{"id":3929,"date":"2017-07-29T13:46:03","date_gmt":"2017-07-29T12:46:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/uk\/?page_id=3929"},"modified":"2024-11-27T10:51:43","modified_gmt":"2024-11-27T09:51:43","slug":"braces-colours","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/braces-colours\/","title":{"rendered":"Coloured Braces: How They Work and How to Choose the Right Colours"},"content":{"rendered":"

Getting your teeth straightened needn’t be a drag. Coloured braces let you show off your fun or fashionable side while your smile is improving. The only problem you’re left with is deciding which braces colours to choose<\/strong>!<\/p>

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Find out all about how these braces work<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

Fortunately, you’re not stuck with one colour of on your dental braces<\/a> for your entire orthodontic treatment so you can experiment with plenty of different combinations. In this article, we’ll give you some ideas for choosing the best braces colours for you. We’ll also explain why you need those little bands on your braces in the first place.<\/p>

How coloured braces work<\/h2>

Although they are often called ‘coloured braces’, this type of brace is actually made from metal. It’s the small elastic bands<\/a> fitted to the brackets which allow you to add some colour.<\/p>

Your orthodontist fixes a metal bracket to each tooth with a strong dental cement, then connects the brackets with a wire called an ‘archwire’. Small bands hold the wire in place. The orthodontist tightens the wire in different places to gradually pull your teeth into alignment.<\/p>

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It will take one or two hours to fit your braces, but each checkup will only be around 20 minutes. The actual fitting shouldn’t hurt but your teeth may feel uncomfortable for a few days afterwards and after each subsequent adjustment.<\/p>

Treatment with coloured braces usually takes 18-24 months, depending on how misaligned your teeth are.<\/p>

Can I also get tooth coloured braces?<\/b> <\/div>

While some prefer coloured braces that stand out or blend in, others might ask if there are tooth coloured braces<\/b> or even invisible braces.<\/p>

Nowadays, more and more people choose a treatment with invisible aligners instead of metal braces, for a variety of reasons. If you want to find out if you can get aligners instead of fixed braces, we recommend you to book a FREE e-consultation with SmileWhite<\/a>.<\/p>

With these aligners, you can treat most misalignments, like you would do with metal braces.<\/p> <\/div> \t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div> <\/div>

Use our discount code “DENTALY5OFF<\/span>” to save an additional 5%<\/span><\/strong> on your treatment.<\/p>

Book a FREE e-consultation with SmileWhite!<\/a><\/div>

Private vs. NHS braces in the UK<\/h3>

If you or your child are eligible for braces on the NHS, you’ll be given fixed braces made from metal. Should you wish to have braces that are less obvious there are several options to choose from. However, any other type of brace will only be available privately.<\/p>

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Coloured braces can add to your style<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

You might consider removable invisible braces<\/a> or hidden lingual braces<\/a> if you want to have straighter teeth without brackets fixed to the front of your teeth. There is also the option of clear braces<\/a> or ceramic braces<\/a> which work in the same way as traditional braces but are much less obvious.<\/p>

Even if you or your child are not deemed eligible for NHS braces, you’ll probably find fixed metal braces are still the cheapest option with a private dentist<\/strong>. You might have access to more exciting colour options as a private patient, too.<\/p>

There is one type of metal brace which doesn’t use coloured bands. Self-ligating braces (like Damon braces<\/a>) have a different style of bracket which lets the wire move automatically, so no elastics are needed to keep the wire in place. Self-ligating braces are only available with private dental treatment.<\/p>

Why do braces have coloured bands?<\/h3>

There are two main kinds of orthodontic elastics used in braces, each serving its own purpose.<\/p>

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Ligatures hold the wire in place on each bracket<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

Tiny elastic bands are placed on each of the metal brackets to hold the archwire in place<\/strong>. These are also known as ‘ligatures’ or ‘o-rings’. The wire plays a big part in controlling how your teeth move, so those elastics have an important job to do. Ligatures are usually available in a wide range of colours with an NHS dentist.<\/p>

Dentists use a special tool to fit and remove these fiddly little bands, as you’ll see in the video below.<\/p>

Larger rubber bands may also be placed between the upper and lower jaw to help with alignment. This is more often the case with children’s braces<\/a>. They are connected to special hooks on the brace brackets.<\/p>

These are known as ‘inter-arch elastics’ and look more like the rubber bands you would use at home. They are less commonly offered in different colours, but they are usually placed on the sides of the mouth so are less visible. If your braces need inter-arch elastics you will need to learn to fit these yourself as they have to be replaced several times a day.<\/p>

Here is a short video showing how a dentist puts coloured ligatures on braces to keep the archwire in place:<\/p>

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