Metal Braces

Burlington & Hillsborough Braces

Strong & Reliable

Traditional braces have stood the test of time, and they’re probably the most recognizable symbol of treatment at Mack Orthodontics.

Dr. Mack uses these reliable appliances to fix all kinds of oral issues for our patients in Burlington and Hillsborough.

Benefits of Metal Braces

Metal braces can be an excellent option for a beautiful, healthy smile. As an orthodontist at Mack Orthodontics, Dr. Mack is here to highlight the fantastic benefits of metal braces that can make your orthodontic journey smooth and successful.

Effective & Versatile

Metal braces are time-tested and have a proven track record of effectively correcting many orthodontic issues. Whether you have crowded teeth, gaps, misaligned bites, or complex dental problems, metal braces can address them all. That means you can get a more functional and confident smile.

Durable & Reliable

Metal braces are made from high-quality stainless steel, which makes them incredibly durable and reliable throughout your treatment journey. They can withstand daily wear and tear, ensuring your teeth are guided into their correct positions uninterrupted.

Fun With Colors

Who said braces couldn't be fun? Metal braces offer a variety of colored bands that let you express your personality and style. Choose from various colors to add a splash of fun and creativity to your smile during your orthodontic journey.

Better Oral Hygiene

Metal braces are effective and allow for easy oral hygiene maintenance. Dr. Mack will provide simple and practical tips to keep your braces and teeth clean, helping you maintain healthy gums and teeth throughout your treatment.

Affordable

One of the most significant advantages of metal braces is their affordability. Metal braces are an excellent choice for cost-effective orthodontic treatment. They offer exceptional value for their effectiveness and versatility, making them accessible to a broader range of patients.

Faster Results

Due to their design and the controlled pressure they apply to your teeth, metal braces often deliver faster results than other orthodontic options. If you follow Dr. Mack's guidelines, you may see significant improvements in your smile in a shorter amount of time.

Expert Monitoring

You can count on Dr. Mack's expertise and attentive care throughout your treatment with metal braces. During your visits, he'll make adjustments to ensure your braces work to guide your teeth into their desired positions.

Confidence in Your Progress

As your teeth gradually move into alignment, you'll be able to witness the positive changes in your smile. The progress you see throughout your treatment will boost your confidence and remind you that your dream smile is within reach.

Metal Braces FAQ

How long will I be in braces?

Everyone asks Dr. Mack this, but it’s one we don’t have a concrete answer for. Every mouth is different, and every Burlington and Hillsborough braces patient responds to treatment in their own way.

Treatment time with metal braces will be different every time. The average time patients spend in metal braces is around 18 to 22 months but could be shorter or longer, depending on your unique mouth and jaws.

Dr. Mack treats patients in braces for as few as six months. However, for complex issues, it can take over three years to complete the process.

With metal braces, you can see signs of improvement in just a short time, and that gives you confidence during your treatment process at Mack Orthodontics.

What can I expect from today’s metal braces?

At Mack Orthodontics, we proudly offer modern metal braces that work efficiently and look better than past versions. Our braces are designed with smaller, sleeker brackets and lighter wires, making them more comfortable and less noticeable than historical metal braces.

To add a personal touch, we offer a variety of elastic colors at no extra cost. Whether you want to show off your favorite sports team or match your school colors, our elastics come in a range of shades to suit your preferences. And if you prefer a more subtle look, we also offer silver, gray, white, black, and tooth-colored elastics.

Our metal braces are an excellent option for addressing complex tooth issues and can work faster at closing gaps and aligning teeth than other treatments. Plus, they’re a cost-effective option, making them a top choice for our orthodontic patients from all around Burlington and Hillsborough.

How do braces work?

Before applying the brackets, Dr. Mack and our team will collect photos and X-rays of your mouth. Sometimes we’ll use our iTero Element scanner to scan each of your teeth and the layout of your gums and mouth. If necessary, this process takes 10-15 minutes and provides an extremely accurate 3D view of your mouth.

After the X-Ray and optional scan, We’ll use this information to create your customized treatment plan. This will include how each tooth needs to be moved to get it in the best possible position.

Dr. Mack will decide how to place the brackets based on this information. For example, if you have some teeth that need to be tilted, the placement of those brackets will be different than the placement of brackets for teeth that need to be turned.

Once the brackets have been attached, Dr. Mack will insert the wire. Bends in the wire will provide different types of pressure on different teeth. A bend in the wire is how most orthodontists cause-specific and precise movements.

For example, a bend can help a tooth that is twisted to turn and face the right way or align one tooth that is too far forward with one that is too far back. This process of tooth movement is called remodeling and involves minor changes in the bone surrounding the roots of your teeth.

What Are Braces
Made of?

Brackets

The brackets are durable and made from a mix of stainless steel, nickel, and other metals.

Brackets have little hooks or doors where a wire is threaded. A bracket can be secured by closing the door, or by placing an elastic over the top of the wire.

Glue

This is what Dr. Mack will use to attach the brackets to your teeth. It’s common to attach the bracket directly to the tooth with glue.

Wire

This thin piece of metal runs from one bracket to another. Dr. Mack will change the shape and curvature of the wire to move your teeth in the right direction.

The wire will attach all of your bottom or upper teeth together in many cases. We might occasionally cut the wire if connecting just a few teeth is better for your treatment plan.

Elastics

If you need bite correction, elastics are essential. They’re generally strung between an upper bracket hook and a lower bracket hook. This will pull the upper jaw backward to correct an overbite, or the lower jaw back to correct an underbite.

We may use rubber bands for many different situations, especially when we want to put extra pressure on the teeth or jaws.

Orthodontic Bands

These are stainless steel rings that are cemented to your teeth using dental bonding agents. These bands can provide an anchor for your braces and orthodontic appliances, but they’re not used for everyone.

Elastic Ties/O-Rings/Ligatures/Colors

These tiny rubber rings or bands are used to attach the archwire to the brackets. They’re less rigid than spacers and come in dozens of colors.

Spacers

These small elastic “donuts” or rings can be used to create space in between your teeth when needed, typically before bands are placed. They’re also referred to as separators.