Tried & True

The most common type of braces at Stacy Wolf Orthodontics are metal braces.

These orthodontic workhorses have a long history of successfully straightening smiles at every age for patients all around Bayside, Flushing and our surrounding areas.

Bayside Braces

At Stacy Wolf Orthodontics, we’re proud to offer the latest braces technology to our patients of all ages in Bayside, Flushing and surrounding areas.

Braces are great at fixing complex tooth issues. They can work faster at closing gaps and aligning teeth than other treatments might.

This speed can potentially shorten your treatment time with Dr. Stacy Wolf.

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

Traditional metal braces are robust, durable and affordable, making them the top treatment for orthodontic patients in Bayside every year.

What Are Braces Made of?

Brackets

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

Brackets have little hooks or doors where Dr. Wolf will thread a wire. The bracket can then be secured by closing the door or by placing an elastic over the top of the wire.

Glue

This is what Dr. Wolf 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. Wolf will change the wire's shape and curvature to 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. Wolf 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. Wolf will determine if your treatment will benefit from orthodontic bands at your initial consultation.

Spacers

Dr. Wolf uses these tiny elastic “donuts” or rings to create space between your teeth when needed, typically before we place your bands. People also refer to them 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 Stacy Wolf Orthodontics, they come in dozens of colors.

Metal Braces FAQ