From Volume 7, Issue 4, October 2014 | Pages 114-117
Advances in orthodontic technology, especially those that address the aesthetic problem of metal or visible braces, have boosted the demand for adult orthodontics. Dental clinicians should be familiar with the advantages and limitations of the new aesthetic appliances coming onto the market.
Adult orthodontic treatment has increased dramatically in the last two decades, mainly due to the technological developments that have made orthodontic appliances more available and aesthetically acceptable. These advances include:
Currently, there are two types of aesthetic bracket, the ceramic/porcelain and the plastic bracket systems. Although the plastic bracket appliance is not popular nowadays, it still has some uses in certain cases.
These were first used in orthodontics in the early 1970s, and are manufactured from acrylic or polycarbonate. The main drawbacks are weak bonding to enamel and deformation under pressure (creep), especially if the torquing load is over 2000 gm/mm, making the brackets impractical for torque expression.1 Other disadvantages include:
Some manufacturers have introduced a metal-reinforced acrylic bracket to overcome some of these problems. It is considered an improvement over plain acrylic brackets with regard to creep resistance but slot imperfection is still considered to be problematical, as with the pure acrylic brackets.5
Thank you for visiting Orthodontic Update and reading some of our resources. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
