Anyone willing to have braces or had braces earlier must have heard of power chains for braces. A power chain is an orthodontic chain used to apply additional force on teeth.
Braces are dental tools to help correct the improper shape of teeth. It applies pressure to the teeth so that they adjust to their right places. Small brackets are cemented on teeth when you get braces, and a wire runs through the brackets to secure back teeth.
Braces also help in the prevention of gum disease, tooth decay, and jaw problems.
There are varieties of braces available in the market. But the common element for all different types of braces is power chains. Power chains add more pressure and force to move teeth in the right direction and thus helps in getting great results in a short period.
What are power chain braces?
A power chain or orthodontic chain is a tiny elastic band made of a material known as ligatures.
(the elastic holding the archwire to the individual brackets) used for applying pressure on teeth altogether with brackets.
It is made up of many connected elastic rings, which gives it a chain-like appearance. Chain braces help in giving great results in a short period.
What do power chains do?
Chain braces are used for closing the space between teeth; it applies a higher amount of force than the brackets and archwire do alone and thus speeds up the treatment time.
The accuracy of power chains depends upon the type of teeth. Following are some teeth on which the power chains work with higher accuracy:
- Misalignments
- Malocclusions
- Crooked teeth
Read more- Complete Guide On Different Types Of Braces
Types of power chain for braces
In the market, three kinds of power chains are available for braces:
Closed
As the name suggests, a closed power chain provides no space between the consecutive rings of the power chain. Every ring is directly linked with the subsequent ring in the chain. Closed power chains connect every bracket in the whole mouth.
Short
In a short power chain, the chain has multiple short-distance spaces. It connects each bracket.
Long
The power chains are separated long-distance and connected to every third bracket. This type of power chain is expensive as compared to other types.
Power chain colors
Along with choosing the type of power chain, you can also choose the color of the power chain.
There are many color options available to choose from. You can choose any color which suits your face or matches your choice better.
A few of the colors available in power chains are:
- Aqua
- Babyblue
- Black
- Clear
- Dusty Rose
- Emerald
- Glow
- Gold
- Green
- Grey
- Kelly green
- Natural
- Navy
- Orange
- Pink
- Powder pink
- Purple
- Raspberry
- Red
- Silver
- Teal
- Transgray
- Turquoise
- White
- Yellow
As, sometimes, due to intake of oily food and or chemical substances, the power chain might stain or change its color. Thus it is very important to choose the proper color.
Silver or smoke-colored are more preferred as compared to other colors since they’re better stain-resistant.
Taking care of power chains
It is very important to take care of chain braces to avoid power chain pain.
Here are some good ways mentioned which you can follow to avoid power chain pain:
Brush after meal
Food might get collected around the brackets of braces or power chains and lead to plaque formation. It is recommended to brush or rinse your teeth after every meal.
Floss
If brushing the teeth does not help remove the stuck food, then floss can be a better alternative.
Floss helps in cleaning the teeth and removes the food stuck between brackets of braces.
Rinsing
After brushing and flossing, rinse your mouth with a mouthwash or mineral water.
Mouthwash and mineral water remove dirt and excess toothpaste left in teeth.
Check the braces
Carefully examine braces and power chains after brushing and flossing.
Check if any bracket or power chain has got damaged. If yes, then immediately get it changed with the new brackets and power chain.
Avoid certain types of food
Some types of food can damage the braces or orthodontic chain and can lead to power chain pain.
Foods to avoid after getting braces are:
- Sticky foods: these types of food are stuck in the brackets and power chain and damage the braces and teeth.
- Hard food: apples, corn, etc. This type of food breaks the braces and orthodontic chain.
- Food with high sugar content: sugary food creates plaque between the teeth which eventually damages the teeth.
Things to do if the braces power chain breaks
The power chain does not break easily, but it might break in case of carelessness. Generally eating hard food and not maintaining the proper hygiene of the mouth may lead to damaged power chains.
In case of any damage in the power chain, it is recommended to visit the orthodontist as any break in the power chain can make the braces less effective. And might slow down the overall process.
Get it replaced by an orthodontist and follow the aftercare process properly.
Read more- Teeth Cleaning- Process And Importance
Risks and side effects of orthodontic chain
The risk factors of the power chain are the same as the risk factor of braces. They can include:
Gum diseases
The stuck food can be trapped in and around the braces. When it does not get removed by brushing and flossing, it creates plaque, and the plaque causes irritation and inflammation in gums, which might lead to several other gum diseases like Tartar.
Tooth decay
High amounts of plaque can cause tooth decay. This can include the earliest stage of tooth decay, which is known as de-mineralization or cavity formation.
Short tooth roots
Braces might cause the teeth roots to become shorter as these braces and power chains may cause the movement in the root to force the teeth to go to their right place.
Lost correction
When you get a power chain, it becomes compulsory to wear a retainer after removing braces because the power chain helps to align teeth and jaw, else the rearranged teeth might again lose their correctness.
Read more- Ever Heard About Tooth Piercing?
Takeaway
Power chains are mostly used for closing the gaps between teeth and aligning teeth to the jaw. With each appointment, the power chains are replaced with new ones to avoid any pain and discomfort.
Power chains are used in many orthodontic processes and play an important role in various treatments. Power chains are recommended to increase the accuracy of braces and speed up the overall process.
Following the aftercare process properly plays an important role in preventing the pain and the disease caused by these power chains. Regular oral hygiene is a must after getting power chain braces.
