Modern Metal Braces
The most common type of braces at KBL Orthodontics are metal braces. These orthodontic workhorses have a long history of successfully straightening smiles at every age for patients around Dothan and the surrounding areas.
Dothan Braces
At KBL Orthodontics, traditional metal braces are our most popular treatment choice. These braces are made of high-grade stainless steel and straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires.
Modern metal braces have advanced and no longer require the bulky headgear of years past. Dr. Lewis adheres the brackets directly to your teeth and connects them with wires that gradually straighten your smile.
What Are Braces Made Of?
Our Dothan office creates metal braces using Victory Series™ Low Profile brackets. Unlike other metal brackets, these use a subtle approach that improves the look and feel of the braces.
They look and feel better, and because of their lower profile, our patients are more comfortable wearing them. On top of comfort, Dr. Katie B. Lewis' patients can add fun colored elastics (rubber bands) with metal braces for a more colorful smile.
Brackets
Dr. Lewis uses durable braces brackets made from a mix of stainless steel, nickel, and other metals and have little hooks or doors where we thread a wire.
Your Dothan braces experts secure your bracket by closing the door or placing an elastic over the top of the wire.
Wire
This thin piece of metal runs from one bracket to another. Dr. Lewis shapes and curves the wire so your teeth move in the right direction.
Usually, the wire attaches to all of your bottom or upper teeth, but we might occasionally cut the wire if connecting just a few teeth is better for your treatment plan.
Glue
This is how Dr. Lewis attaches the brackets to your teeth. (It's normal to glue the bracket directly to your tooth.)
Orthodontic Bands
We cement these stainless steel rings to your teeth using dental bonding agents. These bands anchor your braces and orthodontic appliances, but we sometimes use them for everyone.
Elastics
If Dr. Lewis needs to correct your bite, elastics are essential. We usually string elastics between an upper and lower bracket hook.
This pressure pulls your upper jaw backward to correct an overbite or the lower jaw back to correct an underbite. At KBL Orthodontics, we use rubber bands for many different situations, especially when we want to put extra pressure on the teeth or jaws.
Spacers
Dr. Lewis uses these tiny elastic "donuts" or rings to create space between your teeth when needed, typically before we place your bands. People also refer to them as "separators."
Elastic Ties/O-Rings/Ligatures/Colors
Dr. Lewis uses these tiny rubber rings or bands to attach the archwire to the brackets. Elastics are less rigid than spacers, and you can get them in dozens of colors.