Orthodontic Appliances and Esthetics

Facial attractiveness plays a key role in orthodontic treatment. The esthetics of a patient may be hindered by wearing of orthodontic appliances. Recently, the orthodontic market has experienced phenomenal growth in the development and production of orthodontic appliances that are designed to appeal to the patient consumer. Traditionally, the options for bracket style or appliance design were considerably limited for both the patient and provider. However, a shifting paradigm toward dental esthetics, increased demand for orthodontic treatment, consumer driven desire of esthetic treatment alternatives, and a competitive orthodontic industry and profession have all contributed to the development and production of alternative orthodontic appliances and new bracket styles. Orthodontic patients and practitioners are now presented with a variety of treatment options previously unavailable. Just as each orthodontic appliance is unique in its esthetic qualities, each also has biomechanical benefits and potential limitations. For a practitioner providing bracket options for patients, selecting which bracket to offer becomes a function of both esthetics and functionality, the one will be esthetically acceptable to the patient and clinically efficient for the doctor. Though many studies have sought to compare and quantify the clinical efficiency of bracket systems, few studies have investigated the patient perception of appliance esthetics. This review discusses various aspects of orthodontic appliances relating to the esthetics of an individual.