Metal Braces | Braces Reno | Reno Metal Braces

Tried-and-true Treatment

The most common type of braces at Leland Orthodontics are metal braces. Dr. Andrew Leland has a long history of using these orthodontic icons to successfully straighten smiles for patients of every age around Reno and the surrounding areas. Call today for a free consultation!

The Nuts & Bolts of Braces

You’ve seen these before, the tried-and-true appliances that orthodontists have been using for decades. The good news is, it’s not like 30 years ago when there were bands wrapped around every tooth.

Nowadays, we glue each bracket to the front of each tooth, which makes the process much more comfortable for you.

You can pick out the colors of your bands at each appointment!

Braces are the tried-and-true method of orthodontic treatment. Thanks to advances in technology, your experience wearing braces is dramatically better than it was years ago. Here are the parts that make up your braces.

Brackets

The brackets Dr. Leland uses are durable and made from a mix of stainless steel, nickel, and other metals. Our mini twin brackets are smaller than older models and more comfortable than ever.

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

Glue

This is what Dr. Leland 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. Leland 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.

Metal Braces FAQ

How do braces work?

Before applying your brackets, the team at Leland Orthodontics will collect photos and X-rays of your mouth. Sometimes we’ll use our iTero Element scanner to scan each of your teeth and the layout of your gums and mouth.

If necessary, this process takes 10-15 minutes and provides an extremely accurate 3D view of your mouth.

After the X-Ray and optional scan, Dr. Leland will use this information to create your customized treatment plan. This will include how each tooth needs to be moved to get it in the best possible position.

For example, if you have some teeth that need to be tilted, the placement of those brackets will be different than the placement of brackets for teeth that need to be turned.

Once we attach your brackets, Dr. Leland will insert the wire. Bends in the wire will provide different types of pressure on different teeth. Dr. Leland will create precise movements using this bend in the wire.

What can I expect from today’s metal braces?

At Leland Orthodontics, we’re proud to offer the latest braces technology to our patients of all ages in Reno, NV and surrounding areas!

Metal braces have had a reputation for being awkward and obvious. But, because of modern orthodontics, you’ll benefit from versions that are smaller, less conspicuous, and more comfortable than ever before.

Mini twin brackets and lighter wires improve the appearance and feel of these braces. This means you’ll have less irritation in your mouth.

Traditional metal braces at Leland Orthodontics also feature customizable bands to add pops of color. The elastics that fit around your brackets come in a wide variety of colors that let you showcase your personality whenever you want.

We also offer silver, gray, white, black, and tooth-colored elastics for patients seeking a more subtle look.

Braces are great at fixing complex tooth issues. They can work faster at closing gaps and aligning teeth than other treatments might. This can potentially shorten your treatment time.

Metal braces are cost-effective because they don’t require some of the more complex technology or expensive equipment that newer treatments do. The strength, durability, and affordability of traditional metal braces keep them the top treatment for orthodontic patients in Reno, year after year!

How long will I be in braces?

This is what everyone at our Reno office wants to know, but it’s something we don’t have a concrete answer for. Every mouth is different and every patient responds to treatment in their own way. Treatment time with metal braces at Leland Orthodontics will vary for each person.

The average time spent in metal braces is around 18 to 22 months but could be shorter or longer, depending on the individual and the treatment plan designed by Dr. Leland.

We have some patients at Leland Orthodontics in braces for as few as six months, but for complex issues, it can take over three years to complete the process.

With metal braces from Leland Orthodontics, you’ll see signs of improvement in just a short time, and that gives you confidence during the treatment process.