If you’re exploring braces in Fredericksburg, VA, you may have come across terms like custom braces, digital braces, or digitally planned treatment. They sound promising—but what do they actually mean?
Both traditional and custom braces use brackets and wires to move teeth. The difference is how the bracket prescription and placement are planned for your smile.
At Beecroft Orthodontics in Fredericksburg, we offer KLOwen custom braces for adults and teens. Here’s how this approach compares with traditional braces and what it could mean for your treatment.
Aren’t all braces treatments personalized?
Yes. Traditional braces treatment is still personalized by your orthodontist. Your doctor evaluates your teeth, bite, and goals, then makes decisions about bracket placement, wires, and adjustments throughout treatment.
Custom braces add another layer of personalization to the appliance itself.
With KLOwen, a digital treatment setup helps guide the selection and planned position of the brackets for each tooth. Custom placement trays then help transfer those positions to your teeth when your braces go on. klowenortho.com
The distinction isn’t whether your orthodontist cares for you individually. It’s how digital planning and a customized bracket prescription support that care.
How do KLOwen custom braces work?
KLOwen brings several steps together before your braces are placed:
A 3D scan captures your teeth and bite. This creates a digital model for treatment planning.
Dr. Beecroft reviews your digital setup. Working with KLOwen’s digital lab, he reviews and approves the plan.
Brackets are selected for each tooth. The bracket prescription and placement reflect the approved setup.
Custom 3D-printed trays help position your brackets. These trays hold the brackets in their planned locations during placement.
The clear trays are temporary placement tools—not clear aligners you wear throughout treatment. Also, with KLOwen, the placement trays are 3D printed, rather than the brackets themselves. klowenortho.com
Can custom braces shorten treatment time?
Custom braces can make treatment more efficient, but they don’t guarantee a particular finish date.
KLOwen reports 31% shorter treatment time and 35% fewer appointments compared with non-custom braces. Its system is designed to reduce the need for bracket repositioning and wire adjustments through customized planning. These are manufacturer-reported figures, and individual results vary. klowenortho.com
Your treatment time still depends on what needs to be corrected. Straightening mildly crowded front teeth is different from correcting a more involved bite problem.
As general guidance, the American Association of Orthodontists says many people wear braces for approximately 12–24 months, although treatment can be shorter or longer. That range is not a specific estimate for KLOwen treatment or for your smile. aaoinfo.org
At your consultation, we’ll explain your recommended treatment and estimated timeline.
Will I need fewer adjustment appointments?
At Beecroft Orthodontics, we typically schedule KLOwen adjustment appointments every 10 weeks, compared with our usual 8-week schedule.
More time between appointments can make treatment easier to fit around school, work, and family commitments. Your orthodontist may change that schedule depending on your treatment needs and progress. beecroftortho.com
Custom braces still require ongoing care. Keep your scheduled visits, follow the instructions your team provides, and contact the office if something breaks or feels wrong between appointments.
Are custom braces better than traditional braces?
The best braces are the ones that fit your treatment needs.
Traditional braces remain an established treatment option. Custom braces offer a different planning and placement approach that may improve efficiency for suitable patients. Neither the technology’s name nor a shorter advertised timeline should replace an individual evaluation.
When comparing your options, ask:
What makes this treatment appropriate for my teeth and bite?
What is my estimated treatment time?
How often will I need appointments?
What will treatment cost, and what is included?
What will I need to do to keep treatment progressing?
Understanding those answers is more useful than choosing a system based on one feature alone.
Do custom braces cost more?
There isn’t a universal price difference between custom and traditional braces. Your fee depends on your treatment needs and the plan recommended for you.
At your free consultation, our team can explain your treatment fee, payment options, and how any applicable orthodontic insurance benefits may affect your out-of-pocket cost.
You’ll have an opportunity to ask questions before deciding how to move forward.
Explore Custom Braces in Fredericksburg, VA
You don’t need to arrive knowing which type of braces you want. That’s what your consultation is for.
At Beecroft Orthodontics, we’ll evaluate your teeth and bite, talk about your goals, and explain whether KLOwen custom braces are an appropriate option. If they are, we can take your digital scan the same day as your consultation, so you won’t need a separate scanning appointment to begin planning. beecroftortho.com
Visit our Fredericksburg office at 11113 Leavells Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22407.
Learn more about KLOwen custom braces or schedule your free consultation.
Treatment times, appointment schedules, and results vary by patient. Percentage comparisons are reported by KLOwen and do not guarantee individual results.
