Normal silver braces (often with coloured elastic ties)

Normal silver braces are the most commonly-used braces for teenagers. These modern braces have many digitally-derived technical features built into them. These features help the orthodontist achieve the best three-dimensional results possible for each individual patient - far more efficiently, safely and predictably than ever before. They are strong and easy to clean.

In some cases, they are placed indirectly - meaning that the braces are digitally-positioned on stone models in the laboratory - before then being transferred in a mouthguard-type tray - to be bonded to the teeth in the clinic. In other cases, the braces are directly placed individually on each tooth by the orthodontist. Direct or indirect placement will be chosen in each case by the orthodontist.

We currently use Master-series silver brackets  from American Orthodontics and anchor bands from 3M Unitek. With these normal braces, the arch-wires are held in place by individual, or groups of, plastic modules. Those chains and modules come in many colours and are changed at all appointments - approximately 6 weeks apart.

The braces act as handle-bars on the individual teeth. The teeth will move once an arch-wire is placed - with all the teeth connected to it. That helps to align the teeth into an arch shape. Teeth can then be move forwards, backwards, upwards and downwards by adding various light forces with elastic chains and coil-springs. Changes between the upper and lower teeth can be made with various head-gears (night-time), rubber elastics or springs (We currently use Forsus Springs from 3M Unitek).

In order to lock certain teeth or groups of teeth in place - so that movements only involve particular teeth, small bone anchorage screws and plates may be considered for some patients. We don't use them very much, and generally we would have them placed safely and accurately by one of our surgical colleagues. If used, it means that forces are applied, using the screws as anchoring devices, rather than other teeth.

When it is time to remove the braces, silver brackets can be removed easily. Generally, a small amount of bonding resin is left on the tooth - that resin can then be safely removed with a soft disc.

It is generally our recommendation that normal silver braces should be used for most school-aged patients. If active treatment is not commencing until school years 11 and 12, those patients will be treated as if they are adults - and so the use of alternatives such as upper clear ceramic braces may be considered.