Does anyone actually have traditional metal braces anymore

[rhibee83]

Hi Kids

I am getting my braces on hopefully within 2 weeks, and I am getting upper and lower traditional metal braces. I was happy with that idea and thought ok cool, they will be FINE. BUT.....

It seems like EVERYONE on the forum has ceramic upper and metal lower..... Am I the odd one out?? My ortho advised me not to get ceramic as they arent as strong, I will need them on longer, etc etc so I thought ok, I will go all metal, but I see everyone has the cereamic and dont seem to have any problems with them...

Sigh... what do I do

[TMJJill]

I'd go with whatever you are most comfortable with. Regardless of what you choose, you are doing a good thing for yourself.

Originally, I had planned on metal uppers, but when they offered the clears with no significant cost difference I ended up going with the clears.

I will say that most metal brackets are smaller than the clear ones. That is a good advantage. A lot of people with clears also really worry about staining the lighter color ligs since they start out less noticable. If you are confident enough, you can have fun with your colors.

One thing I've learned over the last couple years of ortho treatment is that noone really notices but you. I've been through splint therapy and am 1 1/2 years into braces and most people really don't notice or seem to care that you have braces. From what I've read on these boards, it really doesn't matter what kind of braces you have either.

[Sita]

There seems to be a difference of opinion as to whether or not ceramic braces are just as good as the metal ones. Some orthos say it doesn't make a difference and others say it does.

I have ceramic uppers and I think that they are less noticeable. Most people don't notice that I have them until I mention them. I say just go with what you're comfortable with.

[beckyboo0205]

I am getting the ceramic uppers and lower metal just because there wasn't a cost difference for me (but they cost plenty to begin with).

[jem]

There are lots of people on here with metal brackets top and bottom. You will be fine with them.

Jem

[Tobilei]

My ortho told me there would be no difference with my treatment time or end result with the ceramics. I also have self ligating brackets on top which have no ligatures (that's the bit that stains, not the bracket). I do worry a little about the bottom staining but really only with curry and turmeric. I've eaten tomato paste, tomato soup and drink 2-3 coffee's a day and the smoke ligs on the bottom have never stained (actually it's been 2 weeks and the white one's I currently have haven't stained either).

I've also yet to break a bracket. I had one debond but my ortho said that was because the enamel on that tooth is different (it was a metal one anyway which I have on my molars).

I honestly love my clear one's despite them being slightly larger. Go with whatever you feel comfortable with. I see plenty of people around with metals still.

[KatrinkaNoir]

Honestly, with my small mouth and overbite, I should have just gotten the smaller metal on top.

[isthistaken]

I have upper and lower full metal braces. Old school all the way. I was told there was no difference except price, which was considerable. It was a difficult decision.

[JumpTheDitch]

I had metal upper & lower braces first time around about 7 yrs ago. A co-worker also had adult braces while I had mine but she had ceramic. I did feel a but like a kid having the metal but had fun with colours while she stayed with incognito.

My ortho didnt state an opinion regarding the speed or effectiveness of any type of braces over another, but oddly he did have an opinin on powerchains. He reckoned plain gray was always faster than any coloured powerchains!

Im not sure what I'll be getting this time around; I dont know if my dentist does ceramics or self-ligating, I'm hoping for self-ligating, metal would b fine

[midnight]

I have metal uppers & lowers. I didn't have a choice but I'm happy with them.

[klobird]

I have Damon Q all metal uppers and lowers for the same reason--they are stronger for the hard jobs apparently. They have been totally fine, and comfortable as far as the brackets, and no ligs are required. They are self-ligating.

Also, I am supposed to get mine off next month, and with the all metal all he does is snip them off--about a 5 minute procedure. I understand that the ceramic need to be chipped off, or something like that. It's supposed to take longer with ceramic.

I haven't had anyone react negatively to my braces, and I am 57yrs old this Sunday!

[CarrieG]

I have traditional all metal uppers and will have the same for my lowers when I get them in another month or so. For my case, my dentist said that metal ones would move my teeth faster and she's had fewer problems with metal braces. Since it wasn't really an issue for me, I just went with what she recommended.

[anarchy45]

I have metal upper braces, and a brackets on the bands of the appliance in the bottom of my mouth... it'll be quite a few months before getting full lower braces. I actually like the metal, because they're shiny and I can decorate them with colored ligatures

[Alisonpv]

I'm going to aim for Damon clears on top and metal on the bottom.. but if there is a cost prohibitive or other reason to go traditional metal braces, I won't be severely disappointed.... I learned recently there are glow in the dark ties.... (big kid at heart )

[amyhenna]

I think you are so lucky! I love the look of metal braces top and bottom. They are tiny and cute, and look awesome with colored ligatures. I wish I could do the traditional metal mouth, but allergies to metals relegate me to ceramic, and even that's iffy. We're going to allergy test me to the brackets and adhesive prior to full mouth application.

You're so lucky! I love those cute little metal brackets. Ceramics brackets seem bigger and less cute, from what I've seen in the pictures, but I'm sure I'll learn to love them once they're on.