Damon or ceramic braces?

[JTT]

I thought I'd contribute my perspective to the Damon vs. ceramic braces discussion, since I've worn both. Damon marketing was quite effective at getting me into Damon braces in no time.

Once they were installed I started wondering and checked a few facts. I found out the Damon hype is, IMHO, hype. I would describe Damon as a slickly marketed system that benefits the orthodontist, at the expense and discomfort of the patient.

So I changed to an orthodontist who prescribed ceramic braces and the experience couldn't have been more different!

And bonus: the ceramic braces cost thousands of dollars less than the Damon braces.

First, the ceramic braces were supremely comfortable, compared to Damon. I tell people the day my ceramic braces were installed was one of the best days of my life. It's unsettling to think of how many people go through unneccesary torment during their treatment.

The Damon braces stuck out into my lips and cheeks and made it difficult to talk. They raised nasty sores across the inside of my mouth, even though I tried my best to keep them covered with wax 24/7. The wax is crumbly and keeping it on your braces is a frustrating, never-ending task.

The Damon ortho had no sympathy. He said let the sores scab over and then use less and less wax. He wouldn't even look at them. He had heard it all before.

Talking to Damon patients and reading blogs, it's not clear to me how feasible it is to completely wean yourself from wax, although I'm sure your mouth hardens up with time. I heard the Damon ortho lecturing an adult man about not being such a wimp and living without wax, but he said he just couldn't stand the pain.

In contrast, the ceramic braces were to flat and compact, lying next to my teeth. They didn't interfere with talking. I could forget I was wearing them. Never once in my ceramic treatment did I have any reason to use wax.

I signed a Damon contract without shopping around because the Damon ortho told me "conventional technology" would take 36 months, compared to 15 for Damon. Not true, it turned out. The ceramic braces took 13 months (plus one month when my treatment was interrupted for surgery).

In the first month in Damon braces, my teeth didn't move at all, as was confirmed by comparing impressions. The Damon office said not to worry, the thermally activated archwire needs a little time to warm up. With ceramic braces, in contrast, the improvement in the five weeks was dramatic. My front teeth pitched forward into almost final position!

In terms of appearance, the ceramic braces were almost invisible. People could see them only if they got within maybe five or six feet. With Damon braces, prepare for a shock each time you look at yourself in the mirror. People would come up to me and say, why didn't you get ceramic braces!

When you're in braces, you will want to see your ortho once in a while. You'll appreciate a checkup every 5-6 weeks, if only to make a quick adjustment or make sure everything's going well. That way, you can move on to the next phase of treatment as soon as you’re ready. Despite what the Damon ortho may say, you won’t want to wait 8-12 weeks between appointments.

Once you're in Damon bondage, the Damon ortho may be reluctant to release you, and it will be expensive. As I said, he's heard it all before. I ended up literally begging over the phone and in person until he let me terminate my treatment.

My contract said I could pay over time, but he refused to remove the braces until I'd made the final payment. The total bill ended up 2.5 times what our State regulators consider reasonable, but I was in no position to negotiate. I ended up with those horrible things welded to my teeth for four long, unforgettable weeks.

When I think back through the details of the Damon ortho's sales pitch -- how he went "back to school" to learn Damon, how there is no friction to cause pain, keeping them clean's a snap, the patented archwire, no rubber bands to stain and rot your teeth, no need for pallete expanders, no extractions, how it reverses root resorption, and on and on -- little of it turned out to be true, or even applicable to my case.

Before you sign a Damon contract, make a list of the supposed advantages and take it to another ortho. Be prepared to hear an earful. Remember, if Damon braces were really better for patients, every orthodontist would use them. As far as I can tell, “going back to school” means going to a two-day seminar that teaches dentists to market braces like used cars.

But enough. My treatment’s over. The Damon ortho was going to put me in a permanent retainer, but my ceramic ortho did such a fine job I didn’t even have to wear a retainer, except at night! How fortunate I was to get the right treatment. Every once in a while I drop off a bouquet of flowers at his office.

[thisisme]

Sounds like you just had a bad orthodontist.
Everyone's different. Just because you noticed them so much, doesn't mean everyone else will.
Some people don't have any pain.

[Star]

I have been in my Damons for 11 months now on my uppers and 7 months on my lowers. I can honestly tell you that I have no pain issues with mine and I rarely need the wax. In fact my teeth have moved so much in such a short time, my friends and even my dentist comment on how well my teeth look now compared to before. I'm glad my ortho went with the Damons. They seem to be doing what they should. My ortho never pressured to have the Damons, he went with what was best for my treatment and I'm glad he did. Both me and my son are in Damons and all I can is WOW we look great!!!!!!

[JTT]

Thanks Star and thisisme. I thought I was getting clear Damon-3 braces, but the Damon ortho without discussing it decided to install Damon-2s.

They were Soviet-era all-metal braces with sharp latches that cut into your mouth and had to be covered with wax.

He told me that I never mentioned I wanted Damon-3s and if I had just written it on the contract, they would have been included in the price. But since I didn't know to do this, I'd have to pay extra to if I wanted to switch.

Perhaps you got the Damon-3s? They look more comfortable.

[khrystal1968]

I wish I would have done Damons. Another ortho I saw told me they could have avoided extractions in my case. I will have new ceramic self litigating braces soon. I like the asthetics of the ceramics. I think they look cool.

[drrick]

If they over expand you (either laterally or anteriorly) the case will not be stable long term and can cause periodontal issues too.

[karencoutts]

What an interesting post. Thank you for taking the time to help others by writing in and describing your experience. Not many people have had BOTH systems, ceramic and Damon.

My friend, who is a dentist, was sincerely convinced that the Damon system is superior. Based on this and the marketing material written by the Damon company itself, including their studies, I bought in. Another dentist friend opined that the Damon system was not any better than the conventional bracket system. Cost of conventional: $4500. Cost of Damon: $7000. I was actually convinced I would be buying into a superior system and that you get what you pay for.

The Damon quote promised a slightly faster time: about 3 months less, which is, for those of you who are familiar with my Braces Begone post, is an awfully long time for me. I agree with you that the 8 week time between appointments is beneficial to the dentist, but sometimes distressing for the patient who sometimes need reassurance, especially in the early days, or may have a concern that needs addressing.

I would be interested in reading any solid leads you have which show that Damon braces are no faster than ordinary (non self-ligating) braces. I had trouble finding that information when I looked, around 18 months ago when I first started my journey.

Ultimately I chose the Damon system based on the ortho's treatment plan. The ortho who I finally chose proposed the most elegant solution to my messed up teeth, which included new technology (the Carriere Distalizer, which you can read about in my Braces Story in this forum). I also chose it for the elements his plan did NOT include, which was bite turbos and tooth extractions, which other orthos had suggested. My ortho's solution included a 6 month stint in the Carriere Distalizers before 12 months in full Damons, which also meant superiority from a vanity point of view as well, since wearing the Distalizers was barely noticeable. Overall I am happy with my choice, despite my distress at reading your post, because my ortho was likely the only one in my city of more than 1 million souls who would suggest the use of the Carriere Distalizers.

I agree that the Damon system was painful for me. Even after having worn them for 11 months, I am still coming up with new pains. Most recently, for the past few days, I notice that the brackets on my lower front incisors are sticking into the mucosa touching it, and the hook on the upper right molar area is also sticking into my mucosa, causing noticeable pain. I, unlike you, have no basis for comparison of pain with other systems. The bizarre aspect of this is that I don't recall anything new being done that might cause this. Perhaps the newest wire is expanding my teeth outward, stretching and tightening the contact with the flesh next to it. Who the heck knows.

Again, thanks for writing to inform others of your opinion and experience.

[karencoutts]

I forgot to ask why you have had the experience of two systems? What were the circumstances that required you to switch over?

[JTT]

Hi karencouts. I understand the "scientific" study claiming Damons are faster than mainstream brackets was paid for by the corporation that markets Damons. Independent controlled studies haven't reproduced this result. I found a recent article in Journal of Clinical Orthodontics titled "Self-Ligating Appliances: Evolution or Revolution?" (2008, vol 42, p 641-651, by Fleming, Dibiase, and Lee) that concludes “By and large, the clinical promise of the self-ligating systems has not been reflected in the outcomes of these controlled clinical trials.”

As for why I’ve been in both type of braces, my Damon ortho told me for my thousands of extra dollars I was getting the “newest technology”. I thought that meant the clear Damon-3 brackets on his web site, but he went ahead and installed old Damon-2 brackets because “he’s your doctor and you have to let him choose the treatment that’s right for you.”

He then wanted to sell me a $3200 upgrade to Damon-3 brackets (although he did offer to do the first six for $300). Plus, when I asked to come in so he could bend back a tab that was sticking my cheek, I found out that adjustments aren’t covered in the Damon contract and I’d have to pay extra or wait eight weeks.

At this point I was incredibly fortunate. I went for a second opinion to a Board Certified orthodontist who’s had a practice in the community for thirty years. He looked at my Damon braces and said “You’ve been victimized” and kept repeating “I apologize for the entire orthodontic community”. He was truly an artist and a gentleman. If I had the slightest discomfort they took me back on the spot and adjusted my braces at no charge. There was never a penny in extra fees. The ceramic braces came off 10 months ago and my teeth look great and still fit together perfectly.

[drrick]

FWIW, I used the damon system for 5 or 6 years.
I found the initial alignment was a bit quicker but the cases took longer to finish so the net time vs other systems was pretty similar.

Pts didnt complain more about damon than other braces (and these were damn 2's) I usually had more complaints about ceramic brackets.

I charged the same for damons as other types of braces (except lingual)

[drrick]

I would also like to add GRET results can be obtained with either system as long as the doc diagnoses and knows how to treat the case with his/her chosen system.

[drrick]

I meant "GREAT"

can we get an edit button

[DrJasonKTam]

For those who have read my posts about Damon before, there is no knock against the bracket itself. It can be used to produce excellent results. The problem lies in the philosophy that the bracket can ignore the limits of biology and proven orthodontic tenets. It appeals to the public's concern about speed, pain, and extractions, yet without the requisite clinical evidence... all of this, at a premium cost to most patients.

I think the take home point of this thread is that excellent results and problems can happen with any kind of bracket system, depending on the treatment plan and diagnosis of the orthodontist. Every patient will have a different experience and most people never get the chance to compare both systems. Of note, Damon Clear is now available.

If you'd like to read more... http://markhamortho.blogspot.com/2009/1 ... -hill.html

[Boohill]

When I asked about Damons at my consultation, my OD said that she thinks Damons are a "gimick". I have regular metal braces and was just inquiring about other kinds.

[fosterp]

I can't help but feel like the OP is someone representing the damon system competitors.

I can't imagine any dentist would tell a patient they had been "victimized" about previous purchase decisions. Doctors, while trained in their practice, I am sure are also educated on how to make patients feel comfortable, and I can't think of anything more discomforting than to hear I was victimized by a bad purchase decision in the past.