KLOwen braces are a fully custom braces system. Instead of standard off-the-shelf brackets, each bracket and wire is designed digitally from a precise scan of your teeth, so the plan for how each tooth should move is built in from the first day.
Guidry & Horaist Orthodontics offers KLOwen custom digital braces at our Lafayette and Crowley offices alongside metal braces, clear ceramic braces, self-ligating brackets and Invisalign. Patients and parents often hear the name for the first time at a consult and want to know what is actually different. This guide walks through how the system works, who it tends to suit and what to ask before choosing it.
What Are KLOwen Custom Digital Braces?
A custom bracket for every tooth
Traditional braces use the same bracket design on every patient’s tooth. KLOwen takes the opposite approach. Using digital technology, the brackets and wires are designed specifically for your unique smile, shaped to fit the exact form and anatomy of each tooth.
Still braces at heart
KLOwen braces are still brackets bonded to the teeth and connected by a wire. Teeth move the same basic way they do with any braces: steady, gentle pressure over time. What changes is how much of the planning happens before the brackets are ever placed.
How Is KLOwen Different From Traditional Braces?
Planning up front instead of along the way
With conventional brackets, the orthodontist places a standard bracket and then fine-tunes results by adjusting the wire across many visits. With KLOwen, the information from a digital scan is used to design brackets that carry your individual prescription. The plan is dialed in from day one rather than figured out over time.
Why that matters for patients
When the custom prescription is built into the brackets, Dr. Guidry and Dr. Horaist have close control over how each tooth moves. That control is the reason the practice describes KLOwen as a more efficient, more predictable path to a finished smile.
How Does the Digital Process Work?
It starts with a scan, not putty
The process begins with a scan from our iTero intraoral scanner. A small handheld wand captures 3D images of your teeth in minutes, so there is no tray of goopy impression material. You can read more about the scanner and our 3D X-rays on our orthodontic technology page.
From scan to custom brackets
The scan data is used to design brackets built for your exact tooth shape. Those custom brackets and wires are then bonded much like any other braces. From digital impressions to bracket design, the whole workflow is digital.
What Are the Benefits of KLOwen Braces?
The practical advantages
The benefits our doctors point to most often are:
- Fewer appointments. Because the braces are customized from the start, fewer adjustments are typically needed along the way, which means less time in the chair and fewer trips to the office.
- A truly custom fit. Every bracket is designed for you, which supports comfort and precise tooth movement.
- More predictable outcomes. The custom prescription gives your orthodontist detailed control over tooth movement.
- A modern experience. Each step, from scan to bracket design, uses a digital workflow.
Fewer visits for busy families
For a parent juggling school pickups or an adult with a demanding work schedule, fewer adjustment visits can make a real difference over the length of treatment. Your exact visit schedule still depends on your case, and our team will explain it at your consult.
How Does KLOwen Compare With Other Types of Braces?
A side-by-side look
Every option we offer can produce an excellent result. The right choice depends on your bite, your goals and how you want treatment to fit your life. Our types of braces page covers each one in more detail.
| Option | How it looks | What stands out |
|---|---|---|
| Metal braces | Low-profile metal brackets with colored ties | Proven for even complex cases; dozens of tie colors to choose from |
| Clear ceramic braces | Tooth-colored brackets that blend in | Discreet and hard to see in photos; need a bit more care |
| Self-ligating brackets | Brackets with a sliding door instead of elastic ties | Adjustment visits tend to be shorter and less frequent |
| KLOwen custom digital braces | Brackets custom designed for each tooth | Prescription built in from day one; fewer adjustments expected |
| Invisalign | Removable clear aligners | Nearly invisible; removed to eat and drink |
When metal or ceramic may be the better fit
Some patients prefer the familiar approach of metal braces, especially if they love picking tie colors. Others want the subtle look of clear ceramic. KLOwen is one option on the menu, not the right answer for everyone.
Who Is a Good Candidate for KLOwen Braces?
Teens and adults who want precision
The practice describes KLOwen as a great option for teens and adults looking for a high-precision alternative to conventional braces. Teens with full schedules often appreciate fewer appointments, and adults tend to value a plan that is mapped out from the beginning.
The exam decides
Whether KLOwen suits you depends on your bite, the alignment of your teeth and your goals. Dr. Guidry or Dr. Horaist will review your scan, photos and X-rays and talk through which systems make sense for your case.
What Is Daily Life Like With KLOwen Braces?
Eating and cleaning
Because KLOwen braces are fixed brackets and wires, the everyday rules are the same as other braces. Sticky, hard and very crunchy foods such as taffy, popcorn and corn on the cob can damage brackets and wires. Take extra time brushing and flossing each day, especially after eating, and keep seeing your general dentist for regular cleanings.
Soreness and small repairs
Teeth are often a little sore for a couple of days after braces go on. A warm salt-water rinse and over-the-counter pain relievers usually help, and orthodontic wax can soothe an irritated cheek. Our braces FAQ answers more of the day-to-day questions.
Who Will Design My Treatment?
Your orthodontists stay in charge
Custom brackets are only as good as the plan behind them. Dr. David Guidry is a board-certified orthodontist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, trained at the LSU School of Dentistry. Dr. Doug Horaist earned his dental degree at LSU and his orthodontic certificate from Montefiore Medical Center, the university hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine. You can learn more when you meet our doctors.
How Do I Find Out if KLOwen Is Right for Me?
Start with a no-cost visit
The simplest way to compare KLOwen with metal, ceramic or clear aligners is to see your own scan and hear the options side by side. Your first visit includes X-rays, photos and a digital scan, and our Treatment Coordinator will talk through your goals and budget. When you are ready, request a complimentary consult at our Lafayette or Crowley office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do KLOwen braces look different from regular braces?
KLOwen braces are still brackets and wires bonded to your teeth, so they look like braces. The difference is in how the brackets are designed, not in a hidden or removable format. If appearance is your main concern, ask about clear ceramic braces or Invisalign as well.
Are KLOwen braces faster than traditional braces?
Every case is different, so we cannot promise a specific timeline. Because the prescription is built into the brackets, fewer adjustments are typically needed and the path to the finished smile is more predictable. Your orthodontist will estimate your timeline after your exam.
Do I need messy impressions for KLOwen braces?
No. The process starts with a quick digital scan using our iTero intraoral scanner. The wand captures 3D images of your teeth in minutes without putty impressions.
Can kids get KLOwen braces?
The practice recommends KLOwen mainly for teens and adults who want a high-precision option. For younger children, our doctors will look at growth and development first and recommend the approach that fits. A consult is the best way to find out what suits your child.