Braces come in a variety of choices for children and may consist of removable or fixed appliances. Cleveland Clinic notes that braces need to remain on the teeth for an average of one to three years for corrective treatment. Braces help treat misaligned teeth and problems with the bite. An orthodontist, who specializes in treating these problems, can advise you on which type of braces is appropriate for your child's condition.
Invisalign
Invisalign offers removable aligners and are virtually invisible when worn. Children are able to remove the aligners during meals and they are easier to maintain than the traditional bracket-style braces, especially when cleansing. The aligners are made from a plastic material and require replacement every two weeks. Invisalign does not require manual adjustments and do not stain, but the production time is longer since the aligners are computer generated and can take approximately six weeks for delivery.
Metal Style
Metal bands with brackets are the traditional style of braces. The metal brackets are attached to the metal bands by using a soldering technique and are then wrapped around each tooth, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Metal braces have evolved and become kid-friendly over the years, offering arch wires in choices of colors. In addition, the bands are available in an array of colors that your child can change often.
Invisible Braces
Lingual-type braces, or invisible braces, were developed in the 1970s by Dr. Craven Kurtz, an orthodontist who studied at the University of Saskatchwan and McGill University in Montreal and Columbia University in New York. Similar to ceramic-type braces, lingual braces use ceramic brackets, except the brackets are placed on the back-side, or inner portion, of your child's teeth. Lingual braces differ from metal braces because of the location and they are custom-fit for each individual tooth.
Ceramic
Ceramic braces are available when your child needs braces but wants them to be less noticeable. Ceramic brackets are opaque in color and naturally blend with the teeth, making them less visible. However, a setback to this style of braces is the staining of the tiny rubber bands, or ligatures, that connect the ceramic bracket and arch wire, because they are clear or white. The setback lasts temporarily since your child visits the orthodontist each month for an appointment for adjustments and ligature changes.
