Equipment
For those with teeth and bite issues, braces can work wonders. They slowly move teeth into proper position, and, in doing so, can alleviate bite, chewing difficulties and even jaw pain. To accomplish this feat, there are several things working at once. Wires, rubber bands and brackets combine to pull teeth into the correct position.
How They Work
To make the braces work, brackets are attached to the teeth with glue, and wires are run to each bracket attaching them all together. A small elastic band is placed around each bracket to keep the wires from slipping out of place. However, some brackets don't need elastic. The bands come in all colors, so the patients can have some say in how they look. The teeth move due to the pressure from the wires. As they move, the wires are tightened to move the teeth more. If a certain area needs more pull than others, rubber bands are added for additional movement.
Another Type
There is another type of braces that don't require wires, bands or brackets. They're clear and molded to the teeth of each individual mouth. They start with a mouth piece slightly off from where the teeth are currently located. The piece forces the teeth into the position of the mold. Once the teeth have moved to fit the mouth piece, a new mouth piece is started to force the teeth further into place. This continues until the teeth are in the correct position. These are used mainly with adults and were created so that the braces wouldn't be noticeable to others. They also seem to be a less painful option.
Tags: mouth piece, teeth into, bands brackets, braces work, correct position