Tried & True Treatment

At Gleason Orthodontics, we use fixed metal braces to give you a reliable and cost-effective treatment option, perfect for transforming your smile.

Braces

For most people, achieving a healthy, beautiful smile is the reason for receiving orthodontic care. If you're self-conscious about your smile, correcting your concerns with braces will greatly improve the way you look and feel.

The most common type of braces at Gleason Orthodontics are metal braces. Patients around Webster find our metal braces are smaller, lighter, and more comfortable to wear than ever before.

When your treatment is complete, you will have the smile you've always dreamed of and the confidence to show it off! We also want you to feel comfortable and confident throughout your entire orthodontic experience, and Dr. Gleason makes sure you receive the quality care you deserve.

Gone are the days when we’d place a metal band and bracket around each tooth. You can now choose clear or metal brackets and, in some cases, the color of your appliance.

Wires are far less noticeable, and the latest materials will move your teeth faster with more comfort. Today, any age is a great age to wear braces with Gleason Orthodontics!

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What Are Braces Made of?

Brackets

The brackets Dr. Gleason 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. Gleason uses to attach the brackets to your teeth. He’ll attach the bracket directly to your tooth with glue.

Wire

This thin piece of metal runs from one bracket to another. Dr. Gleason will change the shape and curvature of the wire 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

Dr. Gleason cements these stainless steel rings to your teeth using dental bonding agents. These bands anchor your braces and orthodontic appliances, but we don’t always use them for everyone.

Spacers

If we need to create space between your teeth, we put spacers on the job. Dr. Gleason uses these small elastic “donuts” or rings typically before we place your bands are placed. You might also hear them called “separators”.

Elastic Ties/O-Rings/Ligatures/Colors

Dr. Gleason 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