Smile Dentistry Service | OrthoSm;)e Dental Clinic

OrthoSm;)e^TMOrthodontics Braces

Teeth Straightening or Braces is the art of moving teeth to bring out "Your" Sm;)e^TM that naturally resides within you. We recognised no two person has the same orthodontics problems including twin siblings and it requires good treatment planning and braces work to reveal that Sm;)e™ in you.

At OrthoSm;)e™, we provides a wide range of braces options to customise to your needs. For example, you can choose the traditional “Wire” system or simply go invisible with our “Wire-less” aligner systems.

Click the blue tabs below for various braces treatment options. Click on (when you spot one) to be enlightened

Clear Passive Ligation Traditional Kids Functional Surgical

OPTION 1 : CLEAR AESTHETICS BRACKETS

We use ceramic brackets that work like metal brackets. But unlike metal brackets, ceramic brackets blend in with your teeth for a better look. They are the perfect combination of strength and beauty, so you can keep smiling during, and after your treatment.

OPTION 2 : CLEAR ORTHODONTIC ALIGNERS

Aligner systems uses clear orthodontic aligners

(which looks similar to clear retainers) to move teeth without wires i.e. "Wire-less". A series of clear orthodontic aligners are custom-made for you to move your teeth according to your treatment plan.

The process is different with these orthodontic aligners in that you wear them under our supervision. When the aligners are placed over the teeth, they caused the teeth to gradually shift from their current position. After about two weeks, you will move to the next set of aligner and continue the teeth straightening process.

Some of the advantages of clear orthodontic aligner system vs the traditional wire braces system are:

You can look "Good" during treatment as the aligners are nearly invisible when put on
Clean teeth normally and easier to maintain oral health during treatment as the aligners are removable
Flexibility to adapt to special occasion as the aligner can be removed and pop back when you are done.
Eat and drink without much restriction

Orthodontic aligner systems may not be suitable in some cases. If you are interested in using clear orthodontic aligner systems for your braces treatment, we can decide if you are a good candidate for this type of treatment at your initial visit.

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Explore other straightening options by clicking the blue tabs above.

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Traditional braces are made up of three main components including the bracket, which is placed on the tooth, the archwire that runs through each bracket, and a rubber “tie” which connects the archwire tightly to the bracket. This is known as active ligation and generally has more friction. As friction is the resistance to movement, it will requires more applied force to move teeth.

Passive ligating bracket eliminate the need for “ties” and instead use a permanent moveable component that is installed to hold the wire in place. Examples includes Carriere system and Damon system.

Others modifiy their bracket design to creates a low friction passive bracket even when use with the traditional rubber "tie".
Example is the Synergy SWLF system.

In either approach, the goal is the same. That is to aim to reduce friction in your mouth and allow your teeth to move more freely with less applied force.

Treatment is therefore more comfortable than traditional braces, which allows your teeth to move more efficiently.

Times have changed, and so have traditional metal braces. They no longer resemble the big clunky braces from the past. Modern traditional metal "Wire" braces are smaller and more comfortable than ever before with lower profiles and stronger adhesives.

Traditional braces are made up of three main components including the bracket, which is placed on the tooth, the archwire that runs through each bracket, and a rubber “tie” which connects the archwire tightly to the bracket. This is also known as active ligation.

Remember to have fun choosing those colourful elastic "tie"

festive2 rainbow1 pattern1 color2

Using functional orthodontic appliances, it may be possible to influence the way jaw grows, especially in a growing child.

These functional appliances make use of forces created by the head and neck muscles to bring about the desired dental, facial, and functional changes. Appliances can be removable or fixed (cemented).

For children, it can be of great advantage to have a first braces consultation done at age 7 as certain orthodontic problems can benefit from early treatment. Common examples are use of Facemask/ Finger spring / Carriere Motion for correction of anterior cross bite and use of Twin-Block / Carriere Motion for over bite. The use of Expander may be indicated for posterior cross bite.

See the types of braces problem (termed Malocclusions) under our "Useful Information" page.

At OrthoSm;)e™, we are able to advise you whether your child needs functional growth therapy.

Sometimes, to achieve a pleasant facial look with an attractive smile, surgical intervention may be required. We termed this as orthognathic surgery.

Orthognathic surgery is a treatment combination of using braces and surgery. The surgical process involves moving the skeletal upper jaw or lower jaw or both jaws to improve the facial profile and sometimes this is done together with chin surgery (genioplasty) to reposition the chin.

Orthognathic surgery is usually indicated when the malocclusion problem is too severe to be corrected by just using braces alone.

See under "USEFUL INFORMATION" page to learn about the different types of malocclusions.