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.

Lightforce Braces

Because your smile deserves more than “one size fits all.”

LightForce is a digital orthodontic system that provides our office with customized, 3D printed tooth-moving tools. This proprietary treatment planning software is combined with advanced 3D printing technology to create custom treatments to meet your unique orthodontic needs. Treatment with the LightForce system starts with the final goal in mind—your beautiful smile.

The LightForce Advantage

• Technology: 3D-printed bracket slots are more accurate and precise than traditional injection-molded bracket slots.
• Customization: Fully custom appliances are proven to reduce treatment time and improve quality of the results.
• Comfort: Tooth movement is expressed more gradually with “light force” via NiTi wires vs. bent beta-titanium and steel wires.
• Convenience: Fewer, shorter duration appointments and increased intervals between appointments.

The LightForce System

LightPlan Treatment Software: Intuitive digital treatment planning software that enables us to create and adjust treatment plans.

LightTray Indirect Bonding: Ergonomically designed, indirect bonding trays are 3D printed for each patient, providing superior placement accuracy.

Cloud Brackets by LightForce: Powerful 3D printed ceramic brackets are configured to your specific treatment plan.