For orthodontic patients who choose to make fashion statements with their mouths, colors are heating up. From soft pastels that coordinate with a wardrobe to bright hues for celebrating holidays or expressing school spirit, the colors appear on the elastic ties that bind the wires to the brackets. These ties can be changed when the wires are changed.<\/p>\n
While colors for braces are fun, the fun serves a serious purpose, notes Dr. Blaine Langberg, a board certified orthodontist in Ridgefield and a member of the American Association of Orthodontists. Enthusiastic patients are more apt to follow instructions on oral hygiene and diet. Good cooperation can yield results that meet everyone\u2019s expectations. \u201cWhen patients are involved in their treatment, they may take better care of their braces. That helps patient and doctor to reach treatment goals and produce a healthy, beautiful smile,\u201d emphasizes Dr. Langberg.<\/p>\n
Patients have a splashy array of hues from which to choose.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cPatients won\u2019t take the time to choose special colors unless they intend to use them,\u201d Dr. Langberg says. \u201cWe make sure we have an ample supply of appropriate colors on hand for upcoming holidays and to correspond with school colors.”<\/p>\n
Dr. Langberg<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Patients can celebrate every time they smile, year-\u00adround: red and white for Valentine\u2019s Day; green for St. Patrick\u2019s Day; red, white and blue for July 4; orange and black for Halloween; green and red for Christmas, blue and white for Chanukah, or black, red and green for Kwanzaa.<\/p>\n
Adults, too, are known to choose different colors when they have their braces adjusted. For a sports fanatic, it\u2019s a unique way to express loyalty to college or pro teams.<\/p>\n
Some patients prefer to be less obvious about their orthodontic treatment. They have a variety of options including tooth-\u00adcolored brackets, self-\u00adligating brackets that do not require ties to join the wire to the bracket, braces that go behind the teeth, or clear removable trays. \u201cThanks to today\u2019s technology, the materials we orthodontists use to move teeth can range from obvious to almost imperceptible,\u201d notes Dr. Langberg.<\/p>\n