Types of Braces

Choosing the right orthodontic treatment is an important step in your smile journey. At Mancini Orthodontics, we offer a variety of advanced options designed to fit your lifestyle, comfort, and aesthetic preferences. From traditional metal braces to clear aligners, each treatment is tailored to help you achieve a healthy, confident smile.

Traditional metal braces are the most common type of braces and are more comfortable today than ever before. Made of high-grade stainless steel, metal braces straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires. With metal braces, you have the option of adding colored elastics (ligature ties) for a more unique and colorful smile.

Self-ligating braces are made from the same materials as traditional braces. However, self-ligating braces do not require the use of elastics, meaning fewer appointments and less friction being placed on the tooth. Self-ligating braces come in metal and sometimes ceramic brackets. Some self-ligating braces are slightly smaller in size than traditional braces, making them easier to clean around. These braces use a specialized clip in place of elastics to help the archwire guide teeth into place. The clip helps reduce the amount of pressure being placed on the tooth, and requires fewer adjustments because there are no elastics to replace.

Ceramic braces are made of clear materials and are therefore less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, ceramic braces are used mainly on older teenagers and adult patients who have cosmetic concerns. While they are visually less prominent, they do require more attention to oral hygiene as ceramic braces are larger and are more brittle than their metal counterparts. For these reasons, ceramic braces tend to be used more on upper front teeth than on lower teeth.