Orthodontic appliances are an indispensable part of the orthodontic system. They consist of various devices that help adjust tooth positions, control jawbone development, and support the effective bracing process. Depending on each case, the dentist will prescribe suitable appliances for the dental treatment plan.
What are Orthodontic Appliances?
Orthodontic appliances are a collection of components within the orthodontic system, used to create forces that move teeth or control jawbone development. Depending on the degree of misalignment, age, and treatment goals, the dentist will select appropriate dental appliance sets, ensuring effectiveness and safety throughout the bracing process.
Appliances do not work in isolation. They are always part of a personalized dental treatment plan. Orthodontists use these appliances to align individual teeth, correct bites, and maintain stable results after treatment.
What Are the Popular Types of Orthodontic Appliances Today?
When embarking on orthodontic treatment, one of the crucial factors affecting treatment effectiveness is choosing the right orthodontic appliance. Each type of appliance has distinct characteristics, uses, and costs. Understanding the different types of appliances helps you actively cooperate with your orthodontist and optimize the final results.
Brackets – The Foundation of Fixed Orthodontic Systems
Brackets are the most common type of orthodontic appliance today, directly bonded to the tooth surface to hold the archwire. There are three main types:
- Metal Brackets: A traditional choice, highly durable, and cost-effective. However, they have low aesthetic appeal.
- Ceramic Brackets: Have a color similar to natural teeth, suitable for those who prioritize aesthetics. However, they are prone to breaking if not handled carefully.
- Self-ligating Brackets: Reduce friction with the archwire, helping to shorten treatment time, suitable for complex dental treatment plans.
Orthodontic Archwire – The Agent Creating Tooth-Moving Force
The archwire is the component connecting the brackets, playing a role in transmitting force to move teeth. Archwires are typically made from Nickel Titanium alloy, helping to maintain stable force. Some advanced archwires also have shape memory capabilities, enhancing the effectiveness of tooth alignment over a long period.
Additionally, intermaxillary elastics, power chains, and separators are often used in conjunction with archwires to assist in tooth movement or to create space between teeth.
Removable Appliances – Flexible and Easy to Use
Those who require minor intervention or are in the post-bracing retention phase can use removable appliances. These are easy to take out and put back in, without affecting eating or oral hygiene. Some common forms include:
- Retainers: Keep teeth in their correct position after braces are removed.
- Tongue trainers or space maintainers: Used in pediatric orthodontics to prevent tongue thrusting or to hold space for teeth to erupt correctly.
Clear Aligners (Invisalign) – A Modern Solution
Invisalign is an advanced appliance system that does not use brackets or archwires, but instead uses clear aligners. These aligners are custom-designed according to the orthodontic treatment plan. Users can remove them for eating or brushing, ensuring hygiene and aesthetics.
The cost for Invisalign is higher than traditional methods, but it is suitable for individuals who have jobs requiring frequent communication or wish to maintain their personal image during orthodontic treatment.
Mini Screws (Mini Vis) – Appliances for Enhanced Tooth Traction
Orthodontic mini screws are small metal appliances inserted into the jawbone to provide anchorage during orthodontic treatment. Thanks to this stable anchor point, dentists can control the pulling force more effectively, adjust hard-to-move teeth, or assist in complex bite corrections.
Mini screws are often used in cases of buck teeth (protrusion), underbites (prognathism), or mispositioned teeth that cannot be corrected with archwires alone.
Other Supporting Appliances in Each Stage of Orthodontic Treatment
In addition to the main appliances, dentists also use several supporting appliances during various stages of orthodontic treatment, such as:
- Palatal expanders: Used to widen the upper arch, often applied to children or individuals with narrow jaws.
- Retraction appliances for anterior teeth: Adjust front teeth to move backward.
- Upper/lower jaw adjustment appliances: Help balance the bite.
Each appliance is part of a dental appliance set designed according to the individual’s dental treatment plan. Depending on the degree of misalignment and treatment goals, the dentist will choose the appropriate device.
How Do Fixed and Removable Appliances Differ?
In orthodontic treatment, choosing the right appliance plays a pivotal role in achieving high treatment effectiveness. The two main groups of appliances commonly used are fixed and removable appliances. Understanding the differences between them helps both the patient and the orthodontist select the correct type, thereby optimizing the dental treatment plan and minimizing errors during implementation.
Overview Comparison Table of Two Types of Orthodontic Appliances
| Criteria | Fixed Appliances | Removable Appliances |
| Force Control | High | Moderate |
| Aesthetics | Moderate to high (depending on bracket type) | High (clear Invisalign) |
| Ease of Cleaning | Difficult | Easy |
| Suitable for severe cases | Yes | Limited |
| User compliance dependent | Low | High |
| Cost | Moderate – High | High |
Fixed Appliances: Always Bonded to Teeth
Fixed appliances are a group of devices directly bonded to the teeth and cannot be removed at home by the user. This type includes metal brackets, ceramic brackets, self-ligating brackets, orthodontic archwires, intermaxillary elastics, and orthodontic mini screws. The orthodontist will perform the bonding, adjust forces, and monitor progress periodically throughout the treatment process.
The advantage of fixed appliances is their precise control over tooth movement. They generate stable forces, helping to correct malocclusions, misaligned teeth, protrusion (buck teeth), and prognathism (underbites) in severe or complex cases. Furthermore, fixed appliances are compatible with modern orthodontic systems, ensuring reliability in long-term orthodontic treatment plans.
However, the disadvantage lies in more difficult oral hygiene. Users need to clean thoroughly with specialized toothbrushes, water flossers, and avoid foods that can easily get stuck in the brackets. Caring for teeth with fixed appliances requires patience and carefulness to avoid impacting the treatment progress.
Removable Appliances: Flexible, Easy to Use
Removable appliances can be easily taken out when necessary, such as for eating, brushing teeth, or vigorous physical activity. Some typical types include Invisalign aligners, post-braces retainers, palatal expanders, or temporary partial dentures in pediatric treatment.
A prominent advantage of removable appliances is their convenience. Users can remove them when not needed, making oral hygiene and appliance cleaning easy. This is a suitable choice for busy individuals, those who communicate frequently, or those who prioritize high aesthetics. Especially with technology like Invisalign, teeth are adjusted using nearly invisible clear aligners, helping users feel confident when using them for work or daily interactions.
However, the disadvantage lies in their dependence on user compliance. If not worn for the required duration (an average of 20–22 hours per day), treatment effectiveness will be significantly reduced. Furthermore, removable appliances are only effective for mild to moderate misalignments and cannot replace fixed appliances in treating severe bite problems or significant tooth crowding.
Do Orthodontic Appliances Affect the Treatment Process?
Orthodontic appliances are important supportive devices for orthodontics. They are divided into two main groups: fixed appliances such as metal brackets, alloy archwires, intermaxillary elastics, mini screws; and removable appliances such as clear aligners (Invisalign), retainers, and palatal expanders. Each type of appliance has its own function in generating force, holding teeth, correcting bites, or expanding the dental arch.
These appliances are core components of the orthodontic treatment plan. If appliances are not suitable for the specific tooth-jaw structure or misalignment, the treatment process may be prolonged or may not achieve optimal results.
Direct Impact on Treatment Duration and Effectiveness
An effective dental treatment plan requires that the chosen appliances be compatible in terms of rigidity, force generation capability, application area, and aesthetics. For example:
- Metal brackets generate strong forces, helping to shorten treatment time, but are less aesthetic compared to ceramic brackets or clear aligners.
- Orthodontic mini screws play a role in increasing tooth traction in complex cases, thereby significantly improving the precision of tooth movement.
- Orthodontic archwires made of Nickel Titanium alloy have high elasticity, helping to maintain stable force and reduce the number of follow-up visits.
Impact on the Experience and Sensation during Orthodontic Treatment
Wearing appliances for 1-3 years requires them to be durable, easy to clean, and minimize discomfort. Bulky appliances can cause gum irritation, hinder eating or speaking, especially in young children or individuals with high communication needs.
Poor Quality Appliances Can Interrupt the Treatment Process
An appliance that breaks, shifts, or detaches during use can not only cause pain but also disrupt the entire orthodontic system. The patient will have to visit the clinic earlier than planned, leading to additional costs and prolonged treatment time. That is why it is essential to use quality dental appliances from reputable sources, prescribed by the dentist for each stage.
Appliance Selection is an Essential and Unskippable Step
Each stage of the orthodontic process requires a suitable set of appliances. The dentist will change or adjust the supportive orthodontic devices to match the current tooth movement. Therefore, skipping proper treatment or self-adjusting teeth with non-specialized appliances is not only ineffective but can also harm the jawbone structure and bite.
How Much Do Orthodontic Appliances Cost?
The price of popular orthodontic appliances ranges from 1,500,000 to 120,000,000 Vietnamese Dong, depending on the type of appliance, orthodontic method, and oral condition. Those researching should have clear information to plan their finances appropriately before starting orthodontic treatment.
In an orthodontic system, appliances are an indispensable part, from brackets, archwires, mini screws, to palatal expanders or intermaxillary elastics. Below are the reference prices for each type:
| Type of Orthodontic Appliance | Price Range (VND) | Notes |
| Metal Brackets | 15,000,000 – 25,000,000 | Includes basic appliances |
| Ceramic Brackets | 25,000,000 – 35,000,000 | More aesthetic, higher price |
| Self-ligating Brackets | 30,000,000 – 45,000,000 | Reduces friction, shortens time |
| Invisalign Aligners | 60,000,000 – 120,000,000 | Braceless, easily removable type of orthodontics |
| Orthodontic Mini Screws | 1,500,000 – 3,000,000 / piece | Increases traction in complex positions |
| Palatal Expander | 2,000,000 – 4,000,000 | Applied to children or those with narrow jaws |
| Post-orthodontic Retainer | 1,000,000 – 3,000,000 | Mandatory after braces are removed |
| Intermaxillary Elastics, Archwire | Usually included in total orthodontic cost |
Notes on Using and Caring for Orthodontic Appliances
Below is a clear guide to help you effectively care for your orthodontic appliances, minimize risks, and support the orthodontic system in maximizing its effectiveness:
Brush your teeth at least 2-3 times daily, especially after meals. Use a specialized toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head to clean each area around the brackets, archwire, and intermaxillary elastics. A regular toothbrush cannot completely clean areas covered by appliances, so you should supplement with interdental brushes for deep cleaning between brackets and the orthodontic archwire.
Archwires and brackets can make flossing difficult. Choose a dental floss with a stiff end (floss threader) or use a water flosser to reach deep into the spaces between teeth and below the gumline. This tool helps clean plaque around the appliances and reduces gum inflammation and cavities during fixed orthodontic treatment.
You should avoid foods that are too hard (hard candy, ice), too chewy (gummy candies, rice paper), or too sticky (caramel, sticky rice cakes). These foods can cause brackets to detach, archwires to bend, or intermaxillary elastics to fall off.
Attending follow-up appointments as scheduled is a mandatory requirement during treatment. During each visit, the dentist will adjust the pulling force, change archwires, replace elastics, and check the stability of the supportive orthodontic devices.
For appliances like retainers or Invisalign, store them in a specialized case when not in use. Do not expose appliances to high temperatures (near stoves, direct sunlight), as heat can warp or deform materials like clear plastic.
Avoid biting your nails, chewing on pen caps, or gnawing on hard objects. These seemingly harmless actions can misalign the archwire, break power chains, or damage the gums around the appliances.
If you are a student, worker, or frequently play sports, proactively ask your dentist to design a specialized protective appliance set. This will allow you to continue your normal activities without affecting your current orthodontic appliances.
