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Dental Braces Center - Worcester, MA

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Worcester, Massachusetts

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Braces and Retainers

What Types of Braces Are Available?

If braces are indeed the solution for you, your orthodontist will prescribe an appliance specific for your needs. The braces may consist of bands, wires, and other fixed or removable corrective appliances.

Generally, there are three types of braces:

  • Brackets: Made of stainless steel or clear or tooth-colored ceramic or plastic, brackets are bonded to the front of each tooth. Ceramic or plastic brackets are often selected for cosmetic reasons. Plastic brackets, however, may become stained and discolored by the end of treatment. Another disadvantage of ceramic or plastic brackets is that they cause more friction between the wire and brackets, which can increase treatment time.
  • Lingual-type brackets: These are brackets that attach to the back of teeth, hiding the bracket from view.
  • Traditional bands: These are the generally outdated "full metal-mouth" look, which consists of the use of metal brackets soldered to metal bands that wrap around each tooth.

Newer "mini-braces," which are much smaller than traditional braces, may be an option for some. Your orthodontist will discuss the various types of available braces with you and determine which might be the best option for you.

How Do Braces Work?

In their entirety, braces work by applying continuous pressure over a period of time to slowly move teeth in a specific direction. As the teeth move, the bony tooth socket reabsorbs and changes shape as pressure is applied.

Braces are made up of the following components:

  • Brackets are the small squares that are bonded directly to each tooth with a special dental bonding agent or are attached to orthodontic bands. Brackets act like handles, holding the arch wires that...

Recommended Reading Related to Braces and Retainers

Toothache »

What is a toothache?

"Toothache" usually refers to pain around the teeth or jaws primarily as a result of a dental condition. In most instances, toothaches are caused by tooth problems, such as a dental cavity, a cracked tooth, an exposed tooth root, or gum disease. However, disorders of the jaw joint (temporo-mandibular joint) can also cause pain that is referred to as "toothache." The severity of a toothache can range from chronic and mild to sharp and excruciating. The pain may be aggravated by chewing or by cold or heat. A thorough oral examination, which includes dental X-rays, can help determine whether the toothache is coming from a tooth or jaw problem and the cause.

Sometimes, a toothache may be caused by a problem not originating from a tooth or the jaw. Pain around the teeth and the jaws can be symptoms of diseases of the heart (such as angina or heart attack), ears (such as inner or external ear infections), and sinuses (air passages of the cheekb...

Emergency Contact for Worcester

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Worcester Hospitals *

St Vincent Hospital at Worcester Medical Center
123 Summer St
Worcester, MA 01608
(508)363-5000

UMass Memorial Medical Center Memorial Campus
119 Belmont St
Worcester, MA 01605
(508)334-1000

Adcare Hospital of Worcester
107 Lincoln St
Worcester, MA 01605
(508)799-9000

Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital
189 May St
Worcester, MA 01602
(508)791-6351

Worcester State Hospital
305 Bellmont St
Worcester, MA 01604
(508)368-3300

UMass Memorial Medical Center University Campus
55 Lake Ave N
Worcester, MA 01655
(508)334-1000

Westborough State Hospital
288 Lyman St
Westborough, MA 01581
(508)616-2100

Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Westborough
150 Flanders Rd
Westborough, MA 01581
(508)870-2222

UMass Memorial Clinton Hospital
201 Highland St
Clinton, MA 01510
(978)368-3000

UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital
157 Union St
Marlborough, MA 01752
(508)481-5000

Hubbard Regional Hospital
340 Thompson Rd
Webster, MA 01570
(508)943-2600

Milford Regional Medical Center
14 Prospect St
Milford, MA 01757
(508)473-1190

Harrington Memorial Hospital
100 South St
Southbridge, MA 01550
(508)765-9771

Eleanor Slater Hospital Zambarano Unit
2090 Wallum Lake Rd
Pascoag, RI 02859
(401)567-5400

HealthAlliance Hospital Leominster Campus
60 Hospital Rd
Leominster, MA 01453
(978)466-2000

MetroWest Medical Center Framingham Union Hospital
115 Lincoln St
Framingham, MA 01702
(508)383-1000

Baystate Mary Lane Hospital
85 South St
Ware, MA 01082
(413)967-6211

Health Alliance Burbank Hospital
275 Nichols Rd
Fitchburg, MA 01420
(978)343-5000

Landmark Medical Center
115 Cass Ave
Woonsocket, RI 02895
(401)769-4100

Kindred Specialty Hospital Natick
67 Union St
Natick, MA 01760
(508)650-7630

MetroWest Medical Center Leonard Morse Hospital
67 Union St
Natick, MA 01760
(508)650-7000

Heywood Hospital
242 Green St
Gardner, MA 01440
(978)632-3420

Nashoba Valley Medical Center
200 Groton Rd
Ayer, MA 01432
(978)784-9000

Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island
116 Eddie Dowling Hwy
North Smithfield, RI 02896
(401)766-0800

Day Kimball Hospital
320 Pomfret St
Putnam, CT 06260
(860)928-6541

Emerson Hospital
133 ORNAC
Concord, MA 01742
(978)369-1400

Wing Memorial Hospital & Medical Center
40 Wright St
Palmer, MA 01069
(413)283-7651

Newton Wellesley Hospital
2014 Washington St
Newton, MA 02462
(617)243-6000

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham
148 Chestnut St
Needham, MA 02492
(781)453-3000

Westwood Lodge Hospital
45 Clapboardtree St
Westwood, MA 02090
(781)762-7764

Athol Memorial Hospital
2033 Main St
Athol, MA 01331
(978)249-3511

Caritas Norwood Hospital
800 Washington St
Norwood, MA 02062
(781)769-4000

Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital
200 Springs Rd
Bedford, MA 01730
(781)687-2000

VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury Campus
1400 VFW Pkwy
West Roxbury, MA 02132
(617)323-7700

McLean Hospital
115 Mill St
Belmont, MA 02478
(617)855-2000

Arbour-Fuller Hospital
200 May St
South Attleboro, MA 02703
(508)761-8500

Our Lady of Fatima Hospital
200 High Service Ave
North Providence, RI 02904
(401)456-3000

Bournewood Hospital
300 South St
Brookline, MA 02467
(617)469-0300

Lahey Clinic Medical Center
41 Mall Rd
Burlington, MA 01805
(781)744-5100

Caritas St Elizabeth's Medical Center
736 Cambridge St
Brighton, MA 02135
(617)789-3000

Franciscan Hospital for Children
30 Warren St
Boston, MA 02135
(617)254-3800

Kindred Hospital Boston
1515 Commonwealth Ave
Brighton, MA 02135
(617)254-1100

Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged
1200 Centre St
Roslindale, MA 02131
(617)325-8000

Faulkner Hospital
1153 Centre St
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617)983-7000

Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island
111 Brewster St
Pawtucket, RI 02860
(401)729-2000

Sturdy Memorial Hospital
211 Park St
Attleboro, MA 02703
(508)222-5200

Mount Auburn Hospital
330 Mt Auburn St
Cambridge, MA 02238
(617)492-3500

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