Hardly anyone will argue that a beautiful smile creates an attractive and friendly image for a person. Healthy and even teeth are really one of the keys to success, and if they are twisted and the jaws have an incorrect bite, this often causes self-doubt and various malfunctions with the body.
Since the first braces for aligning the teeth, it's been a long time, and today the bracket systems are quite comfortable and even beautiful. Each of the types of braces is special, so the question can only be answered by a specialist to ask which braces will be better for you. In this article, we will dwell in more detail on the features of a self-ligating, or ligature-free, bracket system.
What is self-ligating braces?
In the conventional bracket system, the power wire arc is secured to the locks by means of metal or elastic ligatures. It is a rigid structure that requires constant adjustment, and in which the teeth need to overcome a significant frictional force to move. In contrast, self-ligating braces are a system in which the arcs can move freely in special slots of the lock. This allows you to move your teeth more naturally and, at the same time, quickly and efficiently.
The advantages of self-ligating brackets are that with them hygiene of the oral cavity is much simpler, and, hence, the risk of caries decreases. The absence of ligatures and reduced friction can reduce pain, discomfort, and the likelihood of mucosal trauma during treatment. The duration of treatment with the use of ligature braces, on average, is reduced by 25%.
Types of self-ligating brackets
Depending on the material of the device, the following types of brackets are distinguished:
- Metal self-ligating braces. Metal brackets are the cheapest (if they are made of medical steel), but at the same time the most effective and practical option. It is also possible to produce braces from precious metals - silver and gold. Metal braces are successfully used to correct the most complex anomalies of teeth and jaw. They are strong and have the lowest coefficient of friction. The downside of this type of bracket system is that they are very noticeable, and also longer is the time of getting used to them.
- Self-ligating ceramic braces. Brackets made of ceramics are strong enough, have a small coefficient of friction, their wearing delivers less uncomfortable sensations.
In addition, the plates of ceramic braces are made taking into account the shade of the teeth, so they are aesthetic and almost invisible. However, self-ligating ceramic braces have a relatively high cost. - Sapphire self-ligating braces. These braces look like transparent plates, almost indistinguishable against the background of teeth. Manufactured from monocrystalline sapphire, they have high strength, hygiene, they are not dyed, they are comfortable to wear. However, it should be borne in mind that sapphire braces will be noticeable if the teeth have a yellowish tinge. They also have a high cost.