Traditional braces
Looking to get started on braces? Here’s what you need to know!
Table of Contents
Written by NoFrills Dental
This dental article has been curated by the clinical team @ NoFrills Dental 🙂
January 14, 2022
Conventional braces
If you’re considering orthodontic treatment for yourself or your children, here you’ll find everything you need to know about conventional braces, including how they work, their advantages and disadvantages, the treatment process, and how much braces cost in Singapore.
Traditional braces remain a popular choice for straightening teeth, despite the rise of plastic aligners like Invisalign. Braces are more affordable and more effective, particularly in complex orthodontic cases. Today’s braces are also less conspicuous and more comfortable than ever.
Types of traditional braces
You have two options with conventional braces – metal braces or ceramic braces.
Metal Braces
Metal braces are the most common orthodontic appliance and the best treatment to correct severe cases of teeth crowding. They’re the least costly type of braces but also the most noticeable, although nowadays they’re more discreet.
Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces have clear or tooth-coloured ceramic brackets that blend in with your teeth but can be prone to staining if you don’t take proper care of them. Ceramic braces cost more than metal braces but work faster than plastic aligners.
Parts of traditional braces
Standard braces have three main parts:
Brackets
Archwire
Bands
How do traditional braces straighten teeth?
Conventional braces straighten teeth by exerting pressure on them. The shape of your jaw gradually realigns to conform to this pressure as the teeth are repositioned.
Braces treatment works by using the anatomy of the jaw to move teeth in a natural, healthy way. They can do this because your teeth are attached to jaw bone by periodontal ligaments connecting tooth roots to the socket.
These ligaments act as shock absorbers, allowing small movement of teeth. When pressure is exerted on your teeth, the ligaments compress, triggering a reaction from jaw bone. As your teeth become accustomed to the pressure of re-positioning, the underlying bone structure gets stronger.
What dental problems can traditional braces fix?
Traditional braces can address a wide range of dental problems, including:
- Crooked teeth.
- Crowded teeth.
- Gapped teeth.
- Misaligned jaw due to an uneven bite.
Braces can also rectify bite problems such as:
- Underbite – when the lower teeth project beyond the upper teeth.
- Overbite – upper front teeth overlap lower teeth.
- Crossbite – upper teeth bite on the inside of lower teeth.
- Open bite – upper and lower teeth fail to make proper contact.
Other health benefits of braces
In straightening teeth and fixing bite issues, conventional braces also provide other health benefits.
Straight teeth not only look better but are easier to clean, which lessens the risk of cavities and gum disease.
Misaligned teeth can cause an irregular bite that puts stress on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), resulting in jaw pain and tension headaches. Braces change teeth alignment to rectify bite function.
Braces can also help your digestion and speech.
If your teeth or bite are not working properly, you’ll likely find it difficult to chew your food. It’s far easier for your stomach to digest small pieces of food rather than large lumps.
Bite issues can result in problems when speaking. Improving alignment of the jaw enables you to speak more clearly.
A further benefit of braces treatment is that it can boost your self-esteem by eliminating embarrassment about revealing crooked teeth when you smile, laugh or eat.
Advantages of traditional braces
Traditional braces can resolve more complex orthodontic problems than newer orthodontic treatments, including severe tooth crowding and significant overbite issues.
Other advantages of braces include:
- Affordability. Traditional braces remain a more affordable option than Invisalign. Metal braces tend to be the least expensive. Invisalign costs more than both metal braces and ceramic braces.
- Colour options. Bracket bands come in a broad spectrum of colours. This can make braces a fun form of self-expression, particularly among fashion-conscious teens. And darker colours like navy blue make your teeth look whiter.
Disadvantages of traditional braces
Disadvantages of conventional braces include:
- Visibility of metal braces. Metal brackets may be regarded as aesthetically unappealing.
- Maintenance. Unlike removable Invisalign aligners, standard braces remain fixed in place throughout treatment. This means they can be more difficult to clean.
- Modifications. Braces require regular adjustments, with ongoing visits to your dentist.
- Food restrictions. Numerous foods and drinks need to be cut out to avoid damage to braces.
Pros and cons of traditional braces vs self-ligating braces
Besides metal braces and ceramic braces, self-ligating braces are available to straighten teeth. This newer generation of braces – such as Damon and Clarity SL – does away with the need for the elastic bands of conventional dentures that secure archwire onto brackets.
Pros of Conventional Braces
- The greater archwire pressure of conventional braces means more precision in how teeth are moved.
- Traditional braces are less expensive than self-ligating braces.
Cons of Conventional Braces
- The elastic ligatures of conventional braces can accumulate unsightly stains, requiring frequent trips to the dentist to have them changed.
Pros of Self-Ligating Braces
- With no elastics, self-ligating braces make oral hygiene easier.
- Greater comfort than regular braces in some cases.
- Fewer appointments for adjustments.
Cons of Self-Ligating Braces
- Self-ligating braces cost more than conventional braces because of the advanced technology.
- The hinges used in self-ligating braces can occasionally break.
Traditional braces treatment process
Braces treatment generally takes 18 to 24 months, depending on the complexity of the case. Here’s a step-by-step guide to how the process works.
Consultation
Your dentist will examine your mouth with the help of X-rays. They’ll advise you on the best type of braces for you, taking into account that each mouth is unique. They will also take an impression of your teeth, from which your braces will be custom-made.
Braces Placement
During your second appointment, your teeth will get a professional cleaning. After this, your teeth are prepared for bonding and brackets cemented onto them. Archwire is then attached to the brackets.
Follow-Ups
You’ll need to visit your dentist once a month for check-ups, teeth cleaning, and adjustments to your braces with a slightly different wire.
Finishing Treatment
Once your teeth are in the correct position, your dentist will remove your braces, separating the brackets from your teeth and removing adhesive residue. The dentist will then take a new impression of your teeth to create an orthodontic retainer for you.
Consultation
Your dentist will examine your mouth with the help of X-rays. They’ll advise you on the best type of braces for you, taking into account that each mouth is unique. They will also take an impression of your teeth, from which your braces will be custom-made.
Braces Placement
During your second appointment, your teeth will get a professional cleaning. After this, your teeth are prepared for bonding and brackets cemented onto them. Archwire is then attached to the brackets.
Follow-Ups
You’ll need to visit your dentist once a month for check-ups, teeth cleaning, and adjustments to your braces with a slightly different wire.
Finishing Treatment
Once your teeth are in the correct position, your dentist will remove your braces, separating the brackets from your teeth and removing adhesive residue. The dentist will then take a new impression of your teeth to create an orthodontic retainer for you.
Importance of retainers
Wearing your retainer as instructed by your dentist is crucial to get the full benefit of braces treatment.
Retainers – metal-and-acrylic, plastic or stainless-steel appliances – ensure teeth stay in their new position after orthodontic treatment. Without a retainer, your teeth would tend to revert to their original misaligned position after your braces are removed.
When your braces come off, new hard and soft tissue forms to secure your teeth. This process can take up to a year, and retainers are necessary to help maintain stability.
Patients usually need to wear a removable or fixed retainer for the same length of time they had their braces. Initially, retainers are typically worn all the time, and later just at night.
Prices of traditional braces in Singapore
The cost of braces treatment depends largely on the condition of your teeth and the complexity of the orthodontic problem.
Conventional braces treatment at NoFrills Dental in Singapore is priced as follows:
- Metal braces – $3,500 to $6,500+.
- Ceramic braces – $5,000 to $6,500+.
Pricing of alternatives to standard braces:
- Self-ligating braces – $5,800 to $7,300+.
- Invisalign aligners – $1,888 to $6,500+.
Lingual braces that are placed along the inner surface of teeth may be suitable for some patients. Like Invisalign, these braces are practically invisible. They cost $5,000 to $13,000+.
Retainer Costs
- Fixed retainers – $300 to $600 per arch.
- Hawley removable retainers – $200 to $400 per retainer.
- Clear, removable retainers – from $350 for a set of two arches.
All prices are before GST.
Why choose NoFrills Dental for your braces?
NoFrills Dental has been providing braces treatment for children, teens and adults in Singapore for more than 15 years.
We’re dedicated to maintaining quality, accessible and affordable orthodontic therapy for the community, based on our belief that everyone deserves the perfect smile.
People choose our traditional braces treatment because of our reputation for:
- Competitive pricing
- Quality braces materials and technology
- Reliability and high standards of orthodontic care
- Holistic approach
- Professional clinical excellence
- Rigorous infection control.
- Friendly, approachable dental team
Our convenient clinic locations – at Suntec City and Marina Square – offer a variety of payment options for braces alongside our network of insurance partners such as AIA, IHP, MHC, AON, and Advantage Health Benefits.
Phone us on +65 9007 1085 or contact us online to find out whether conventional braces are the best way for you or your youngsters to get a heathy, attractive smile.
