Chris Ho Orthodontics

BRACES

A choice of metal braces or clear braces could be used to align your teeth. The braces comprise of small brackets which are glued onto the front surfaces of the teeth. A wire connects the braces together which is held in place by elastic ‘o’ rings.

Metal Braces

Being made of stainless steel, these braces have become much smaller than the braces which were used more than 20 years ago. The elastic ‘o’ rings which hold the wire onto the braces are available in clear or in a large range of colours. New colours may be selected at every second adjustment appointment.

Above: Metal braces with colours

Left: Metal braces with no colours

Clear Braces

These braces are made of ceramic and are less obvious compared to the metal braces. Most adults and adolescents in the higher grades of high school prefer the clear braces.

Differences between metal and clear braces

Besides the aesthetic difference, the clear ceramic braces are more brittle than the metal braces and hence have a higher tendency to break. They are also slightly larger than the metal braces. If you have no preference for metal or clear braces, the metal braces are certainly more durable than the clear braces.

Clear Plastic Aligners

These aligners are not the same as braces but are made of clear plastic which are removable during meals and brushing your teeth. They are designed to move your teeth by a quarter of a millimetre each time a new aligner is used. Each aligner is worn for 1-2 weeks before changing to the next aligner in the series to continue moving your teeth. Chris will be able to assess if your teeth are suitable for treatment with clear aligners.