Whenever you have a dental problem, you need to visit an orthodontist to receive treatment. Several orthodontic appliances are available to handle different dental issues. Some of the most common problems include misaligned teeth, crooked teeth, underbites, and overbites. Such issues are resolved using braces that help to make your mouth look more balanced, thus giving you the look you desire. Self-ligating braces in Shreveport have gained popularity over the last decade, but the treatment has actually been around since the 1930s. The self-ligating appliances have to be placed by a qualified professional to guarantee your comfort when wearing them.
What Does Self-Ligating Mean?
Self-ligating braces are placed and work like conventional braces. However, they do not have a ligature, which means that they don’t have rubber or elastic bands or metal ties. Instead, the devices use brackets or special clips to keep your teeth in position.
The clips in self-ligating braces provide more comfort to your teeth as compared to the traditional kind. They also give your teeth freedom of movement, something that has made many orthodontists and patients alike prefer them over traditional brackets and wires. During your routine visits to our orthodontist, we only need to make simple adjustments to the clips to minimize any discomfort.
Types of Self-Ligation
- Passive Brackets
Passive self-ligating brackets are applied using a smaller archwire. They have small metal doors that can be opened and closed without affecting the position of the archwire. Our orthodontist will probably apply these types of devices at the beginning of your treatment.
- Active Brackets
Active self-ligating brackets use a thicker archwire. They are designed with spring-loaded doors that work to keep the archwire in position. The thicker archwire puts more pressure on your teeth to keep them in aligned positions. The spring-loaded doors also help to correct the rotation of your teeth and control their movement.
Benefits
Unlike the traditional type, self-ligating braces don’t use rubber or metal ties. As such, the friction of the archwire is reduced, thus maximizing the force needed to move your teeth. As a result, you’ll experience less discomfort during the treatment.
Self-ligating brackets are also known to reduce the period needed to move your teeth to the intended position. Keep in mind, however, that the treatment period varies from one person to another.
Conclusion
Self-ligating braces are preferred in orthodontic procedures because they provide less frictional resistance, are easy to clean, are comfortable, and deliver efficiency in treatment time. If you’re considering self-ligating braces in Shreveport, schedule your consultation with our orthodontist at Nasser Children & Adult Orthodontics to receive reliable services. We have offices located in Bossier City and Shreveport. Contact us today to book your appointment.
