Quick guide on brackets for orthodontic treatments

Currently the manufacturers of orthodontic material offer us a wide variety of bracket for all types of orthodontic treatments. There are several factors that influence when choosing the most suitable bracket: material, type of treatment to be performed (preventive, interceptive and corrective), aesthetics of the patient ...

For a dental clinic today, it is vital to be aware of the different options that exist to be able to offer their patients the most appropriate treatment. It is also necessary to understand that not all patients have the same needs and attention must be paid to their claims: aesthetics, mechanical capabilities, price ...

For what and how are bracket utilized?

Bracket are the dental materials most used in treatments to correct bite problems, dental crowding, closing spaces between teeth and aligning teeth ... among many others.

The brackets are placed individually in each tooth and are joined by an orthodontic arch. The brackets have a slot through which the arch passes and some fins where the system that links the arch is placed. The pressure that the brackets and the arches exert on the teeth, get a fast and effective correction of the position of the tooth. Each dental piece is assigned a specific brackets, and depending on the treatment the brackets can be accompanied by attachments.

Types of brackets

We can classify the brackets in two main ways: according to the shape of the brackets or according to the material

Types of brackets according to the shape::

Linked brackets

The arch is linked by rubber bands or ligatures around the four tips of the brackets that exert light forces that allow the teeth to move. These gums can be colored for metallic or transparent brackts

Auto-linked brackets

Instead of rubber or elastic, they contain a special clamp adapted with a screw to be hooked to the bow.

If we analyze the brackets according to their material, we can list the following:

Metallic brackets

The Metallic brackets are used in conventional orthodontics, offer great resistance throughout the treatment as well as being cheaper than new materials that arise.

Advantages of metallic brackets:

• Great resistance from metallic material.
• They can be pasted as many times as necessary.
• Linked and autolinked.
• Easy to clean since the possible remains of food or dirt are more visible in metal parts
• Short term treatment
• These types of brackets are more economical.

Dentaltix reccomendations

• Ortho Technology Lotus Plus self-ligating metal brackets: The Lotus Plus Brackets are the self-ligating metallic Brackets from Ortho Tecnology. They have an excellent quality / price ratio and will meet the needs of both the patient and the orthodontist.
• Mini Thino metallic bracket from Orho Technology: These brackets stand out for its small size (providing better aesthetics and comfort to the patient) without losing the mechanical qualities of metal bracketss.

The following brackets of the list, although they are all of different materials, are also known as aesthetic brackets. These brackets fulfill the same function as the metal ones; however, its distinctive parameter is to contribute to the aesthetic improvement of the patient during orthodontic treatment since it has a color similar to that of the natural tooth.

Ceramic brackets:

The Ceramic brackets are quite demanded by patients in orthodontic clinics because they are more aesthetic than metallic brackets. They are much less noticeable to the eye, as well as more comfortable for the patient since they do not tend to irritate the gums. Unlike metal, the treatment of ceramic brackets can get a little longer. However, the type of patient who decides on this treatment is more interested in the aesthetics of the brackets than in the duration.

The placement of these orthodontic pieces is similar to that of metal brackets. The small pieces of ceramic are glued to the teeth, joined by a wire of very resistant and durable composite material. It tends to be said that ceramic brackets are less resistant and can break more easily than metal brackets. However, these pieces are designed and treated in an effective way for use in this type of treatments.

Advantages of Ceramic brackets

• More aesthetic and discreet.
• More comfortable as to not irritate the patients gums
• Made of material strong enough that they should not break.

Dentaltix Recommendations

• Braided ceramic brackets Rato de Astar Orthodontics .
• Complete case of self-ligured ceramic brackets by Ortho Technology
• Complete case of ceramic brackets with ROTH metallic slot by Medicaline

Composite Brackets

The composite bracket is characterized by its white color, which comes to blend with the color of the natural tooth, providing a great resistance that allows to perform all the necessary movements. It is an orthodontic option that satisfies those patients for whom aesthetic appeal is paramount.

Advantages of composite brackets

• Orthodontic brackets are very effective
• Made of resin
• Affordable price

Dentaltix recommendations

• OrthoFlex Composite Brackets by Ortho Technonlogy.
• Complete case of Avalon brackets with metallic groove by Ortho Technonlogy.

Sapphire Brackets

The Sapphire Brackets are currently one of the most advanced techniques of orthodontics and are considered the most aesthetic. Made of sapphire crystal, they have a transparent appearance that convinces those patients who are most concerned with aesthetics during treatment.

The combination of zirconium powder with sapphire allows the transparency characteristic of this type of brackets to be present throughout the orthodontic treatment.

How are these brackets used? Once the glass is polished until it has achieved a rounded shape, soft and comfortable for the patient, the brackets are placed on the teeth and are very well fixed thanks to the zirconium powder coating that forms millions of cuts under the bracket adhesive.

Advantages of sapphire brackets

• Bracket more aesthetic thanks to the transparency that presents
• Reduced wearing of brackets
• They don't get as dirty as the others
• Very comfortable for the patient

Dentaltix recommendations:

• Complete case Roth Sapphire Brackets by Medicaline.
• Complete Case Brackets Sapphire Pure by Ortho Technology.

We hope this post will help you easily distinguish the types of brackets available and their main differences. At Dentaltix we are continuously adding new products to our catalog, so be sure to visit our section of Orthodontic materials or our offers of the month!