Skip to primary navigation Skip to primary sidebar Skip to footer Important information about our office procedures during COVID-19 Virginia Family Dentistry VA Family Dentistry A Team Approach to Dental Care New Patients Locations Our Dentists Services Information Online Bill Pay Search this website About Braces What are braces? Traditional braces are a system of fixed wires and brackets that orthodontists use to correct bite. Appointments are scheduled regularly to change the wire and move teeth under the supervision of an orthodontist. An alternative to fixed metal brackets offered at Virginia Family Dentistry is Invisalign. What does the process of getting braces look like? Virginia Family Dentistry Orthodontist Dr. Melanie Spears and her team walk views through the process of getting braces on in the video below. How do braces straighten teeth? Braces use constant, gentle pressure, which over time, move teeth into their proper positions. Your braces are at work every moment of your orthodontic treatment. The two main components of your braces are: the brackets that are placed on your teeth and the main archwire that connects them. The bracket is a piece of shaped metal or ceramic that we affix to each tooth. The archwire is bent to reflect your “ideal” bite. In other words, it reflects the way we want you to look after treatment. The wire threads through the brackets and, as the wire returns to its original shape, it applies pressure to move your teeth. Picture your tooth resting in your jawbone. With pressure on one side from the archwire, the bone on the other side remodels. The tooth moves in that direction, and new bone grows in behind. In order to help fix your bite elastics may be worn. Elastics (rubber bands) exert the proper force that creates the right amount of pressure to move teeth. In order for this force to remain constant, elastics must be worn as directed and changed every day. What are the types of braces? The two types of braces offered at Virginia Family Dentistry are traditional metal braces and clear plastic aligners. Primary Sidebar Orthodontic Links Orthodontic New Patients Braces Invisalign Invisalign Teen SmileUp Clear Aligners Retainers Home Care Orthodontic Locations Reference Videos Orthodontics Brochure Orthodontics New Patient Form Meet Our Orthodontists Orthodontists are dental specialists who diagnose, prevent and treat dental and facial irregularities to correctly align teeth and jaws. Orthodontists complete 2-3 additional years of education and training after graduating dental school. Virginia Family Dentistry has 5 orthodontists within the practice. Dwight V. Buelow DDS, MS, Orthodontist Richard M. Marcus DDS, MS, Orthodontist Allison S. Purcell DDS, Orthodontist Melanie Spears DDS, MS, Orthodontist Taylor B. Varner DDS, MS, Orthodontist Orthodontic Locations Atlee-Ashland Brandermill Chester Huguenot Ironbridge Mechanicsville Midlothian Powhatan Short Pump Tri-Cities Virginia Family Dentistry is proud to be an Invisalign Top 1 Percent Provider About Virginia Family Dentistry With 15 locations in Central Virginia, Virginia Family Dentistry offers general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, and dental implant placement services. Our multi-specialty approach is unique to dental care. Virginia Family Dentistry aims to provide lifelong patients with the most comprehensive dental care possible – all in one practice. Find a location near you Footer Search this website Recent Posts December 2021 Computer Screen Background November 2021 Computer Screen Background October 2021 Computer Screen Background New Patients Office Locations Our Dentists Services About Us Online Bill Pay Privacy Policy Office Policy Accessibility Emergency Treatment Careers Contact Us Metro Richmond Va Areas We Serve Amelia | Ashland | Atlee | Bon Air | Charles City | Chester | Chesterfield | Colonial Heights | Flat Rock | Glen Allen | Hanover | Henrico | Hopewell | Mechanicsville | Midlothian | Moseley | New Kent | North Chesterfield | Petersburg | Powhatan | Prince George | Providence Forge | Quinton | Richmond | Sandston |Short Pump | West End Copyright © 2021 Virginia Family Dentistry, PC. All rights reserved. Return to top