Why do braces have colors and how they work?

Orthodontic braces color, or braces just, are a type of fixed orthodontic appliances to treat misalignment and irregularities in teeth and jaws. Braces work by pulling teeth into the alignment that orthodontists have planned for to reach an esthetic position for teeth and get a perfect look. Ceramic braces and plastic braces are two types of braces once developed to fit the needs of those people who were looking for less visibilities of braces because of social views, the notion on how I should look or other personal preferences.

Then came another form of the orthodontic appliance but removable ones called clear aligners, which are shaped similar to mouthguards and are made of transparent plastic.

But the orthodontic industry hasn’t stopped there and provides the same metal braces with various color options for the components that could also be in plastic forms like ligatures and elastic bands. So, each set of braces regardless of color have metal brackets that are cemented on the teeth and the archwire, which connects the brackets together.

There are other parts of braces called ligatures and elastic bands. Ligatures and elastic bands can be made of plastics, so they come with different color options which bear the name ‘colored braces’.

Elastic ligatures (elastic O-rings):

Orthodontic elastic ligatures are tiny rubber bands that tie the brackets and the archwire together. They are commonly known as elastic O-rings and used to align the occlusal forces in the right direction. Ligatures can also be in steel forms or can be made self-ligating and therefore no colors could be used in these cases.

Chain:

Orthodontic chains (braces power chains) are connected elastic ligatures. Chain has the same function as elastic ligatures for holding the brackets and the archwire together.

Elastics (rubber bands):

Elastics are used as an effective method as intraoral connectors between the anchorage devices of lower or upper jaw or between brackets from lower to upper teeth.

Elastic bands are not used in every treatment with braces. They are mainly used to treat bite problems (e.g., crossbite), jaw deficiencies, and to guide growth modification among children and adolescents in orthodontic treatments. See the below video on how elastics work.