to align teeth back into place, but functionally, there is only so much that they can do. However, if someone does not have a very severe case of misaligned teeth, then Invisalign can be a great way to get teeth straightened without the added pain of normal braces.

Invisalign costs an average of $5,600 without the use of insurance.

There are a variety of options when it comes to choosing braces. Based on the cost, your insurance coverage, and your personal needs, it is a smart idea to weigh out the options and see what is best for you and find out if your dentist offers Orthodontic treatments.