Doctors Center
100 Amesbury St. - Suite 110
Lawrence, MA 01840
Fax: 978-686-8075
978-686-3838
Types of Braces
Traditional Metal Braces
Traditional metal braces are the most common type of braces and are more comfortable today than ever before. Made of high-grade stainless steel, metal braces straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires. With metal braces, you have the option of adding colored elastics (rubber bands) for a more unique and colorful smile.
Gold Braces
Gold braces are similar to traditional metal braces in many ways. They are made of stainless steel, but are uniquely coated in gold. Some patients consider the gold coating to be a more cosmetic option than traditional metal braces. And, the cost of gold braces is surprisingly comparable to most clear braces.
Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces are made of clear materials and are therefore less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, ceramic braces are used mainly on older teenagers and adult patients who have cosmetic concerns. While they are visually less prominent, ceramic braces are larger and are more brittle than their metal counterparts. For these reasons, ceramic braces tend to be used more on upper front teeth than on lower teeth.
Invisible (Clear) Orthodontic Appliances
Clear appliances (such as Invisalign®) use a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners to straighten your teeth. Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment. Plus, brushing and flossing are less of a hassle. The aligners are comfortable and have no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. Clear aligners are an adult treatment option and may not be indicated for all types of cases.
Self-Ligating Braces
Self-ligation is a revolutionary new system of braces that can significantly shorten treatment time, be more hygienic, and allow for decreased tenderness during treatment. It is made from stainless steel or ceramic for stability and is smaller in size for aesthetics (this is great for our adult patients). The rounded structure improves patient comfort while maintaining overall performance. Self-ligation allows for a technique using lighter wires and lower friction brackets to move teeth, while resulting in faster treatment times due to its sliding mechanism designed to maximize tooth movement with speed and efficiency. With this technique no colored elastics (rubber bands) are used.