If you are weighing metal braces, you probably want specifics, and not just all hype. You want to know how they work, what life looks like day to day.
Dr. Hecht and the Montana Smiles Orthodontics team treat neighbors from the West End to the Heights, so we see what works for real people who live busy lives around Rimrock Mall, MetraPark events, and weekends at ZooMontana.
First, What Are Traditional Metal Braces?
Traditional braces use small metal brackets on teeth, a flexible archwire, and tiny elastics or clips to hold the wire. The wire applies gentle, steady forces that move teeth into better positions. Modern brackets are smaller and smoother than the versions you might remember from middle school. Many patients feel surprised by how streamlined today’s braces look.
Unlike removable aligners, braces stay on your teeth. That matters for complex tooth movements and for anyone who prefers a set-it-and-forget-it approach. Dr. Hecht plans each step in detail, bends and adjusts wires by hand, and uses the system’s strengths to correct crowding, spacing, deep bites, open bites, and crossbites with precision.
What Is Life Like With Metal Braces?
Life with braces is active and manageable. Patients in Billings fit treatment into school, sports, work, and weekends on the Rims without turning their routines upside down.
Appointments and time
Most visits take about 20 to 30 minutes. You come in every 6 to 10 weeks for wire changes or adjustments. Many families plan afternoon visits around school pickup or practices at Amend Park. Total treatment time varies with complexity, often 12 to 24 months.
Comfort
Mild soreness shows up after placement and some adjustments. It usually fades in a day or two. Orthodontic wax helps with any rubbing spots. Over-the-counter pain relievers, taken as directed, can ease tenderness the first evening.
Eating
Skip sticky, extra-chewy, and tough foods. Enjoy burgers from your favorite downtown spot, pasta, eggs, soups, ripe fruits, cooked veggies, and most dairy. Cut crunchy items like apples into bite-sized pieces. Hydration helps, especially at elevation on summer hikes.
Oral hygiene
Brush after meals, angle the bristles above and below the wire, and clean along the gumline. Floss nightly with a threader or orthodontic flosser. A small interdental brush makes quick work of tight spaces. A water flosser adds another layer of cleaning, which helps prevent stains.
Sports and music
Mouthguards protect your smile during games at Dehler Park or practice at the Yellowstone Fitness fields. Woodwinds and brass players usually adapt after a short learning curve. Our team shares player-tested tips during your visit.
Breaks and repairs
If a bracket loosens or a wire pokes, call us. We guide you on a quick fix or get you in fast. Most minor issues resolve easily.
Top 7 Benefits Of Getting Metal Braces
Metal braces deliver practical gains you notice early. Knowing the benefits and what to expect can help you with your decision to get braces.
Power and Control
Braces allow Dr. Hecht to apply forces in multiple directions. That level of control matters for rotations, bite corrections, and root positioning that set you up for long-term stability.
Efficiency For Complex Cases
Many difficult movements finish faster with braces. Think severe crowding, impacted teeth, crossbites that need expansion, or bites that require elastics and specialized wires.
Consistency Without Compliance Stress
Braces do the work around the clock. You never lose them in a backpack at Skyview High or forget them on a cafeteria tray. If you have this consistency, it will protect your timeline.
Durability For Montana Living
Whether you are lifting at the YMCA, hiking the Rimrocks, or chasing kids around Pioneer Park, braces keep working. They hold up to active lifestyles.
Cost Predictability
Braces often deliver a very predictable total cost. Fewer replacement parts and no lost aligners help keep budgets steady for many families.
Broad Candidate Range
Braces treat a wider range of ages and dental situations. Primary teeth, adult teeth, previous dental work, or unique tooth shapes do not rule you out.
Customization
Modern systems allow personalized wire sequences and tie-ins. Dr. Hecht adjusts your braces as your teeth respond, aligning the plan with your bite and goals.
Who Are Metal Braces Best For?
Metal braces fit a broad group, from middle schoolers gearing up for sports seasons to adults who want dependable progress while juggling work near Shiloh Crossing.
- Patients With Complex Bites: Deep bites, open bites, significant crossbites, or severe crowding.
- Patients Who Prefer Not To Track Aligners: If you know you will set aligners on the lunch tray at MSU Billings, braces remove that stress.
- Young Patients Still Building Habits: Braces deliver reliable wear time without constant reminders.
- Adults Who Want Maximum Control: Braces can combine with elastics, power chains, and auxiliaries for efficient correction.
- Patients With Eruption Or Space Issues: Braces pair well with techniques to guide incoming teeth.
During your consult at Montana Smiles Orthodontics, Dr. Hecht evaluates tooth position, gum health, jaw relationships, airway considerations, and your lifestyle. Together, you choose the path that fits both biology and everyday life in Billings.
When Metal Braces May Be More Effective Than Invisalign
Aligners work very well for many people. Some situations, however, lean toward braces for speed, control, or predictability. Here are typical examples we see in our Billings practice with orthodontic treatment.
Severe Rotations Or Tipping
Cylindrical teeth, like canines, can resist rotation with aligners. Braces hold each tooth in place with brackets, allowing precise control over movement, rotation, and torque.
Significant Bite Corrections
Deep bites and open bites often correct more efficiently with braces, especially when elastics or bite-opening mechanics are needed over many months.
Impacted Or Partially Erupted Teeth
When a tooth sits high in the gum or never fully erupts, braces provide an anchor to guide it into place with controlled force.
Arch Expansion Or Crossbite Involving Many Teeth
Some crossbites respond better to wire-activated expansion and braces-based auxiliaries.
Root Positioning For Long-Term Stability
Aligners move crowns well. Certain cases require more root torque to establish a stable foundation for the result. Braces shine here.
Compliance Concerns
If wear time drops below recommendations, aligners slow down. Braces keep working during classes at Senior High, shifts on the West End, and busy weekends.
Previous Dental Work Or Tooth Shape Challenges
Restorations or very short clinical crowns can reduce aligner grip. Brackets attach in ways that preserve control without relying solely on tray retention.
What This Means For You
You deserve a plan that matches the way you live. Some patients choose braces for speed on a complex case. Others choose aligners because they value discretion and can wear trays 20 to 22 hours daily. Many choose braces to avoid the hassle of tracking, cleaning, and replacing aligners throughout a full school year of activities.
You will see clear side-by-side options at our office. Dr. Hecht explains the expected timeline, the number of visits, and the tradeoffs for your exact bite. You will leave knowing why your plan works, not just what it includes.
How We Personalize Braces In Billings
Personalization matters. Here is how our team adapts braces to you.
- Thoughtful Wire Sequencing: We start with gentle wires for comfort, then progress to stiffer wires as alignment improves.
- Bite-Focused Mechanics: Elastics and specialty bends address bite relationships without guesswork.
- Lifestyle Support: Travel kits for students, mouthguard guidance for athletes, and appointment spacing that fits your schedule.
- Cleanliness Coaching: Brushing demos, flossing tools that actually work, and quick checks so you avoid stains.
- Transparent Costs: Clear fees and timelines so families can plan.
Schedule Your Metal Braces Consult With Dr. Hecht
Meet with Dr. Hecht at Montana Smiles Orthodontics for a clear, personalized plan. Get a digital scan, timeline, and cost so you can start your journey with us. Call our Billings office to set up your appointment.