Treatment
Braces: metal, ceramic and digitally planned
Braces are small brackets bonded to the teeth and connected by a thin wire. The wire applies gentle, steady pressure, and at each visit your orthodontist adjusts it so the teeth move step by step toward their planned positions.
Braces work for children, teens and adults, and they stay on for the whole of treatment, so they keep working whether or not you think about them. You can choose metal, tooth-colored ceramic, or a warm champagne finish.
Awaiting clinical review by Dr. Camille J. Rose Kong, orthodontist.
Who are braces for?
Braces are one of the most widely used orthodontic treatments and suit a wide range of needs, including:
- Crowded or overlapping teeth, including more significant crowding.
- Gaps between teeth.
- Overbites, underbites, crossbites and open bites.
- Teeth that need to rotate or move vertically, which brackets often handle more predictably.
- Patients who would rather not be responsible for wearing removable trays.
- Teens and adults who want a dependable option at any stage of life.
What happens during treatment with braces?
From the first scan to the day your braces come off, each step is explained before it happens.
Your Smile Analysis
We take photographs and a 3D digital scan of your teeth, with no putty tray. Your orthodontist studies how your teeth meet and where the crowding sits.
The finish, planned first
Using a digital model of your bite, your orthodontist plans where each tooth needs to end up before treatment starts. Bracket positions are chosen against that plan.
Placing your braces
The brackets are bonded to your teeth and the first wire is fitted. The visit usually takes a little longer than a routine appointment, and we show you how to clean around your braces before you leave.
Adjustment visits
You return every several weeks so the wire can be adjusted or changed. At each visit we compare where your teeth are with where the plan expects them to be.
Removal and retainers
When your teeth reach their planned positions, the brackets are gently removed, your teeth are polished, and your retainers are fitted to keep them there.
How long do braces take?
How long treatment with braces takes depends on your case. Simpler corrections are generally shorter, and more involved bite corrections take longer.
The main factors are how far your teeth need to travel, how your bite needs to change, and keeping your reserved visits and elastics on schedule. You receive an estimated range for your own plan at your Smile Analysis; your plan may differ, and we tell you if it does.
Which kinds of braces can I choose?
- Metal braces: small stainless steel brackets. Durable and the most familiar option, with colored bands if you want them or clear ones if you do not.
- Ceramic braces: clear or tooth-colored brackets that blend with your teeth, so they are often less noticeable in conversation and photographs.
- Champagne braces: a soft, warm-toned finish instead of bright silver. Some patients pair clear ceramic brackets on the upper teeth with champagne on the lower for an understated look.
What does digitally planned mean?
Traditionally, braces began with a tray of impression putty and brackets placed by eye at the chair. With a digital workflow, your teeth are scanned, your bite is modelled on screen, and the finished result is planned before the first bracket is placed.
For you, that means a plan you can see, and a record we can check against at each visit, so you always know how treatment is progressing.
How do I care for my braces?
- Brush after meals and use the floss threaders or small brushes we give you to clean around the brackets.
- Pause very hard, sticky or chewy foods, such as ice, hard sweets, caramel, whole nuts and popcorn. Cut firmer foods into small pieces.
- Wear a mouthguard that fits over braces for contact sports. We can help you choose one.
- Keep orthodontic wax handy for any bracket or wire that rubs, and call or text us if something breaks.
Questions we are often asked
Can adults have braces?
Yes. Braces work at any age when the teeth and gums are healthy, and ceramic or champagne brackets are a popular choice for adults who want them to be less noticeable.
Do braces hurt?
For the first few days after braces go on, and for a day or so after adjustments, teeth feel tender. It is pressure rather than sharp pain, and it usually responds to over-the-counter pain relief taken as directed on the label.
Can I still play sports or an instrument?
Yes. Wear a mouthguard for contact sports. Wind instrument players usually need a few weeks to adjust.
Do ceramic braces stain?
The ceramic brackets themselves resist staining. The small clear bands that hold the wire can pick up color from coffee, tea or curry, and they are replaced at each adjustment visit.
What happens after my braces come off?
Retainers keep your teeth where treatment placed them. We explain the retainer routine before treatment starts, and it is part of your written plan.
Sources
- BracesAmerican Dental Association (MouthHealthy). Read September 30, 2026.
- What Are Ceramic Braces?American Association of Orthodontists. Read September 30, 2026.
- What is an Orthodontic Emergency?American Association of Orthodontists. Read September 30, 2026.
- MouthguardsAmerican Dental Association (MouthHealthy). Read September 30, 2026.
- Oral HygieneNational Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIH). Read September 30, 2026.
Your next step
The simplest way to find out what is right for you is a complimentary Smile Analysis. Reserve a time online, or call or text us and we will be glad to help.