Choice: ceramic uppers or metal? What did you choose why?

[Nettie]

Hi everyone,
I'm 95% there to getting braces but need to make a decision soon regarding the type of braces. We are usually limited to the types that our orthodontist will work on and recommend, but I have been given a choice of ceramic or metal uppers. Obviously, for purely aesthetic reasons, I would get the ceramic ones, but have heard they are a little more fragile, harder to take off, shows more stains etc. For those of you who have ceramic, what is your experience thus far? I have also read that the metal braces may require less time than ceramic and the brackets are smaller. Does smaller mean more comfortable? If someone could tell me which ones are more comfortable I would greatly appreciate it!!!! My options are 3M metal or 3M Clarity uppers (ceramic) both non self litigating.

Thanks in advance,

Nettie
Soon to be braced

[teethbehindbars]

Hello,
I've had ceramics on top 4/7/2011. My ortho told me that i would have the bottoms put on 3-4 moths after. I went for my first adjustment 2 weeks ago and already my dentist told me that i was having my bottoms(which would be metal) put on next visit because my teeth are already moving quickly... i think the ceramics just as well as the metal. I have had no problems so far with staining because i stay away from curry, soda, coffee and tea and doritos!!! lol. They do take some getting used to but after a week you will be fine, and no one knew i had braces until i pointed them out....It really depends if you are worried about physical appearance then ceramics on top would be your go.. if not follow your ortho's recommendation.

[Nikkistixx06]

I also wanted ceramic for the tops for aesthetic purposes as well. But I'm getting my braces from a university and they were doing a study on Damon Braces and chose me to be a candidate, but unfortunately they don't have the ceramics yet at the university! But I have to tell you it hasn't been that big of a deal having all metal. It was hard to get use to at first, seeing myself like this. But I don't even think twice about it now!

[Bracer215]

I had a choice of ceramic or metal on top. To be honest it really did not matter to me whether anyone saw them so I just went with the metal as they were a little bit less expensive. Since most of us only have one kind of braces we usually cannot compare it to another type. But I really have not had too much discomfort so far.
Hope it stays that way.

[Nettie]

Thank you all for your replies. Yes, I am leaning towards metal all around too, because it will be $500 cheaper, but in the end my vanity may win and I'll end up with ceramic uppers and metal bottoms... I'll keep you posted. I've heard many people who have ceramic uppers and metal bottoms, so of those people, perhaps they may find the top or bottoms more comfortable or less bothersome. Anyone with both? Comment please.

[catgyrl]

Hi Nettie

I have both...ceramics on top and metal on bottom. I started with all metal, but I will be honest: after about 3 months, vanity got the best of me! I changed the top metal to Radiance clear brackets, and even though I have to be careful about the ligs around them staining, it was well worth it. My lowers are still metal. The ceramics are a wee bit larger than the metal, but are just as comfortable. Yes, there are times when the brackets rub, and I have to use wax, but that happens mostly when my teeth are moving, and is no worse on top or bottoms.

I will say that pretty much NOBODY even cares about my braces. You will probably be more concerned about them an anyone else.

Good luck!
Cathy

[klobird]

Hi!

Well, I am 55 with all metal Damon Q braces. I went with my ortho's recommendations. They are high tech small self ligating braces. The braces themselves are a breeze, and nobody cares about them--not even me--in fact, I think they make me look more interesting and confident. The part that gets me are all the tubes and hooks I have to have for my rotated, 6mm overjet...lots of fun appliance additions to come!!

The reasons I myself would not have picked ceramic is that I don't want to constantly be thinking about the color of my food. They said whatever can stain a white T-shirt will stain your ligatures and the glue bonding your brackets on. I have
elastics right now--light colored---I ate spaghetti one night and when I took the elastics out they were nasty colored. I was really glad I could change them like right now!! They also told me metal will work faster--and that really is my bottom line--2 years is already going to be a looonnnngggg time--and I've only got just over 3 weeks down so far....

[thmmom]

I say go with whatever you will be the most comfortable looking at. You will have them in your mouth for quite some time. I have all ceramic - top and bottom. I have not had any problems with staining. I don't worry about what I eat or think about it all the time like others have stated. But, I'm not a curry eater or a black coffee drinker. My ortho told me that the time in braces ceramic or metal would be the same. I don't know why people always say on this board that metal braces are quicker. My ortho said that it is the wire that does the work, not the brackets. Good luck with your decision.

[Snowglobe32]

I have ceramic on top and metal on the bottom.
I would prefer all ceramic for many reasons.

[drgnchsr36]

I have ceramic on top and am really happy with it. Most people don't notice them. I haven't had any issues with staining and I still eat pasta, soda, tea, hot chocolate ...

I'm stuck with metal on the bottom and would have rather had ceramic .. but didn't have a choice due to my bite issues. The the hooks seem to stand out more on the metal to me... I'm still using wax on them. Whereas on my top braces, those bothered me for about a week and now it's no biggie.

[kaylaa]

I chose all metal, I figured that people would see them if I went with ceramic or metal, so I went with the metal. I'm comfortable with my choice and I'm almost half way through! Good luck with your decision!

[Justiz]

I have ceramic up top and metal on the botom. I personally chose the ceramic on top for aethetic reasons. I didn't want it to be super obvious that I had braces for work and social reasons. I am happy with my decision thus far. I, like others mentioned, stay away from items that will stain my teeth and I use pearl ligatures up top which resist staining better than white or clear ones, so so far so good. I love it for pictures too because no one can tell! I guess it just depends on what your personal preference is. I get cut just as much from my metal bottoms as I do from the ceramic tops and I don't feel that either is more painful than the other. I have heard that taking ceramic off is more difficult, but I will know soon enough. Let us know what you decide!

[Emmauk]

I have Clarity bracekts upper and lower mainly because i didnt want to wait to have my braces placed through nhs so choose to go privately - as a private patient i couldn't have metal.

If i could of had metal then yes i would have, im happy with my ceramics but not the amount of staining i have. I only heard warnings about staining ligs and that even if you ate something really silly and stained them you would only need to put up with it until next adjustment. Unfortunately, my lower front teeth have stained significantly, i think in reality its the glue holding on the brackets as when i asked my ortho he told me that it would all come off with the brackets when they sand off the glue. Too much tea, i have cut down now but the damage is done.

[dezlorelle]

I have ceramic on top and damon on the bottom. I'm torn as to whether I do the same again if I had to do it all over again.

I would probably go for all metal.

PRO FOR CERAMICS:
1) My metal brackets have doors, and a few like to get stuck at adjustments. It is very painful to have someone try to force a stuck door open.

PRO FOR METAL:
1) My ceramic braces are huge, and my 2 tiny teeth up top are completely covered by them. It's impossible to brush around them if you have small teeth.
2) My top teeth in ceramics are covered in more than just the arch wire. I have a metal tie between the 2 front teeth, and springs between my top 4 teeth, so there's no point in having clear braces. I have so much metal up there anyway, that they're just as visible as the lower metal.

[Nettie]

Greetings to all that replied!

I've decided to go with all metal. It was a tough decision but being a coffeeholic and cola drinker, I thought it would be easier with the metal brackets. I also have a slight overbite, thus the slightly smaller metal brackets will be kinder to my profile. I am excited yet scared to see myself in braces!!!!

thank you all for your input, here we go......

Nettie