WHAT ARE SELF-LIGATING METAL BRACES?

Self-ligating braces, also known as self-locking braces, are an improved version of traditional elastic-tied braces. They use a built-in sliding mechanism that works like a smart door, allowing the archwire to move freely within the bracket slot. This helps reduce friction, enabling teeth to move more smoothly and comfortably during the orthodontic process.
In addition, self-ligating brackets eliminate the risk of elastic ties coming loose, preventing interruptions during treatment. As a result, the orthodontic process can be faster and more efficient, delivering outstanding alignment results.

INDICATIONS FOR SELF-LIGATING BRACES

Self-ligating braces are suitable for most types of dental misalignment, including:
  • Crowded, overlapping, or misaligned teeth
  • Protruding teeth, buck teeth, or teeth that stick out
  • Underbite cases at various levels
  • Incorrect bite alignment or gaps between the upper and lower dental arches
In addition to their effectiveness, self-ligating braces also reduce the frequency of follow-up visits. Therefore, for busy individuals, this orthodontic method can be a convenient and efficient choice.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SELF-LIGATING METAL BRACES

Advantages:
Shorter treatment time
The automatic sliding mechanism allows the archwire to move freely within the bracket slot, creating stable and consistent force. In practice, this orthodontic method can shorten treatment time by approximately 4–6 months compared to traditional braces.
Fewer follow-up visits
Thanks to the flexible design, the archwire moves smoothly within the bracket slot, reducing friction and minimizing discomfort, providing a more comfortable experience during orthodontic treatment.
Suitable for most bite misalignment cases
With stable force and strong attachment to the tooth surface, the orthodontic process remains continuous and effective, helping correct various dental issues such as overbite, underbite, and crowded teeth, from simple to complex cases.
Disadvantages:
Although it overcomes many limitations of traditional elastic-tied braces, self-ligating metal braces still have some drawbacks:
Higher cost compared to traditional metal braces
Brackets are still visible, which may affect aesthetics

SHOULD YOU CHOOSE SELF-LIGATING METAL BRACES?

With all the advantages and disadvantages mentioned above, you probably already have the answer for yourself.
If you are someone who does not have much time to visit the dental clinic frequently, or you live far away from the clinic but still want an affordable orthodontic solution, self-ligating metal braces can be the most suitable choice. With this method, you typically only need to visit the clinic every 1–2 months for check-ups.
Effective treatment while still saving time!

COMPARISON BETWEEN SELF-LIGATING BRACES AND TRADITIONAL BRACES

Basically, traditional metal braces and self-ligating braces operate in a similar way. Both use orthodontic appliances such as brackets and archwires to apply force and gradually move teeth into the correct position according to the treatment plan. However, these two types of braces also have several differences.

Traditional Metal Braces

Operating mechanism:
This is one of the earliest orthodontic methods. Traditional metal braces require brackets and archwires combined with elastic ties to create the pulling force needed to move teeth.
Effectiveness:
This method provides high orthodontic effectiveness and can correct most dental issues such as protruding teeth, gaps, underbite, and crowded teeth at various levels.
Affordability:
Another advantage of traditional braces is their lower cost, making them suitable for many people’s budgets.
However, a limitation of traditional metal braces is the higher friction created between the elastic ties and brackets. As a result, patients may experience discomfort or soreness during treatment. In addition, elastic ties can loosen over time, requiring adjustments that may affect the overall treatment progress.

Self-Ligating Metal Braces

Operating mechanism:
Instead of elastic ties, self-ligating metal braces use a built-in sliding mechanism with a small opening-and-closing clip that allows the archwire to move freely within the bracket slot. This helps secure the archwire more effectively, reduce friction, and allow teeth to move more gently with less discomfort.
Effectiveness:
This orthodontic method overcomes many limitations of traditional braces such as irritation, bracket detachment, or loosened elastic ties. As a result, the orthodontic process becomes more stable and continuous, leading to better treatment outcomes. With self-ligating braces, patients also need fewer follow-up visits and may reduce the likelihood of tooth extraction during orthodontic treatment.
Affordability:
The main drawback of self-ligating braces is their higher cost compared to traditional metal braces.

DO SELF-LIGATING BRACES REQUIRE TOOTH EXTRACTION?

Many patients worry that orthodontic treatment requires tooth extraction. So, if you choose self-ligating braces, will tooth extraction be necessary?
According to dentists at QUINN Dental, whether teeth need to be extracted during orthodontic treatment depends on the patient’s dental condition as well as the treatment plan recommended by the dentist.
In general, dentists may recommend tooth extraction in the following cases:
  • Severely crowded or misaligned teeth, where extraction helps create space for teeth to move into the correct position on the dental arch.
  • Upper teeth that protrude significantly compared to the lower teeth. In this case, the dentist may extract certain teeth and use specialized orthodontic appliances to reduce protrusion and reposition the teeth properly.
  • Extraction may also be required when the dental arch is wider than the jawbone, or when the teeth are large and densely arranged.
  • Wisdom teeth (tooth number 8) growing at an angle and affecting the adjacent tooth (tooth number 7), causing misalignment of the dental arch. In such cases, dentists often recommend early removal.

HOW LONG DO SELF-LIGATING BRACES TAKE?

Typically, treatment with self-ligating braces lasts between 12–24 months, depending largely on the patient’s dental condition and oral care routine.
Compared to traditional metal braces, self-ligating braces can shorten treatment time by approximately 4–6 months.
Below are the main factors that influence orthodontic treatment duration:
Degree of dental misalignment:  
In cases of severe misalignment, dentists may need to perform additional procedures to adjust the teeth, which can extend the treatment time compared to mild bite misalignment.
Quality of orthodontic appliances:  
Using high-quality orthodontic appliances helps reduce issues such as bracket detachment or elastic breakage. This minimizes unnecessary clinic visits and ensures a more stable and continuous tooth movement.
Quality of the dental clinic:  
A reputable dental clinic with experienced dentists can develop an appropriate treatment plan, determine the precise bracket placement, and select suitable appliances for each stage of treatment. This helps teeth move more efficiently and improves overall results.
Oral care and hygiene:  
Proper oral hygiene helps prevent problems such as bracket detachment or tooth decay. If these issues occur, the orthodontic treatment time may be extended.

FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE TREATMENT TIME OF SELF-LIGATING METAL BRACES

The duration of orthodontic treatment can be longer or shorter depending on many objective and subjective factors. Below are the four main factors that have the greatest impact on the treatment time when using self-ligating metal braces:
  • Dental condition
  • Dentist’s expertise and experience
  • Oral care and hygiene routine
  • Regular follow-up and dental check-up habits

DENTAL CONDITION

The condition of the teeth is certainly the first factor to consider. In cases where teeth are severely misaligned or when bite problems are significant, the orthodontic treatment time will be much longer compared to cases with only mild misalignment.
In some situations, the dentist may recommend tooth extraction to improve the overall dental condition. The process of moving the teeth to fill the created space may require an additional 3–6 months to complete.

DENTIST’S EXPERTISE

The dentist’s expertise is a factor that many people often overlook when choosing a dental clinic for orthodontic treatment. In reality, the treatment duration and the appropriate orthodontic plan are determined and planned by the dentist.
A highly skilled and experienced dentist can develop the most accurate treatment plan, helping shorten the treatment time while still ensuring optimal results.
Therefore, when deciding to get braces, you should choose a reputable dental clinic and carefully research the dentist’s qualifications to achieve the best possible outcome.

DIET AND EATING HABITS

Your diet and daily oral care may seem like they do not significantly affect the duration of orthodontic treatment. However, consider the situation where careless eating causes a bracket to detach. If, for some reason, you cannot visit the dental clinic immediately to have it reattached, the overall treatment time may be extended.
In addition, consuming foods that are too hard or too chewy and applying excessive force while chewing can make it difficult for the brackets to keep your teeth in the correct position.
Therefore, do not underestimate the importance of maintaining proper eating habits during orthodontic treatment.

REGULAR FOLLOW-UP VISITS

Regular dental check-ups during orthodontic treatment allow the dentist to closely monitor the progress of your teeth and maintain your oral health. During these visits, the dentist will also replace different types of archwires at specific stages of treatment.
As the treatment progresses, the archwires typically become thicker to create stronger forces that guide the teeth into their correct positions. Therefore, it is important to attend follow-up appointments regularly and follow the schedule recommended by your dentist to achieve the best results in the shortest possible time.

STANDARD ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT PROCESS AT QUINN DENTAL

  • At QUINN Dental, when you request orthodontic treatment, the doctors will proceed with:
    + Clinical examination and detailed discussion of oral issues: crowded teeth, protruding teeth, and any dental problems such as cavities or broken teeth (if any)
    + Take 4 types of X-rays: Panorama, Cephalometric, Frontal, and Cone Beam CT to examine in detail the teeth and jawbone issues
    + Take dental impressions / Scan teeth
    + Capture intraoral and extraoral images to create a detailed treatment plan for the patient
    + Discuss with the patient their needs and desired improvements
After gathering all necessary records, the doctors measure X-rays, take dental models, and create a detailed orthodontic treatment plan for the patient.
They provide a thorough consultation regarding the condition, cost, and treatment duration.
At this step, the patient will choose the type of braces that best fits their preferences and budget.
  • The average time for bracket placement is about 60 minutes.
    After the brackets are placed, the dentist will also guide you on oral hygiene and care to ensure your teeth move according to the treatment plan.

For traditional metal braces, the follow-up visits to the dental clinic are typically once a month. During these visits, the dentist will tighten the braces and adjust the archwire to guide tooth movement. Regular check-ups are extremely important, so they should not be delayed.

Once the teeth have moved to the correct positions, the dentist will remove the braces and fit a retainer. Wearing the retainer is essential to prevent the teeth from shifting back to their original positions.

COST OF SELF-LIGATING METAL BRACES AT QUINN DENTAL

The cost of braces depends on several factors:
  •  The condition of the patient’s teeth
  •  The brand of brackets chosen by the patient. At QUINN Dental, only the 3M brand is used, a high-end bracket in the market
  •  Whether additional appliances are used: palatal expanders, mini screws, etc.
  •  Retainers after removing the braces
Considering all these factors, the cost of self-ligating metal braces at QUINN Dental ranges from 40 – 48 million VND.
Although the cost is higher than traditional metal braces, compared to other orthodontic methods such as lingual braces or Invisalign clear aligners, this solution is still highly appreciated for its reasonable price.
To know the exact cost for each individual case, please contact QUINN Dental via Hotline 0914.210.988