How Braces Straighten Your Smile

Dental braces are devices used to correct crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw, known as malocclusion. Braces are most often applied during teenage years, but more adults choose to have corrective dental braces later in life as part of their orthodontic care in Charlotte, NC.

Braces can be made of metal or ceramic. They also have wires, and there is bonding material that adheres them to your teeth. An orthodontist is a doctor who specializes in this treatment for misaligned teeth.

Success rates of braces can vary depending on the patient’s age, when treatment begins, and the treatment goals.

Braces move teeth by exerting constant pressure on them over extended periods. The shape of the jaw gradually adapts to conform to this pressure during orthodontic care. We often think of our teeth as connected directly to our jawbone, but underneath our gums is a membrane surrounded by bones that root our teeth to our jaws. This membrane controls the position of our teeth, and it responds to the pressure being put on the teeth by braces.

Getting braces does not hurt during the initial appointment, but patients may experience soreness for the first week with braces as they adjust. Patients may also be sore for a few days each time the orthodontist adjusts the braces.