Types of Braces in Hershey, PA
Reviewed by Dr. Susan Korch, DMD, MS
Korch Orthodontics offers metal braces, ceramic braces and self-ligating braces, along with clear aligners. Metal is the most common and most versatile. Ceramic is tooth-colored and less visible. Self-ligating brackets hold the wire without elastic ties, which means fewer adjustments.
There is no single best type of braces. There is the type that suits your bite, your age, and how much you care about how treatment looks.
All of the options below move teeth using the same principle: gentle, continuous pressure applied in a planned sequence. What differs is the material, how the wire is held, and how visible the result is while you are wearing it.
Dr. Susan Korch will go through the choices with you at your free exam and tell you which ones would actually work for your case, rather than listing all of them and leaving you to guess.
Metal Braces
Ceramic Braces
Clear Aligners
How We Place Your Braces
Worth knowing, because it is not how most offices do it.
Rather than positioning each bracket by hand in your mouth, we plan every bracket position on a 3D scan of your teeth first, then place them together using a custom tray. It is called digital indirect bonding, and it means a much shorter appointment on the day your braces go on, with placement that follows the plan.
Braces or Clear Aligners?
Both work. The honest deciding factors:
Braces suit you better if:
- Your bite or alignment needs significant correction
- You are still growing
- You would rather not be responsible for taking something out and putting it back
- You want treatment that works continuously without your input
Clear aligners suit you better if:
- You want treatment that is close to invisible
- You can reliably wear them 20 to 22 hours a day
- You want to remove them for meals, brushing and occasions
- You prefer smooth plastic to brackets
Find Out Which Option Fits
At your free exam we examine your teeth, bite and facial balance, talk through your goals, compare the options side by side, and recommend one. You leave with a written plan and fee.
Korch Orthodontics · 357 West Governor Road, Hershey, PA 17033 · (717) 533-7400
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Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing the right orthodontic treatment is easier when you clearly understand your options. These FAQs address some of the most common questions about metal braces, ceramic braces, and clear aligners to help you make a confident, informed decision.
How long will I need to wear braces?
Most of our braces cases run between 18 and 24 months, though simpler corrections finish sooner and complex bites can take longer. We give you an expected range at your consultation based on your actual teeth rather than an average.
Will braces affect how I speak?
Braces rarely do. Aligners sometimes cause a slight lisp for the first few days while your tongue adjusts, and it passes. If you speak or sing professionally, mention it and we will factor it into the recommendation.
Do ceramic braces stain?
The brackets themselves resist staining well. The elastic ties around them can pick up color from coffee, tea, red wine and curry, which is one reason self-ligating brackets appeal to some adults. Ties are replaced at every adjustment either way.
Can I switch from braces to clear aligners partway through?
Sometimes, though it is uncommon. Once significant movement has happened with braces, finishing in aligners is occasionally possible. It depends on what is left to correct, and it is a conversation to have at a progress visit rather than a plan to make at the start.
Can braces improve jaw alignment or facial balance?
Certain bite corrections can, yes. Moving teeth changes how the jaws meet, and that can affect the balance of the lower face. How much depends entirely on what is being corrected, and it is something to discuss honestly at your exam rather than expect.
