Posted on September 28, 2023
Getting braces put on can be both exciting and a little intimidating. If you’re having braces placed for the first time, you might be wondering how they work. Let’s learn a little about how braces work to straighten your teeth.
Braces straighten teeth by applying pressure. This slow, constant pressure moves your teeth into an ideal position. The position that the braces are moving your teeth towards will follow the arch wire. The arch wire is a very important aspect of your braces as it’s basically the guide.
Braces are not a new invention. There is even archeological evidence that braces were being used in Ancient Egypt. Even way back when people were trying to improve their appearance through what is now referred to as bone remodeling. This sounds intense, but bone remodeling is just a way to assist your body in what it’s already doing. When braces are placed on teeth, they work to move the periodontal ligament in your jaw.
This ligament is a bit of tissue that connects your jaw and teeth. When pressure is applied to this tissue, it sends signals to the osteoclasts, and that starts to dissolve part of your jawbone. Later, when the teeth are in the desired position, the osteoblasts will work to rebuild the jaw material that was lost. Braces don’t just move your teeth around; they are literally rebuilding your jaw.
Your teeth don’t really move every day. You will notice that your teeth are adjusting about two to three months after you have braces put on. Teeth will steadily start to straighten every day after that. You don’t want movement to be too slow or too fast. When teeth move too fast, it won’t allow your body time to rebuild supporting bone material, and this could cause major problems later on.
Orthodontics is highly personalized. This means that your orthodontist will develop a treatment plan that is customized to your mouth. The time it takes for your straightening to be completed may be different from someone else’s. If you’re interested in learning more about braces, please contact us today. We are here for all of your orthodontic needs.
