Self Ligating Brackets (SLB)
There are many factors that come to deciding what Orthodontic treatment is appropriate for your needs and better to visit the dentist and having a completed examination and consultation. Some of these factors come from personal desires such as; how much is your budget, how long you would like to be in braces, and your aesthetic requests.
Bracket system types areas: Traditional (metal) brackets, Self Ligating Brackets, Ceramic Brackets, Lingual brackets and even Aligning trays (Invisalign). Each of them has its pros and cons. On this page, we discussed Self Ligating Brackets (SLB) compared to Traditional brackets. Both of them achieve the same results but SLB easier to tolerate.
The Looks
Traditional brackets use ligation which means making a tie. The wire is held in place by use of ties; either metal or rubber ligature. The rubber ligature is interchangeable colored make braces personalized and fun, as well as, perform an important function in the tooth movement process.
Self-ligating brackets eliminate the need for rubber or metal ties and instead use a permanently installed moveable component to entrap the wire.
How do they work?
The traditional bracket uses a process in which you have to return every 4-6 weeks to tightened and repositioned ligature to pull the teeth. The elastomeric ligation causes a bit of friction during the movement process.
SLB doesn’t utilize elastomeric ligation (rubber ties) so there is no friction through the bracket. SLB works by using a tiny spring-loaded door to maintain pressure on the archwires. This process applies pressure to the system to gently adjust the teeth to the desired position. Thus, the need for tightening is eliminated which means fewer visits.
Tooth Extractions
Some articles said with SLB tooth extraction is not typically necessary on the other hand Traditional braces mostly need extractions. Based on my experiences, it depends on how much space do you need to align your teeth. Both of these braces could need extractions and could be not.
Treatment time and Chair time
The treatment time for SLB is faster due to the ease of movement, therefore, if you are looking for the most efficient system that will get you in and out faster, this system is suitable for you. SLB eliminates chair time and easy for clinicians to doing adjustments.
Aesthetic
SLB comes in both clear and metal so it can match your aesthetic desire. While SLB is less visible than Traditional brackets.
Cleaning and Oral Hygiene
Cleaning your teeth absolutely important while you get orthodontic treatment. SLB brackets are easier to clean than traditional brackets.
Less Pain?
Based on a study by Tecco S ( Eur J Orthod. August 2009), patients treated with conventional brackets reported significantly more ‘ constant’ pain than those treated with Self Ligating Brackets who complained of ‘ chewing/biting’ pain.
Another thing to consider is the tolerance pain level of a patient, it’s individual.
Any treatment no matter what you choose is better than no treatment. You can contact me and have an appointment for a free consultation. You are worth a beautiful smile!
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