Trusted Treatment
The most common type of braces at Buttenbaum Orthodontics are metal braces. These orthodontic workhorses have a long history of successfully straightening smiles at every age for patients all around Paoli and the surrounding areas.
Call us today for a free consultation at our Paoli location!
What Are Braces Made of?
Brackets
As a part of our commitment to the quality of care, our stainless steel brackets are supplied by 3M Unitek, one of the leading manufacturers in the orthodontic industry. Their low profile for patient comfort, and precise manufacturing according to Dr. Buttenbaum’s specifications make them a perfect choice for our patients.
Glue
This is what Dr. Buttenbaum will use to attach the brackets to your teeth. It’s common to attach the bracket directly to the tooth with glue.
Wire
This thin piece of metal runs from one bracket to another. Dr. Buttenbaum will change the wire's shape and curvature to move your teeth in the right direction.
The wire will attach all of your bottom or upper teeth together in many cases. We might occasionally cut the wire if connecting just a few teeth is better for your treatment plan.
Elastics
If you need bite correction, elastics are essential. They’re generally strung between an upper bracket hook and a lower bracket hook.
This pulls your upper jaw backward to correct an overbite, or the lower jaw back to correct an underbite. We use rubber bands for many different situations, especially when we want to put extra pressure on the teeth or jaws.
Orthodontic Bands
We cement these stainless steel rings to your teeth using dental bonding agents. These bands anchor your braces and orthodontic appliances, but we don’t always use them for everyone.
Spacers
If we need to create space between your teeth, we put spacers on the job. We use these small elastic “donuts” or rings typically before we place your bands are placed. You might also hear them called “separators”.
Elastic Ties/O-Rings/Ligatures/Colors
Dr. Buttenbaum uses these tiny rubber rings or bands to attach the archwire to the brackets. Elastics are less rigid than spacers and you can get them in dozens of colors.