What materials are brackets made of?

Brackets can be manufactured from a wide variety of materials. In addition to the standard brackets, which are included in the cash register service and are made of stainless steel, other materials are also used. Brackets are also made of gold, titanium, plastic and the so popular ceramic, which also offers a high aesthetic standard.

However, as these brackets are more expensive to produce, they are purely private services and have to be paid for with a higher personal contribution. Especially in the lingual technique, where the brackets are attached to the back surfaces of the teeth, the costs for these are very high, as they are individual and only fit the individual patient. These brackets are primarily made of gold or ceramic.

The colour of the brackets varies between metallic, golden or even transparent colours, which already differ due to the material. The wires that are anchored in the brackets are always metallic colours. Although there are newly developed wire models that are painted in almost transparent colours, studies have shown that these are not as stable and successful.

Furthermore, the paint flaked off after a short time, so that the silver metal appeared. The ligatures in the brackets with rubber rings, which are used to fix the wire in the Edgewise brackets, can be colourful. These rubbers are available in all colours and are therefore especially popular with children.

There are almost transparent brackets made of ceramic material, which look so natural because they are made to match your own tooth colour perfectly and are therefore hardly visible. As ceramic is a highly aesthetic material and allows many light reflections, it is possible to produce brackets that are individually and optically perfect. However, these highly aesthetic brackets also have to be paid for with a private share of the cost. However, their removal is more difficult than that of standard brackets.

What can I do against pain caused by brackets?

Pain in fixed braces can occur quickly – especially when a new wire is inserted or when force is applied to the teeth for the first time. If the pain is not reduced or disappears completely after a few days, the orthodontist should be consulted, who can help in most cases. On his own initiative, the patient can try to cool the painful areas himself.

For example, cold water can be kept in the mouth to relieve the pain. Initially, teeth should be spared by avoiding hard food for a few days. In general, the following applies: After inserting the brackets or a new wire, the pain is completely normal and subsides. The teeth get used to the force that is applied to them in order to be able to move them around the jaw. Home remedies or homeopathic remedies can also relieve the symptoms.