Sapphire braces
Last reviewed: 28.03.2022
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To align the teeth and correct the bite, special orthodontic structures are used - plastic, ceramic, sapphire, metal braces. For the first time, sapphire braces appeared in the late 80s of the last century in the United States, they were developed in a division of Johnson & Johnson in the form of the Starfire System bracket system, which became a new trend in orthodontics. [1]
Sapphire and ceramic braces: the difference
Ceramic and sapphire braces are orthodontic constructions based on alumina ceramics obtained from aluminum oxide (alumina). [2]
Ceramic braces are made from polycrystalline alumina; they are matte - an opaque whitish hue (very similar to porcelain). Polycrystalline material for them is obtained by ceramic injection molding: aluminum oxide particles are mixed with binders and heated under pressure, the resulting viscous mixture is poured into molds and baked by heating to a homogeneous mass (without melting). [3]
The so-called sapphire brackets are made from single-crystal alumina - artificial sapphire glass, which is industrially produced from agglomerated alumina by high-temperature crystallization. The large, rod-shaped single crystal obtained by this method is milled using ultrasonic cutting or diamond tools.
What do sapphire braces look like? Unlike natural sapphire - jewelry blue corundum, "synthetic sapphire" is colorless, but also transparent. And sapphire orthodontic constructions are completely transparent and do not stand out against the background of the natural color of tooth enamel. [4]
Advantages and disadvantages of sapphire braces
These are braces of the vestibular type, that is, they are attached to the outer side of the teeth. In addition to a more elegant and aesthetic appearance, experts see the advantages of sapphire braces in that - compared to other designs - they are stronger and more securely fixed to the teeth, preventing damage to the enamel. At the same time, this design squeezes the teeth less than metal braces and is therefore more comfortable. [5]
What are the disadvantages of sapphire braces? If the color of tooth enamel is not perfectly white, then transparent orthodontic structures will contrast against the background of yellowness. Therefore, experts recommend in such cases to choose ceramics or metal braces.
In addition, sapphire braces will have to be worn longer than metal braces, because due to the insufficiently strong pressure of the arc on the jaw, the process of correcting teeth is longer.
Doctors do not use sapphire braces for complex cases of curvature of the dentition and malocclusion. They are mainly used to correct defects in the upper dentition. [6]
Sapphire braces: ligature and self-ligating
Sapphire brackets Inspire ice (Ormco, USA) – sapphire ligature brackets. Their orthodontic arch is inserted into the grooves of brackets glued to the surface of the teeth and fixed with a special element - a ligature, which is put on the wings of the bracket so that it securely holds the arch. Arcs are made of metal with shape memory; they can be gray and white Teflon coated.
Damon Clear sapphire brackets are self-ligating brackets in which the metal archwire retainer is replaced by a compact clamping device that looks like a cap. [7]