Types of Braces
Braces remain the most time-tested and clinically proven method in orthodontics — and for good reason. They work across a wider range of cases than any other treatment option, give the treating doctor precise control over tooth movement, and deliver results that hold. At Wire Orthodontics, every patient who starts in braces is treated by Dr. Wire from the first wire placement to the day they come off. The choice of which braces are right for you is one Dr. Wire makes with you, based on your specific case, your age, your lifestyle, and what you’re trying to achieve — not on what’s fastest or most convenient to provide.
We currently offer two types of braces. Both are placed and adjusted by Dr. Wire at every visit. Both are appropriate for a full range of cases, from routine alignment to complex treatment. The difference comes down to appearance.
Traditional Metal Braces
Traditional metal braces remain the most reliable and versatile orthodontic appliance available. The brackets and wires that make up a modern metal brace are considerably smaller and more comfortable than they were a generation ago, but the underlying mechanics are the same — consistent, controlled force applied over time to move teeth with precision.
Metal braces are well-suited for a wide range of cases, from straightforward alignment to complex bite correction and jaw surgery coordination. Because they are bonded directly to the teeth and adjusted by Dr. Wire at each visit, they give him precise control over tooth movement throughout the entire course of treatment. For patients with more involved cases, that level of control matters.
They are also the most durable option, which makes them a practical choice for younger patients and anyone whose lifestyle might not be well-suited to a removable appliance.
White Metal Esthetic Braces
For patients who want the reliability of traditional braces with a less visible profile, we offer white metal esthetic braces. The brackets are tooth-colored, which makes them significantly less noticeable than standard metal against the natural shade of your teeth, without compromising the clinical performance that makes braces effective in the first place.
White esthetic braces work the same way traditional metal braces do and are appropriate for the same range of cases. They’re a popular choice among adult patients and older teens who want effective, doctor-directed treatment without the look of conventional metal hardware. As with all braces at Wire Orthodontics, every adjustment is made by Dr. Wire, and your treatment progresses on a plan built specifically for your case.
Choosing the Right Braces for You
For most patients, the clinical difference between metal and white esthetic braces is minimal — both are equally effective, and both are managed the same way throughout treatment. The decision usually comes down to how much the appearance of your braces matters to you day to day.
If you’re a parent choosing for a younger child, traditional metal braces are often the more practical choice. They’re more resistant to staining, slightly more durable under the wear of an active lifestyle, and typically the option Dr. Wire recommends when longevity and simplicity are the priority. If you’re an adult or older teen and the visibility of your appliance is something you’d think about regularly, white aesthetic braces offer a meaningful difference in how you feel during treatment — and that’s worth factoring in.
What matters most is that the option you choose is the right fit for your case, your habits, and your expectations. Dr. Wire will walk through both options with you at your consultation and give you a straightforward recommendation based on what he sees in your records. There’s no pressure toward one or the other — just an honest conversation about what makes sense for you.
Braces for Kids
For younger patients, braces are often part of a broader treatment plan that begins earlier than most parents expect. Dr. Wire recommends that children have an orthodontic evaluation by age seven — not because treatment always starts that early, but because that’s when certain developmental patterns become visible and, when caught in time, can be addressed far more simply than they could be later.
When braces are recommended for a child, the goal is usually more than straightening teeth. Dr. Wire is looking at how the jaw is developing, how permanent teeth are coming in, and whether early intervention can prevent a more complex case down the road. In some situations, a phase of early treatment followed by braces later in adolescence produces a result that simply wouldn’t be achievable with braces alone.
At Wire Orthodontics, younger patients see the same doctor at every visit — not a different associate each time. Dr. Wire gets to know each child as a patient, monitors their progress personally, and makes adjustments based on how their specific case is developing. For kids who may be nervous about orthodontic treatment, that consistency makes a real difference.
Braces for Teens
Adolescence is the most common time for orthodontic treatment, and braces remain the most effective way to address the full range of cases that present during these years — from routine crowding and spacing to more involved bite correction that takes advantage of a still-developing jaw.
Teens at Wire Orthodontics are treated as capable of understanding their own treatment. Dr. Wire takes the time to explain what’s happening, why certain adjustments are being made, and what to expect as treatment progresses. That transparency tends to produce better compliance — and better results. Patients who understand their treatment are more invested in it.
For teens who are self-conscious about the look of traditional metal braces, white aesthetic braces are available and work identically. For teens whose cases are appropriate for clear aligners, that option is also on the table. Dr. Wire will recommend whatever is genuinely best suited to the case — not whatever is easiest to sell.
Braces for Adults
Adult orthodontic treatment is more common than it has ever been, and Wire Orthodontics sees a meaningful and growing number of adult patients — many of whom either didn’t have orthodontic treatment as children or whose teeth have shifted over time. There is no age at which braces stop being effective. What changes is the clinical approach and, sometimes, the timeline.
Adult cases occasionally involve more complexity than adolescent treatment — teeth that have been in place for decades, prior dental work that needs to be accounted for, or bite issues that have developed gradually and gone unaddressed. Dr. Wire has the clinical background to manage that complexity, including coordination with oral surgeons when jaw surgery is part of the picture. Adult patients are not an afterthought here; they’re a meaningful part of the practice.
For adults considering braces, the consultation is the right place to start. Dr. Wire will review your records, give you an honest assessment of what treatment would involve, and walk through your options — braces, clear aligners, or a combination — so you can make the decision that’s right for your life.
