Advantages and disadvantages of loose/fixed braces in adults
If the braces are loose, the braces and teeth can be cleaned thoroughly after each meal. The braces can also be removed for eating. On the one hand, the pain when chewing is less and on the other hand, no food gets caught in the braces.
In contrast to fixed braces, this reduces the risk of caries or gingivitis. Removable braces are much more aesthetic than fixed ones. Fixed brackets cover a large part of the white tooth substance.
Removable braces show only a thin metal wire when smiling. The disadvantage of removable braces is the long treatment time. It depends a lot on how often and how consistently you wear them, but even if you wear them as often as possible, it takes longer to achieve the same result as with fixed braces.
It is important to wear the braces regularly, otherwise the orthodontic treatment can be broken off. In such cases, if the therapy fails due to the patient’s lack of cooperation, the health insurance company may demand a partial refund. Another disadvantage of loose braces is that you will have problems with speaking and pronunciation in the beginning, because the braces sometimes have a large plastic body.
In difficult cases a loose brace is not sufficient to achieve the desired result. With a fixed one, however, serious misalignment can be corrected. With fixed braces, upper and lower jaws can be corrected at the same time, no matter what age you are.
Orthodontic treatment even works in adulthood. Especially for older patients, or those who prefer to wear inconspicuous braces, there are tooth-colored ceramic brackets, or lingual brackets, which are attached to the inside of the tooth. The disadvantages of fixed braces are also that they require very good care.
After each meal, the teeth must be thoroughly cleaned with a special toothbrush. If necessary, one should also use interdental brushes. In addition, there are regular check-ups with the orthodontist to check the position of the brackets and bands. Because if the braces break spontaneously, they cannot be repaired so easily.
