Metal Braces - Tilghman Orthodontics

Trusted Treatment

The most common form of treatment in Salisbury and Berlin is braces—and for most patients, that means the familiar silver brackets and wires of traditional metal braces.

Salisbury & Berlin Braces

Braces are a time-tested solution that remains the most popular treatment at Tilghman Orthodontics. Modern braces are lighter and more comfortable, offering one of the most durable, reliable, and cost-effective treatments.

Made from high-grade stainless steel, braces use metal brackets and a thin, springy archwire to straighten the teeth. We can customize your braces with colored elastic ties, helping you express your unique style!

What Are Braces Made of?

Brackets

Dr. Tilghman uses durable brackets made from stainless steel, nickel, and other metals with little hooks or doors where we thread a wire.

Your Salisbury and Berlin braces experts secure your wire by closing the door or placing an elastic over the top of the wire.

Elastics

If we need to correct your bite, elastics are essential. We normally string elastics between an upper and lower bracket hook.

This pressure pulls your upper jaw backward to correct an overbite or the lower jaw back to correct an underbite. At Tilghman Orthodontics, we use rubber bands for many different situations, especially when we want to put extra pressure on the teeth or jaws.

Orthodontic Bands

We cement these stainless steel rings to your teeth using dental bonding agents. These bands anchor your braces and orthodontic appliances, but we don’t use them for everyone.

Bonding Material

This is how your orthodontist Dr. Tilghman attaches the brackets to your teeth.

Spacers

Dr. Tilghman 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.”

Wire

This thin piece of metal runs from one bracket to another. Your orthodontist shapes and curves the wire so your teeth move in the right direction.

Elastic Ties/O-Rings/Ligatures/Colors

We use these tiny rubber rings or bands to attach the archwire to the brackets. Elastics are less rigid than spacers, and you can get them in dozens of colors.

Metal Braces FAQ

How do braces work?

Before applying the brackets, Dr. Tilghman and the team at Tilghman Orthodontics will collect photos and X-rays of your mouth. Sometimes we’ll use our iTero Element scanner to scan each of your teeth and the layout of your gums and mouth.

If necessary, this process takes 10-15 minutes and provides a highly accurate 3D view of your mouth.

After the X-Ray and optional scan, your orthodontist will use this information to create your customized treatment plan. This will include how each tooth needs to be moved to get it in the best possible position.

Dr. Tilghman will decide how to place the brackets based on this information. For example, if you have some teeth that need to tilt, we place those brackets differently compared to the brackets for teeth that need to be turned.

Once we attach your brackets, your orthodontist will insert the wire. Bends in the wire will provide different types of pressure on different teeth. Most orthodontists create precise movements using this bend in the wire.

What can I expect from today’s metal braces?

Sleeker brackets and lighter wires improve the appearance and feel of these braces. This means you’ll have less irritation in your mouth.

Traditional metal braces at Tilghman Orthodontics also come with a fun new twist without any extra cost—you can customize them with pops of color. The elastics that fit around your brackets come in various colors, letting you showcase your personality.

Pick your favorite color combination, the colors of your favorite sports team, or your school colors! We also offer silver, gray, white, black, and tooth-colored elastics for patients seeking a more subtle look.

How long will I be in braces?

This is what everyone around Salisbury and Berlin wants to know, but there is no concrete answer. Every mouth is unique, and every patient responds to treatment differently. Treatment time with metal braces at Tilghman Orthodontics will vary every time.

The average time spent in metal braces is around 18 to 22 months, but it could be shorter or longer, depending on the individual and the treatment plan designed by Dr. Tilghman.

We have some patients at Tilghman Orthodontics in braces for as few as six months, but it can take over three years to complete the process for complex issues.

With metal braces from Tilghman Orthodontics, you'll see signs of improvement quickly, giving you confidence throughout the treatment process.