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 Types of Braces
Fixed Appliances
Fixed braces consist of brackets that can be either metal or ceramic. Brackets are glued onto the teeth with a special fluoride-releasing adhesive. Within each bracket is a horizontal slot. A wire (also referred to as an archwire) is placed into the slot and tied into place with a steel tie or a clear or colored rubber ligature.
Metal Braces
Metal braces are the most common type. They are made of high-grade stainless steel. Today’s metal braces are smaller, more comfortable and more attractive.
Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces are made of translucent (clear) material. They are most popular with adult patients and older teens due to their cosmetic appeal. The only drawback to ceramic brackets are that they are more fragile, and the elastic ties can discolor between orthodontic visits.
Palatal Expanders
An appliance that is cemented in place. It increases space in the arch for growth and development.
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Removable Appliances
Invisalign
The Invisalign System is a series of clear overlay templates – called aligners – that have been generated by computer simulation to gradually move the teeth. This system is available to adult and older teen patients with certain orthodontic bite problems. Ask us if you are a candidate for the Invisalign system.
Introducing Invisalign® — The Straightest Way to a Great Smile
Invisalign straightens your teeth without wires and brackets, using a series of clear, customized, removable appliances called aligners. It's virtually undetectable, which means hardly anyone will know that you're straightening your teeth.
Clearly Different
The Invisalign System combines advanced 3-D computer graphics technology with 100-year-old science of orthodontics. Invisalign aligners are designed to move your teeth in small steps to the desired final position prescribed by your orthodontist. Each aligner is precisely calibrated and manufactured to fit your mouth at each stage of the treatment plan. Your first step is to visit our office to determine if Invisalign is right for you. After sending precise treatment instructions, Invisalign uses advanced computer technology to translate these instructions in a sequence of finely calibrated aligners -- as few as 12 or as many as 48. Each aligner is worn for about two weeks and only taken out to eat, brush and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next, your teeth will begin to move gradually -- week-by-week until the final alignment prescribed is attained. Then you'll be smiling like you never have before!
If you want to learn more about Invisalign and how it works, please visit the Invisalign Homepage.
To ensure the best possible results, only an orthodontist who has been trained and certified by Align Technology can diagnose and treat using Invisalign. Invisalign is not intended for children and is not appropriate for every adult. Only an orthodontist can determine if this treatment is an effective option for you. To see if Invisalign can help you achieve the smile you've always wanted, call us at (212) 308-5898 to make an appointment.
Headgear
An external appliance worn in growing children to help guide growth and guide tooth movement.
Spring Aligner
Active retainer-like appliance used for minor alignment of front teeth.
The success of removable appliances depends on patient cooperation. If appliances are not worn as directed, results can take longer to achieve.
Removable appliances must be brushed daily and can be soaked in denture cleaning products to assist in their maintenance. Dr. Hsieh recommends that you remove appliances for eating and brushing and always keep them in their case when not being worn. If lost or broken, please contact our office immediately.
Here is a case treated with spring aligner. No braces were used to correct the problem.
 
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