Damon braces v Ceramic braces

Smythe

According to an orthodontist I was in contact with, Damon braces does not only straighten the teeth but also widen the upper arch. Apparently this improves the smile.

Does anyone know to what extent is this true? Do they really widen the upper arch? More so than ceramic braces?

Would Damon braces potentially give a better result than ceramic braces which do not widen the upper arch?

Thanks for any info!

kkth0360

Damon braces do not produce better results than other braces. This has been the subject of a huge amount of research in recent years, and no evidence has been found to suggest that Damon (or any other self-ligating appliance system) offers any advantage over ceramic or conventional appliances. In fact, some clinicians experience problems obtaining as high quality a finish as they would like when using Damon braces, and several orthodontists I know have stopped using the system for this reason.

Arch widening can be beneficial in some cases, particularly where there are wide "buccal corridors", which tend to make the smile look narrow. This widening can be achieved with any appliance system - braces don't expand arches, orthodontists expand arches!

It is important to note that overexpansion, or expansion of an arch that is not narrow to begin with, can be potentially harmful to the supporting tissues of the teeth, and also tends to be very unstable.

In orthodontics, as with any other clinical specialty, careful diagnosis and treatment planning with clearly defined clinical goals based on sound biologic principles is essential to a successful treatment outcome. Once this plan is in place, the choice of appliance used to achieve these objectives is far less important than the marketing companies would like you to believe!

Smythe

Thanks very much for the clarification kkth0360

day dreamer

Would agree entirely with kkth.

It is not the type of brace that is important, despite the marketing from Damon, but the orthodontist doing the treatment. any appliance can expand or indeed contract depending on how it is used.