The Basics of Braces
Dental braces are designed to help an orthodontist correct certain types of abnormal bites (malocclusions) such as an overbite, crowded teeth and gapped teeth. The type of braces you’ll need depends on the type and severity of your malocclusion.
Dental braces work by applying pressure to the teeth, moving them gradually over time. Most of this pressure is applied by a metal wire called an archwire. The archwire is attached to tiny brackets placed on each tooth. These brackets used to wrap all the way around the tooth; now they’re tiny and glued on the front of each tooth. Rubber bands called ligatures go around the brackets and put added pressure on the teeth.