Metal Braces Ann Arbor MI - Embrace Orthodontics

Trusted and Reliable

Traditional braces, also known as metal braces, have been around for a long time. They’re probably the most recognizable symbol of orthodontics in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area.

These orthodontic workhouses have a long history of successful treatment and are great at correcting many oral issues. At Embrace Orthodontics, metal braces continue to be the top orthodontic treatment for patients of all ages!

Oh hey! Welcome to our site! We heard you wanted to fix your smile, and we might just have the answer. If you ask us, there's a case for traditional braces for everyone who wishes to have straight teeth and a healthy smile. As the best provider of traditional braces in Ann Arbor, our team is thrilled to offer you amazing and affordable solutions.

We hope we've piqued your interest, so let's go ahead and figure out a bit more about what makes traditional braces such a great fit for many of our patients.

How do Traditional Braces Work?

It's very simple; braces guide your teeth into a different position by simultaneously pulling and pushing each piece over a period of time. The archwire, a stainless steel piece that connects all your brackets, guides the movement and forces your teeth and jaws into the right position. To move your teeth, we will require making adjustments to the archwire during your appointments every 4-8 weeks.

The team at Embrace Orthodontics will carefully analyze your situation and determine a safe-to-follow treatment plan that goes in line with your objectives and budget. We won't force your teeth into sudden and dangerous movements because we want to ensure your teeth remain healthy and become even healthier throughout your treatment.

How Much Do Traditional Braces Cost?

Ann Arbor traditional braces are not as expensive as you might fear. Prices for your comprehensive orthodontic treatment with metal braces may be anywhere from $5,000 to $7,000. Still, the final cost of treatment will vary depending on many factors. Make sure you find an orthodontist with a team that's willing to discuss everything you require instead of just someone who promises too much and underperforms.

We'll go over your medical history, take additional advanced imagery, and create models that allow us to determine what you'll need, and then we'll work with you to achieve your goals.

Don't worry; we want to make sure all our patients get a chance at their dreamed smile. You know our motto: here to make you smile.

You won't have to pay all that money upfront. Instead, we can work on the basis of affordable monthly payment plans that help families achieve their desired smiles. We also work with all PPO insurances, including:

Aetna,
Blue Cross Blue Shield,
Cigna,
Delta Dental,
GEHA,
Guardian,
Lincoln Financial,
Metlife,
Principal,
Prudential,
Sunlife,
Tricare,
United Concordia,
United Healthcare.

Take advantage of our FREE Initial Consultation to ask all your questions and review what options suit you best. Besides, you can give us all of your insurance company info then, and we'll verify your orthodontic benefits before you commit to a treatment plan.

Here at Embrace Orthodontics, our aim is not to make your treatment cheaper and ineffective; rather, we want your treatment to be affordable and efficient.

Are Braces Worth it for Adults?

We're so glad you asked about that. Yes, braces are extremely useful for adults hoping to get healthy and straight teeth. The truth is there's no age limit for the wonderful Ann Arbor traditional braces. Sure, orthodontics may be easier for teenagers, but adults who wear braces save money on their dental care in the long run when compared to others who never start their treatment.

If there's one thing we should warn our adult patients is that they must ensure their teeth are healthy before they start their treatment. Many adults here in the US have to deal with one form of gum disease. The problem with gum disease is that all the tissues that support your teeth are weak and may not resist the movement proposed by an orthodontist. That's why we emphasize oral care so much.

Adult patients in Ann Arbor can trust Dr. Li to check their oral health status to develop the best treatment plan they can get.

What Are Metal Braces Made of?

Brackets

The brackets Dr. Li uses are durable and made from a mix of stainless steel, nickel, and other metals.

Brackets have little wings or hooks where Dr. Li will thread a wire. The bracket can then be secured by placing an elastic ring, the "colors", over the wire.

Glue

This is what Dr. Li will use to attach the brackets to your teeth. It’s common to attach the bracket directly to the tooth with glue.

Wire

This thin piece of metal runs from one bracket to another. Dr. Li uses different wires of different shapes (round or square or rectangular in cross-section), sizes (from thin to thick) and material composition (memory NiTi, beta Titanium or Stainless Steel) to gradually move your teeth in the right direction.

The wire will attach all of your bottom or upper teeth together in many cases. We might occasionally cut the wire if connecting just a few teeth is better for your treatment plan.

Elastics

If Dr. Li determines that you need bite correction, elastics are essential. They’re generally strung between an upper bracket hook and a lower bracket hook.

This will pull the upper jaw backward to correct an overbite, or the lower jaw back to correct an underbite.

We may use rubber bands for many different situations, especially when we want to put extra pressure on the teeth or jaws.

Orthodontic Bands

These are stainless steel rings that are cemented to your teeth using dental bonding agents. These bands can provide an anchor for your braces and orthodontic appliances, but they’re not used for everyone. Dr. Li will determine if your treatment will benefit from orthodontic bands at your initial consultation.

Spacers

These small elastic “donuts” or rings can be used by Dr. Li to create space in between your teeth when needed, typically before bands are placed. They’re also referred to as separators.

Elastic Ties/O-Rings/Ligatures/Colors

These tiny rubber rings or bands are used to attach the archwire to the brackets. They’re less rigid than spacers, and at Embrace Orthodontics, they come in dozens of colors.

Want to learn more?

Check out the Parts of Braces section.

Not sure about what treatment is right for you? We always offer free consultations, so get started for free and find out if treatment is right for you. Be sure to follow our social pages for office updates and giveaways.

Request Your Free Consultation for Ann Arbor Traditional Braces

So, the time to decide is here.

Our team is thrilled to have you come to our office and begin your treatment. Helping patients improve their lives one smile at a time is rewarding, and we love what we do. You can trust that traditional braces in Ann Arbor can get the job done when it comes to well-aligned and healthy smiles.

You'll also count on a team that's here for you when you need us most. We'll work closely with you to avoid any situations that delay your treatment and correct any problems that appear during your orthodontic care.

Check out more of our website to learn everything you can achieve with proper professional and certified orthodontic care.

FAQs

How do braces work?

Before applying the brackets, Dr. Li and the team at Embrace Orthodontics will collect photos and X-rays of your mouth.

We’ll use our iTero Element scanner to scan each of your teeth and the layout of your gums and mouth. This process takes 10-15 minutes and provides an extremely accurate 3D view of your mouth.

Dr. Li will decide how to place the brackets based on this information. For example, if you have some teeth that need to be tilted, the placement of those brackets will be different than the placement of brackets for teeth that need to be turned.

Once the brackets have been attached, Dr. Li will insert the wire. Bends in the wire will provide different types of pressure on different teeth. A bend in the wire is how most orthodontists cause specific and precise movements.

What can I expect from today’s metal braces?

Thanks to modern orthodontics, metal braces are stepping away from their reputation as awkward and obvious. At Embrace Orthodontics, we’re proud to offer the latest braces technology to our patients of all ages in Ann Arbor and surrounding areas!

You’ll benefit from versions that are smaller, less conspicuous, and more comfortable than ever before. Sleeker brackets and lighter wires improve the appearance and feel of these braces. This means you’ll have less irritation in your mouth.

Braces are great at fixing complex tooth issues for patients of all ages in Ann Arbor and surrounding communities. They can work faster at closing gaps and aligning teeth than other treatments might. This can potentially shorten your treatment time.

Metal braces are a cost-effective option because they don’t require some of the more complex technology or expensive equipment that newer treatments do.

The strength, durability, and affordability of traditional metal braces keep them the top treatment for orthodontic patients, year after year!

Traditional metal braces also come with a fun new twist without any extra cost - you can customize them with pops of color. The elastics that Dr. Li will fit around your brackets come in a wide variety of colors that let you showcase your personality.

Pick your favorite color combination, the colors of your favorite sports team, even your school colors! We also offer silver, gray, white, black, and tooth-colored elastics for patients seeking a more subtle look.

How long will I be in braces?

This is what everyone wants to know, but it’s one we don’t have a concrete answer for. No two patients will respond to treatment in the same way. Treatment time with metal braces will be different every time.

The average time spent in metal braces is around 18 to 22 months but could be shorter or longer, depending on the individual treatment plan from Dr. Li.

At Embrace Orthodontics, we have patients in braces for as little as six months. But for more complex issues, it can take over three years to complete the process.

With metal braces treatment with Dr. Li and the team at Embrace Orthodontics, you can see signs of improvement quickly, which gives you confidence during the treatment process.

Patient Testimonials

We pride ourselves on creating healthy, beautiful smiles in our “embracing” atmosphere. Don’t just take our word for it; check out what our patients have to say.