Conventional metal Braces
Conventional metal braces remain a popular and effective solution for correcting misaligned teeth and achieving a beautiful, healthy smile.
At Smile Doctor Dental Clinic in Ara Damansara, we provide high-quality conventional metal braces that are designed to address various orthodontic issues, from minor misalignments to more complex dental concerns. With their proven track record, conventional metal braces offer reliable and durable results, making them a trusted choice for patients seeking comprehensive orthodontic care.
What are conventional metal braces?
Conventional metal braces remain the most widely used orthodontic treatment. Composed of high-grade stainless steel, these braces feature metal brackets affixed to each tooth, connected by an archwire, and secured with elastic ligatures. They offer reliable and precise adjustments to correct a wide range of dental alignment issues.
Braces treatment with conventional metal braces tend to be slightly slower compare to newer technology such as self ligating braces and clear aligners. However it is still a popular options especially among teenagers who still wants colourful braces.
Benefits of Conventional Metal Braces
Highly Effective
Proven success in treating various dental misalignments, from minor corrections to severe cases.
Durable
Constructed from robust materials, ensuring longevity and resilience throughout the treatment.
Cost-Efficient
Typically more affordable compared to other orthodontic options.
Customisable
Coloured bands are changed every month and there are many colours available for selection.
The Treatment Process
First visit: Initial consultation
The dentist will conduct a thorough evaluation of your dental structure and discuss suitable treatment options. Any scaling and fillings are to be done at this stage before the mold is taken to ensure a proper treatment plan can be done.
Photos, X-rays and mold of your teeth will be taken as a record to customise your treatment plan.
After the initial consultation, treatment plan will be ready in a week’s time. Usually the decision of whether extraction of teeth is needed or not will be done after the treatment plan.
Second visit: Conventional metal braces placement
Teeth will be cleaned and polished to prepare for braces placement. The metal brackets will be precisely bonded to your teeth, connected by an archwire, and secured with elastics. The whole process will take around 1 to 1.5 hours.
At times if the top teeth are biting on the bottom braces, a temporary filling material might be placed on your molars to raise the bite and protect the braces from damage. Braces care instructions will be given as well as reminder on the food to avoid with braces.
Third visit: First month review
After 1 month, the dentist will check the progress of your braces and make adjustments to the braces and wires. Reviews are done every month and the next appointment is scheduled end of the visit. Monthly visits to the dentist for adjustments ensure that your teeth are progressing correctly toward the desired alignment.
Treatment completion
Once the desired results are achieved, the braces will be removed, and you will be provided with a retainer to maintain your new smile. Retainers are to be worn full time for 3 months and subsequently worn only during your sleep.
Caring for your braces
Maintain Oral Hygiene
It is recommended to clean the food out of your braces after every meal. Brushing and flossing diligently will help to keep your teeth and braces clean, preventing decay and gum disease.
Adhere to Dietary Guidelines
Avoid hard, sticky, and sugary foods that could damage the braces or cause cavities. If a bracket or wire becomes loose, you will need to visit the dentist as soon as possible to avoid injuries and also prolonging the treatment duration.
Regular Check-Ups
Attend all scheduled orthodontic appointments for necessary adjustments and progress monitoring. The monthly review is important to make sure the teeth are moving as planned.
FAQ for conventional metal braces
Typically 2- 5 years depending on the severity of your case. Conventional metal braces tend to take a longer time as compared to self ligating braces or clear aligners.
Yes! We are equipped with a 3D intraoral scanner that can show you the before and possible after result of your braces treatment.
It depends on the severity of your dental malalignment as well as the protrusion of your lips. If you are not happy with your facial profile, and you find that your lips are protruded outwards, you may need extraction to bring the teeth inwards during the braces treatment.
However there are also other ways such as distalizing with clear aligners, en mass retraction with screw and so on to move the teeth backwards.
While we would love to claim that braces are painless, unfortunately, that is usually not the case. The constant discomfort from poking wires and the tight feeling after the monthly review appointment can cause ulcers and make eating painful.
Fortunately, newer technology like Damon self-ligating braces are available. With their rounded edges and no need for monthly tightening, it makes them relatively less painful compared to conventional braces.
Clear aligners are another option, and while they don’t cause ulcers, you may still feel some tightness each week when switching to a new set.
For braces other than clear aligners, we will need to see you every month to monitor the progress and check for any dislodged brackets.
As for clear aligners, we can provide up to 3 months’ worth of clear aligner sets for those with busy schedules. However, we still recommend monthly visits to ensure the treatment is progressing as planned.
- Brush your teeth or at least rinse your mouth after every meal.
- Use floss or interdental brushes to clean between braces and under wires.
- Avoid sticky, hard, and sugary foods that can damage braces or cause decay.
Contact the dentist as soon as possible to fix the issue. In the meantime, you can use orthodontic wax to cover any sharp edges and prevent irritation. Do note that each time a bracket or wire comes loose, it will prolong the treatment duration so do be mindful of what you eat!
Yes, retainers help maintain the new position of your teeth and prevent them from shifting back. Retainers are worn full time for the first 3 months after braces removal and is switched to night time wear only after that.
Generally the teeth will shift around after not wearing the retainers for some time. If you want to maintain the braces result, retainers will need to be worn life long.
- Discomfort and soreness. There might be ulcers forming in the mouth so be sure to drink more water to help with the healing.
- Potential for tooth decay or gum disease if proper hygiene is not maintained. Any food that we eat might get trapped on the brackets and wires. If it is not removed right after your meal, it can cause tooth decay to form around the brackets.
- Temporary difficulty in speaking or eating. It will take some time and training but you should be fine in a month’s time.
It will depend on your location. Generally, different types of braces can cost as follows:
- Conventional metal braces: Approximately RM5000-6000
- Self ligating braces/ Damon braces: Approximately RM7000-10000
- Clear aligners: Approximately RM6000-24000