Metal and Clear Trax

Metal Trax Treatment in Orange County

Our Orthodontics office in Rancho Santa Margarita, Orange County, chooses only the best products and materials, including the type of braces we offer.  The metal braces we use are made from high-grade stainless steel.  Traditional metal braces are the most common type of braces and are more comfortable today than ever before.  With metal braces, you have the option of adding color elastics (rubber bands) for a more unique and colorful smile.  There are many things to keep in mind when taking care of your braces:  1) Avoid foods that aren’t braces friendly, such as chewy foods, or very hard, crunchy foods.  2) Brushing and flossing regularly is extremely important while in orthodontic treatment.  Brushing and flossing after every meal is recommended and there are special “tools” designed to clean around the braces to make life a little easier. 

The most common question asked by our patients is if putting braces on will hurt? It is actually quite simple. The most important information is knowing that braces don’t adhere or bond well in a “wet” environment. The teeth need to be perfectly dry or the saliva can contaminate the bond strength between the braces and the teeth. It doesn’t hurt to put braces on, but your cheeks need to be placed in a “stretcher” system, keeping them away from your teeth. Once the teeth are prepped and ready to go, a blue curing light dries/cures the tooth/glue/bracket system.

Clear Trax Treatment in Orange County

     It is important to patients to have the perfect smile even when wearing braces in Orange County.  Orthodontic treatment can enhance your smile, your confidence as well as your self-esteem.  Most people feel it is very important to invest in the right braces for the best look.

     There are different types of cosmetic clear braces to choose from:  ceramic braces or the new self-ligating clear “Ultra” braces.  Ceramic braces are the same size and shape as metal braces, but they are made of a transparent composite material so they naturally blend in with the teeth for a more discreet treatment choice.  Our practice also offers tooth colored archwires to makes things even less noticeable!  There are many advantages of doing ceramic braces, such as:  they are less visible than metal braces, they blend with the teeth nicely and they are typically less painful because they do not irritate the gums.  The Clarity bracket by 3M has much more comfortable, rounded corners that don’t feels as sharp to the lip and inside of the cheeks. The clear bracket does not stain or incorporate stains, but when a elastic tie is needed to hold the wire in place, the clear tie can stain. When patients want their teeth to always look as white as possible our office suggests using the “Ultra” bracket that is self-ligating and has a sliding door to keep the wire in place, therefore no elastic ties are needed.  The Clarity Ultra brackets are innovative, smooth ceramic bracket surfaces that are designed for patient comfort. This bracket is a self-ligating “passive” bracket with a ceramic door that assists in holding the wire in place for proper tooth movement.