Types of Treatment
Traditional Metal Braces: This consists of the standard metal brackets that are placed on your teeth with adhesives and connected by wires. They require periodic adjustment so pressure can gradually straighten your teeth and align them as needed. While metal braces are still the most common type of treatment, other options are also available today.
Clear Braces: Not all braces are metal! There are several options that are more invisible or at least transparent and still do the job of straightening your teeth and aligning your bite. Clear and traditional metal braces both function in the same way. Dr. Wright only uses clear braces that are made of man-made sapphires and therefore won't discolor compared to other types of clear materials that can turn green or yellow over time. They are a bit more fragile and take a little extra care but otherwise work the same as traditional metal brackets.
Lingual Braces: Lingual braces are metal so they're not invisible, however they are attached to the back the teeth instead of the front so you don't see them when you smile. Treatment time is sometimes longer because of decreased leverage on the shorter inside arch of your teeth. They are custom made in Germany and are significantly more expensive than traditional metal braces.
Invisalign: Invisible braces, more commonly referred to as Invisalign, are a set of clear, removal trays that custom fit your teeth and gradually move them. They are worn approximately 22 hours a day. Please see our special section on Invisalign for further information.
