Metal Braces - Straight Smiles Orthodontics

Trusted Treatment

Traditional metal braces are the most common type of orthodontic treatment at Straight Smiles Orthodontics, and they feel more comfortable today than ever.

All About Metal Braces

At Straight Smiles Orthodontics, we’re proud to offer the latest braces technology to patients of all ages in Shelby Township, Novi, Rochester Hills, and surrounding areas.

Traditional metal braces are durable and affordable, making them the top treatment for orthodontic patients at Straight Smiles Orthodontics every year.

Thanks to modern orthodontics, you’ll benefit from smaller, less conspicuous, and more comfortable brackets that can close gaps and align teeth faster than other treatments. This speed can potentially shorten your treatment time at Straight Smiles Orthodontics.

Made of high-grade stainless steel, metal braces straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires. With metal braces, you can add colored elastics (rubber bands) for a more unique and colorful smile.

What Are Braces Made of?

Brackets

Dr. Rafaill uses durable brackets made from a mix of durable metals with little hooks or doors where we thread a wire. We’ll secure your brackets by closing the door or placing an elastic over the top of the wire.

Glue

This is how Dr. Rafaill attaches the brackets to your teeth.

Wire

This thin piece of metal runs from one bracket to another. Dr. Rafaill shapes and curves the wire to shift your teeth in the right direction.

Normally, the wire attaches to your bottom or upper teeth, but we may cut it if connecting just a few teeth is better for your treatment plan.

Elastics

If you need bite correction, elastics are essential. We normally string elastics between an upper and lower bracket hook.

This pressure pulls your upper jaw backward to correct an overbite or the lower jaw back to correct an underbite.

Elastic Ties/O-Rings/Ligatures/Colors

Dr. Rafaill uses these tiny rubber rings or bands to attach the archwire to the brackets. Elastics are less rigid than spacers, and they come in dozens of colors.

Spacers

Dr. Rafaill uses these tiny elastic “donuts” or rings to create space between your teeth when needed, typically before we place your bands. People also refer to them as "separators.”

Metal Braces FAQ

How do braces work?

Before applying the brackets, Dr. Rafaill and the team at Straight Smiles Orthodontics will take photos and X-rays of your mouth. We’ll use our iTero Element scanner to scan each of your teeth and the layout of your gums and mouth, which takes 10-15 minutes and provides an extremely accurate 3D view of your mouth.

After the X-Ray and optional scan, Dr. Rafaill will use this information to create your customized treatment plan. He’ll decide how to place the brackets based on this information.

For example, if you have some teeth that need to tilt, Dr. Rafaill places those brackets differently compared to the brackets for teeth that need to turn. Once we attach your brackets, Dr. Rafaill will insert the wire, bending it to create precise movements and give you a straighter smile.

By placing a constant, gentle force in a carefully controlled direction, braces slowly move teeth to a corrected position. You can choose brackets that are clear or metallic color.

You can choose the color of the ties that hold the wire in brackets. Wires are also less noticeable than they used to be and the latest materials move teeth faster with less discomfort to patients.

What can I expect from today’s metal braces?

For most people, a beautiful smile is the most obvious benefit of orthodontics. After your braces come off, you'll feel more self-confident. During your treatment, we want you to feel as comfortable as possible.

Sleeker brackets and lighter wires improve the appearance and feel of these braces. This means you’ll have less irritation in your mouth. Traditional metal braces at Straight Smiles also come in various colors, so you can showcase your personality whenever you want.

Pick your favorite color combination, the colors of your favorite sports team, or your school colors! We also offer silver, gray, white, black, and tooth-colored elastics for patients seeking a more subtle look.

How long will I be in braces?

Everyone who visits Straight Smiles Orthodontics wants to know this, but it doesn’t have a concrete answer. Every mouth is unique, and every patient responds to treatment differently, so treatment with metal braces at Straight Smiles Orthodontics will vary by case.

The average time spent in metal braces is around 18 to 22 months but it could be shorter or longer, depending on your custom treatment plan from Dr. Rafaill. Treatment time typically ranges from one to three years, depending on the growth of the patient's mouth and face and the severity of the problem.

Patients grow at different rates and will respond variously to orthodontic treatment, so completion times may vary for each patient. The patient's cooperation is an important factor in achieving the most efficient treatment.

Interceptive, or early treatment procedures, may take as few as six months. However. with metal braces from Straight Smiles Orthodontics, you’ll see signs of improvement quickly, giving you confidence during the treatment process.