Metal Braces

The Strong Standard

Traditional metal braces have been around for a long time, and they’re probably what most people around Charlotte and Huntersville imagine when they think “orthodontics”. Dr. Robert Selden has transformed smiles for a huge number of patients using this treatment option in the Charlotte and Huntersville area.

Traditional Metal Braces

Charlotte & Huntersville Braces

Dr. Selden uses orthodontic braces to correct crooked and crowded teeth, misaligned bites, and jaw problems. You’ll also often find that braces help with any trouble you may have eating, speaking, or cleaning your teeth, as these are often tied to issues with tooth and jaw alignment.

Forget what you may have heard about traditional metal braces — today’s appliances are smaller, sleeker, and more comfortable than ever!

What Are Braces Made Of?

For traditional braces, Dr. Selden will attach metal brackets to each tooth with a special adhesive and then connect these brackets via a wire.

The wire will guide the periodic adjustments Dr. Selden will make to let changes in pressure gently realign the position of your teeth and jaw.

Brackets

Dr. Selden uses special brackets, made from a mix of stainless steel, nickel, and other metals, that feature little hooks or doors used to hold the wire in place.

Your helpful Charlotte and Huntersville braces team will then close the door or affix an elastic over the wire top to secure it in place.

Elastics

Elastics are a powerful tool in Dr. Selden’s arsenal for correcting your bite. We’ll usually string elastics between an upper and a lower bracket hook if necessary.

This will allow pressure to pull your upper jaw backward to correct an overbite or the lower jaw back to correct an underbite. At Selden Orthodontics, we use rubber bands for all sorts of orthodontic issues, particularly if we want to put extra pressure on the teeth or jaws.

Glue

Dr. Selden uses a special orthodontic glue to attach the bracket securely to your teeth. Don’t worry—this is a perfectly normal part of the process.

Wire

We’ll thread this thin piece of metal through your brackets to guide the direction of treatment. Dr. Selden can shape and curve the wire to help your teeth into their perfect positions.

Typically we’ll attach the wire to all of your bottom or upper teeth, but Dr. Selden may leave out specific sections by cutting the wire if he feels it’s the best thing for your treatment plan.

Orthodontic Bands

Dr. Selden will expertly bond stainless steel rings to your teeth, creating a sturdy anchor for your braces and other orthodontic devices. Not every smile journey requires these bands — Dr. Selden tailors each treatment to your unique needs!

Spacers

Dr. Selden skillfully employs mini elastic "donuts," also known as separators, to craft the perfect amount of space between your teeth. This is usually done before placing your bands. Each separator is a small but crucial step on your personalized path to a stunning smile!

Elastic Ties/O-Rings/Ligatures/Colors

Dr. Selden uses these tiny bands or rubber rings to attach your archwire and brackets. Dr. Selden prefers these to spaces, as they’re less rigid. Plus, you can spice up your treatment by choosing from a variety of fun colors.

Metal Braces FAQs

Common Braces Questions in Charlotte & Huntersville

How do braces work?

First, Dr. Selden and our team capture detailed photos and X-rays of your mouth. We may also use our iTero Element scanner to scan each tooth, as well as the layout of your gums and mouth. The scan takes only 10-15 minutes and gives Dr. Selden a comprehensive picture of your teeth and jaws.

Based on this data, Dr. Selden develops a customized orthodontic treatment plan. He’ll decide on the specific movements required for each tooth to look and work it’s best.

This process guides Dr. Selden’s bracket placement choices. If some teeth require tilting, the brackets on those will be placed differently than those on teeth requiring rotation.

After attaching the brackets, Dr. Selden inserts the wire and makes specific bends in it. These bends an exert different types of pressure on various teeth. Dr. Selden focuses on creating precise movements with these wire adjustments.

The process of moving the teeth, known as remodeling, involves minor changes in the bone surrounding the roots. It ensures that each tooth moves into its ideal location for a balanced and healthy smile.

What can I expect from today’s metal braces?

At Selden Orthodontics, we've updated the traditional metal braces to offer sleeker brackets and lighter wires. This means they look and feel better than ever before, so you’ll experience much less irritation during the treatment process.

Our Charlotte and Huntersville offices give you the option to opt for champagne-colored brackets. These brackets offer the durability of metal braces and are as discreet as ceramic ones. Our patients love the gold look of these brackets.

Personalize your treatment braces with any combination of fun color variations for the elastics that fit around your brackets.

Whether you want to display your favorite colors, celebrate holidays, support your sports team, or represent your school, we‘ve got the color choices for you.

For a more understated look, we also provide elastics in silver, gray, white, black, and tooth-colored shades.

Traditional braces are perfect for complex tooth issues. They often outperform other treatments in closing gaps and aligning teeth, which can lead to a shorter overall treatment time.

Metal braces are a great fit for many families' budgets. They don't need some of the specialized equipment or technology associated with newer treatments, so they’re a cost-effective option.

Metal braces are strong, durable, and affordable, so it’s no wonder they continue to be a popular choice among orthodontic patients in Charlotte and Huntersville.

How long will I be in braces?

You’ll wear your braces for a term Dr. Selden finds appropriate for your case. In general, though, you can expect treatment to last anywhere between one and two years.

You won’t have to wait long to see signs of improvement, though! It’s an awesome feeling to see your smile coming together, and that will start to happen after just a few months.

Finally, we’ll fit you with a retainer once your braces come off. That way, you can keep all the awesome progress you’ve made. If your teeth are left to their own devices, they can move back to their old positions over time, and we definitely don’t want that.

Go for the Gold With Champagne Braces

Our champagne-colored brackets are as durable as metal braces and as discreet as ceramic braces. Their unique color helps them blend in beautifully with your smile.

Learn More

Schedule Your Free Consultation

We can’t wait to get started on your perfect smile at Selden Orthodontics of Charlotte and Huntersville. Consultations are always free, so fill out the form below right now, and we’ll see if metal braces are the perfect choice for you.