Braces are devices or set of wires attached to an individual’s teeth to support and straighten them. It is the best solution for people who want to straighten their teeth to improve their smile. Braces include brackets connected by wires that help the teeth move gradually.

Braces are recommended for those who have crooked teeth or a misaligned bite. If you are considering having braces, it is first important to know the different components.

Components of Braces
Braces apply constant pressure to the teeth over a certain period and slowly help them move in a specific direction with the bone changing its shape accordingly. Braces are made of the following components:

• Brackets
  They are small squares that bind each tooth with a dental bonding element that can be attached to orthodontic bands. They hold the archwires and are available in steel, ceramic, and plastic. They are placed at the back of the teeth.
• Orthodontic bands
  These are made of stainless steel, ceramic, or plastic that are then cemented to the teeth with a bonding material. They wrap every tooth and act as an anchor for the brackets. It’s not used for everyone.
• Spacers
  They are separators that fit between every tooth, making way for orthodontic bands.
• Archwires
  They are the guide to the movement of teeth and are attached to the brackets.
• Ties
  They are rings made of rubber or fine wire that help fasten the archwire to the brackets.
• Buccal tube
  They are present on the band of the last tooth and hold ends of archwires securely.
• Ligatures
  They are very small elastic rubber bands that hold archwires to the brackets.
• Springs
  They are optional and can be placed on archwires in the middle of brackets for teeth movement.
• Rubber bands
  They are elastics attached to hooks on the brackets and are worn between the upper and lower teeth. The intention is to apply pressure to move the upper teeth against lower ones to induce a perfect fit.
• Facebow headgear
  It’s a wire gadget that moves the upper molars into the mouth to correct bite issues and create more room. It has a horseshoe-shaped inner metal part that goes into the mouth.

What happens after taking off the braces?
Firstly, after removing the braces, your teeth will be completely cleaned. An X-ray would be required to check if the wisdom tooth is developing. If this can cause the newly straightened teeth to shift, the dentist will extract it.

A retainer can also be fitted to help teeth maintain the new form and position. It’s a removable appliance that is also used to treat minor dental issues. Retainers are made of rubber, clear plastic, or metal wires.

Retainers should be worn for at least six months. However, the time frame differs from person to person. After a period of six months, it should be worn only during night time for as long as the doctor recommends. It’s extremely important to wear retainers until the bones, gums, and muscles adjust themselves to the new position of the teeth.