Traditionally, crooked teeth have been treated with metal braces. This treatment involves the use of metal brackets and wires to realign your teeth. The brackets are bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth and remain in place for the duration of your treatment. A wire spans each arch of teeth, attached to each bracket with an elastic O-ring. While still popular today, and a very effective treatment, the visibility of metal braces makes them aesthetically undesirable. Metal braces can also cause some discomfort as the brackets can rub your intraoral tissues. Moreover, if the wires break, they can poke sensitive tissues, leading to painful sores.