Braces in Downers Grove & Elmhurst

Traditional, Strong & Sturdy

The most common braces we use at Premier Orthodontics & Dental Specialists are metal braces. These orthodontic workhorses have a long history of successfully straightening smiles at every age for patients all around Downers Grove, Elmhurst, and the surrounding areas.

All About Braces

Today's metal braces are smaller, lighter, and more comfortable to wear than ever before. There are many varieties of braces, including conventional metal braces that consist of high-grade stainless steel and self-ligating braces that allow for faster tooth movement and fewer adjustments.

What Are Braces Made of?

Brackets

The brackets Dr. Corine Radu uses are durable and made from a mix of stainless steel, nickel, and other metals.

Brackets have little hooks or doors where a wire is threaded. A bracket can be secured by closing the door or by placing an elastic over the top of the wire.

Glue

This is what Dr. Radu will use to attach the brackets to your teeth. It’s common to attach the bracket directly to the tooth with glue.

Wire

This thin piece of metal runs from one bracket to another. Dr. Radu will change the wire's shape and curvature to move your teeth in the right direction.

The wire will attach all of your bottom or upper teeth together in many cases. We might occasionally cut the wire if connecting just a few teeth is better for your treatment plan.

Elastics

If you need bite correction, elastics are essential. They’re generally strung between an upper bracket hook and a lower bracket hook.

This pulls your upper jaw backward to correct an overbite, or the lower jaw back to correct an underbite. We use rubber bands for many different situations, especially when we want to put extra pressure on the teeth or jaws.

Orthodontic Bands

Using dental bonding agents, Dr. Radu and our team cement these stainless steel rings to your teeth. These bands anchor your braces and orthodontic appliances, but we don’t always use them for everyone at Premier Orthodontics & Dental Specialists.

Spacers

These small elastic “donuts” or rings can be used to create space in between your teeth when needed, typically before bands are placed. They are also referred to as separators.

Elastic Ties/Ligatures/Colors/O-Rings/

Dr. Radu uses these tiny rubber rings or bands to attach the archwire to the brackets. Elastics are less rigid than spacers and you can get them in dozens of colors.

Metal Braces FAQ