How Braces Fix Your Smile: A Step-by-Step Guide to Treatment

Straighten Your Smile with Braces: Step-by-Step

Braces work by manipulating the body’s natural ability to remodel bone. Through the use of gentle, controlled pressure and frequent adjustments, treatment with braces results in biological changes in the tissues and bone of the mouth and jaw, gradually correcting misalignment issues and creating a straighter, healthier smile. Each phase of braces treatment is part of a carefully managed timeline designed by your doctor to leverage your body’s natural healing and remodeling capabilities to move your teeth safely and effectively.

Woman with brown hair and light brown shirt points the corners of her smile to show off straight teeth with braces.

At Dental Depot of DFW, we make braces treatment convenient, comfortable, and personalized by offering orthodontic care in the same trusted office where you receive your routine dental visits. With the convenience of seeing the same doctor and team throughout your treatment, you get consistent care, better communication, and a more streamlined experience. Our orthodontic services are tailored to each patient, using proven techniques and modern technology to deliver confident, healthy smiles. With Dental Depot of DFW, exceptional orthodontic care can be accessible, affordable, and easy to manage for your entire family.

The Physiology of Braces: Understanding the Proces

Braces treatment is more than just straightening teeth—it’s a complex physiological process that carefully guides tooth movement through bone remodeling and alignment. This process is divided into five distinct phases, each building on the last to ensure lasting, healthy results. While each phase relies heavily on your body’s natural biology, your daily habits and consistency with instructions like wearing elastics or avoiding certain foods play a major role in how quickly and effectively treatment progresses. 

Because of the biological forces involved, professional oversight is essential to protect your oral health and achieve the best outcome, so it’s important to get an initial consultation from an experienced provider.

Initial Consultation

Your first consultation should be a relaxed, no-obligation meeting to determine if you are a good candidate for braces and establish a way ahead for treatment. During your initial consultation, your provider should:

  • Review your dental and medical history and discuss your smile goals and concerns.
  • Perform a thorough exam, including bite assessment and oral health evaluation.
  • Capture records using advanced digital tools (like photos, X‑rays, and intraoral scans) to develop your customized treatment plan

The most important part of your consultation is that you are comfortable with the treatment plan and have a clear understanding of how it will meet your lifestyle and orthodontic needs.

If you decide to move ahead with braces, your treatment will progress in 5 phases.

Phase 1: Force Application.

Phase 1 begins the movement process by applying controlled, sustained pressure to your teeth via the placement of braces. Braces consist of brackets that are bonded to each tooth, an archwire that is threaded through the brackets, and elastic bands or other components. The archwire exerts pressure on the teeth, creating tension that encourages them to move.

Here’s what happens during the force application phase of your braces treatment.

  • Brackets are adhered to each tooth with an archwire threaded through them.
  • The archwire is shaped to reflect the ideal alignment, so when it’s secured to your teeth, it wants to return to that shape, applying gentle force. (Your treatment may begin initially with lighter wires (nickel-titanium) to start the process gradually and reduce discomfort.)
  • This force begins shifting each tooth by compressing the periodontal ligament on one side and stretching it on the other, signaling your body to start remodeling bone.

During Phase 1, it’s important to be patient and follow care instructions. It’s normal to feel soreness or pressure for a few days after the braces are placed, but be sure to stick to soft foods, practice good oral hygiene, and avoid foods that could damage your braces.

Phase 2: Bone Remodeling

Braces trigger a natural biological process called bone remodeling, which allows teeth to gradually move through the jawbone, not the gums. During this phase, bone is broken down on one side of the tooth (resorbed) and rebuilt (reformed) on the other, creating space for the tooth to shift into its new position.

Here’s what happens during the bone remodeling phase of your braces treatment.

  • The force on your braces is gradually increased by changing out wires to thicker or stiffer ones or through the introduction of coil springs, rubber bands (elastics), or power chains to apply directional force or close gaps.
  • In response to this force, specialized cells begin breaking down bone on the pressure side of each tooth by (osteoclasts) and building new bone on the tension side (osteoblasts), allowing the teeth to shift slowly through the jawbone.
  • During this phase, your doctor will monitor tooth movement closely and adjust the treatment plan as required.

During Phase 2, it’s important for you to keep up with your appointments and your oral hygiene. Movement is guided through the adjustments your doctor makes, and missing appointments or poor brushing habits can delay progress or cause issues like decalcification or gum inflammation.

Phase 3: Periodontal Ligament (PDL) Response

Surrounding each tooth root is a soft tissue structure called the periodontal ligament (PDL). This network of fibers between your tooth and jawbone senses the pressure from the braces and communicates with the surrounding bone to signal where resorption and formation should occur. It also acts as a shock absorber during the movement process, stimulating safe, healthy movement without trauma.

Here’s what happens during the PDL response phase of your braces treatment.

  • Adjustment appointments are spaced out every 4-8 weeks to allow your PDL and surrounding bone time to respond and adapt.
  • The stretching and compression of the PDL controls tooth movement by sending signals to the bone and directing it where to resorb or rebuild.
  • Changes are made to adjust pressure based on how your teeth are reacting–too much too fast can damage the ligament or the root.

During Phase 3, it’s important to avoid applying unnecessary pressure to your mouth. Habits like chewing on pens, biting nails, or grinding your teeth can overstress the PDL and slow progress or cause root damage.

Phase 4: Gradual Realignment

As the bone continues to reshape and the teeth gradually shift, the overall bite begins to improve and issues like crowding or spacing are corrected. This phase focuses on fine-tuning the position of each tooth and aligning the jaws for a balanced, functional, and attractive smile.

Here’s what happens during the gradual realignment phase of your braces treatment.

  • Frequent, small adjustments are made to continue refining the alignment. 
  • As your teeth are shifted into their ideal position and bite alignment is being corrected, the jawbones and soft tissue are adapting to this new alignment.
  • Brackets may be repositioned or different appliances like elastics, springs, or expanders introduced to guide jaw and bite correction.
  • Your doctor will use detailed progress monitoring including scans, impressions, and photos to evaluate the final alignment.

During Phase 4, it’s important to wear any rubber bands or special appliances exactly as instructed. This is essentially a fine-tuning phase, and inconsistent wear can delay or undo progress, especially in regards to correcting bite or jaw alignment.

Phase 5: Retention

Once teeth are in their desired positions, the braces are removed and retainer is used to keep them in place, allowing time for the new bone structure and soft tissue to stabilize around each newly aligned tooth so your teeth don’t shift back.

Here’s what happens during the retention phase of your braces treatment.

  • Once alignment is complete, your braces or active appliances are removed.
  • Without the pressure from braces while your tooth roots and surrounding bone are stabilizing, there is a risk that your teeth will drift back (relapse) into their previous positions, so you will be fitted with a retainer (either fixed, removable, or both) to hold your teeth in place.
  • You’ll be scheduled for periodic follow-ups to check stability and ensure your teeth aren’t relapsing.

Wearing your retainer is crucial for Phase 5. The retainer keeps your hard-earned smile in place while your body finishes stabilizing the bone and tissues.

Discover a Beautiful Smile with Braces Treatment from Dental Depot of DFW

Braces treatment is a journey, and at Dental Depot of DFW, we’re with you every step of the way. Our experienced team combines advanced orthodontic technology with friendly, personalized care to guide you through every phase of the process, from your first consultation to your final smile reveal. With flexible scheduling options and multiple convenient locations, we make it easy to fit quality orthodontic care into your busy life.

Ready for a Straighter Smile?

If you’re ready to see the difference braces treatment can make in your life, schedule a no-obligation virtual consultation today and find out how we can get you on the path to a straighter, more confident smile.

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