Types of Braces

Traditional Metal Braces

Traditional metal braces are the most common type of braces and are more comfortable today than ever before. Made of high-grade stainless steel, metal braces straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires. With metal braces, you have the option of adding colored elastics (rubber bands) for a more unique and colorful smile.

Self-Ligating Braces

Self-ligating braces are made from the same materials as traditional braces. However, self-ligating braces do not require the use of elastics, meaning fewer appointments and less friction being placed on the tooth. Self-ligating braces come with traditional metal, ceramic, or clear brackets. They are the same size as metal braces, but use a specialized clip in place of elastics to help the archwire guide teeth into place. The clip helps reduce the amount of pressure being placed on the tooth, and requires fewer adjustments because there are no elastics to replace.

Clear (Ceramic) Braces

Ceramic braces are made of clear materials and are therefore less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, ceramic braces are used mainly on older teenagers and adult patients who have cosmetic concerns. While they are visually less prominent, they do require more attention to oral hygiene as ceramic braces are larger and are more brittle than their metal counterparts. For these reasons, ceramic braces tend to be used more on upper front teeth than on lower teeth.

Clear Aligners

Clear aligners are a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable acrylic trays that straighten your teeth like braces. Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are less of a hassle. The aligners are comfortable and have no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment.

Incognito™ Braces

Incognito orthodontic braces are placed behind your teeth, so no one will even know you are wearing braces — unless you want them to! These unique braces are created using state-of-the-art technology and are the only 100% customized, invisible, fixed braces system on the market today. Incognito braces can give you a beautiful smile, even while you're wearing them.

How does Incognito work?

Incognito brackets are placed on the back side of the teeth, making them invisible from the front. Working just like traditional braces, lingual braces straighten your teeth within the same amount of time metal braces would. Because Incognito braces are customized to fit your unique mouth, your teeth are used to make an impression. Then, a laboratory will use computerized technology to create the metal brackets to fit onto the back of each tooth. These brackets are cemented into place by your doctor and you're on your way to a beautiful smile without anyone noticing!