Ligature Braces

The all-inclusive cost for one year includes diagnostics, manufacturing and installation of the system, impressions, scheduled visits throughout the year, activation and replacement of ligatures, maintenance, and retainers.

Full Range of Services for Ligature Braces

• Orthodontist consultation
• Retainers
• Diagnostics (taking impressions, creating and calculating models)
• Installment plans for ligature braces (monthly for both dental arches)
• Full treatment with braces (diagnostics, manufacturing, installation, scheduled visits, archwire replacements, removal, retainers)

A ligature orthodontic system consists of the following elements:

• Archwire — a steel wire that is tensioned as required; during treatment, the wire returns to its original position, correcting dental misalignments.
• Brackets — ceramic or metal plates (brackets) fixed on the visible surface of the teeth. The brackets have slots for the orthodontic archwire and ligature wings for securing the ligatures.
• Ligatures — elastic or wire connections secured to the ligature wings of the brackets, firmly holding the wire in place. Each bracket requires a separate ligature. In the initial stages of treatment, elastic ligatures are often used, while rigid wire ligatures are used in later stages. They come in transparent, white, and colored options, depending on the patient’s preferences.

Metal Braces

The brackets in metal brace systems are made of stainless steel or titanium.

These systems are the best in terms of cost-effectiveness, offering high durability, the ability to correct any bite issues, and affordability compared to other materials.

The only drawback is their low aesthetic appeal.

Aesthetic Braces

Often perceived more as dental adornments than orthodontic devices, these braces use aesthetic materials, transparent or white ligatures, and steel archwires coated with white Teflon.

Aesthetic ligature braces are divided into two types based on bracket material:

• Ceramic — made from polycrystalline ceramic and easily matched to the color of tooth enamel.
• Sapphire — made from synthetic sapphires, which sparkle like stylish dental jewelry due to light refraction.

Sapphire and ceramic braces are less effective than metal ones and are not suitable for all clinical cases.

Combined Braces

Made from various materials: ceramic or sapphire for the upper front teeth and metal for the less visible areas.

These are installed only on the outer surface of the teeth.

Ligature systems are exclusively vestibular, fixed on the outer side of the dental arch.

Lingual braces do not use ligatures but have self-ligating locks.

Advantages

• Correct complex bite defects.
• 2–3 times cheaper than self-ligating systems.
• Compact in the mouth.

Disadvantages

• Require frequent adjustments (ligatures often break or come loose, necessitating replacements).
• Ligatures need to be replaced every month (self-ligating braces require adjustments every two months).
• Ligatures can easily stain from food and are noticeable when smiling.
• Installation takes longer — about 3 hours.
• Longer adaptation period.

Self-ligating braces differ from ligature systems in their bracket design.

They have locks with caps (clips) that snap shut and tension the orthodontic archwire without ligatures. This type of fixation gives self-ligating systems their name.

Self-ligating braces apply force to the archwire in two ways:

• Active — the lock tightly presses the wire into the bracket slot, limiting wire movement and increasing pressure on the teeth.
• Passive — the lock does not press the wire, allowing it to move freely in the slot.

The type of system is selected by the orthodontist based on the treatment phase and the bite pathology.

• Which braces are better: ligature or self-ligating?

  Self-ligating systems are more aesthetic and comfortable for the patient, easier to clean, and allow faster treatment with fewer scheduled visits to the

  clinic. In terms of effectiveness, ligature and self-ligating braces are roughly equal.

  On the other hand, self-ligating systems are significantly more expensive than ligature ones, which is why some patients prefer the latter.

• Which manufacturer's brace system is best?

  Traditionally, the best braces on the market are manufactured in the USA and Germany. Leading American brands include systems from Ormco, American Orthodontics, 3M, and Ortho Technology, all of which have been producing orthodontic products for 30 to 60 years. Among German brands, GAC Dentsply Sirona is well-known.

  We recommend choosing products from reputable brands. However, finding a skilled orthodontist who can select a system tailored to your clinical situation is even more important.