After the spacers have been worn for about two weeks, the braces are then inserted into the mouth. In some cases, the orthodontist will apply only one set of braces, the top or the bottom, during a single visit. This depends on the condition of the patient's teeth, the treatment needed and the age of the patient. To secure the braces, the orthodontist will apply a glue, some of which contain fluoride to protect the teeth, to the patient's tooth. He will then place ceramic or metal brackets on the glue.
Once the orthodontist has placed the brackets on the teeth, he will insert an archwire through the brackets. The archwire is attached to the brackets on the back teeth using glue and a specialized knot. The orthodontist then threads the archwire through the remaining brackets. Normally, there is one archwire for the top teeth and one for the bottom teeth. This archwire is held into place with a putty-like substance or rubber band on each bracket. Unlike old braces, the archwire on new braces is made of heat activated nickel and titanium metal compound. This is flexible at room temperature, which means less pulling and tugging. As the archwire heats up to the temperature in the patient's mouth, it becomes less flexible, which enables it to pull the teeth as needed.
The braces will stay on for one to two years, on average. However, trips are made to the orthodontist periodically to change the archwire and to get rubber bands to help the braces align the bite as the teeth move. These rubber bands are attached to the braces on small hooks that are part of the brackets applied to the teeth.
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