Ceramic braces too bulky?

[bluebird1]

I'm trying to decide whether to get ceramic braces on my 6 top front teeth. Do they feel bulkier in your mouth than the metal ones? I've seen the braces on the models and they are quite obviously bigger than metal brackets.

I have an overjet and I already feel like my upper lip sticks out quite a bit and I think bulky ceramic brackets might make it worse? My front teeth in particular stick out a bit too much.

[anedia]

This is the reason I personally went with all metal. I don't regret it at all, either.

[Snowglobe32]

I have ceramic on top 6 and metal on the bottom. I would have preferred all ceramic.
It comes down to this, when you first get braces, all brackets seem huge. You have objects in your mouth that are new, there is an inital shock of "what have I done?"...you are not usually prepared for the initial stages of getting braces.

Then, you get used to them and they become like an arm...you know it is there but it doesn't bother you. It doesn't really matter what kind of brackets you have at this point. I would have preferred all ceramic because I don't like the way metal braces look. I didn't like seeing myself in photos with metal on my teeth. It especially got worse as my time went on. My upper ceramics, no one hardly noticed them. I would get comments such as, "Are you still wearing your braces?" because they couldn't see them. But when I see photos, I just see these big metal squares on my teeth and I hated it!

But then again, even if you went all ceramic, you may have things such as elastics, powerchains, power ties...those are more noticable so what does it really matter? I wore all of these at many points in my almost 4 years of treatment.

Some people look really great in metal braces. I have a friend who works in my building and has all metals and they look cute on her....because of her complexion, hair color and whatnot.

For me, I think metals made me look like a kid and I was 33 went I got my braces.

In the end, the choice is up to you.

Good luck!

[plugnickel69]

It depends on the particular brackets, some are larger than others. My ceramics were not much bigger than the metals and did not feel bulky or rough. I had them top and bottom, six teeth on each.

[TMJJill]

I agree with Snowglobe.

I had clears on my upper front 10 and the rest metal. I really didn't feel Much difference between the 2.

[flips712]

I had all metal braces as a teenager and decided to get ceramic ones this time around. At first I really thought I made a huge mistake getting the ceramic ones because they felt enormous to the point that I couldn't comfortably close my top lip over them. But by the 3rd week I was use to them and my lips felt normal again. Whatever type you get you'll just need to give yourself time to adjust to the changes both physically and mentally. And before you know it you'll actually no longer even notice the braces. I got the ceramic ones to keep it discrete but have been wearing colored ligs since my second adjustment...

I'm 34 and initially walked around the office at work trying to avoid talking to people and minimize smiling as I felt super embarrassed by my braces. Now I have the complete opposite problem and usually smile so much or open my mouth too wide when laughing that I'm snapping my rubber bands all day long.

[Timetoshine]

I wanted the least conspicuous braces I could get so managed ceramic on top 8, but ortho wouldn't allow ceramic on lower :/. I wish I could have had all ceramic! I like the fact they don't stand out as much - it didn't bother me that they are larger than the metal - as I don't know any different really in terms of how they feel in my mouth.

My colleague has another type of ceramic braces that are much smaller and even less discrete than mine, and I have brace envy hehe. Mine have a little more silver showing in them...

'Horse for courses' - sometimes its a matter of personal preference!

[cakemamma]

Hi Bluebird,
I have ceramic 'InVu' on my top 6, they are a bit bigger than the metal but you really cant tell the difference. If you dont mind spending the extra money they really are worth it, none of my work colleagus noticed I had braces! I even have the meal wire! heres a pic, and also a side shot incase you were curious. One issue is he staining of ligs, I think ill get a subtle pink coloured lig next app as they are already yellowing after only 3 days..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/108039045@N05/10743010725/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/108039045@N05/10743072876/
sorry cant work out how to put the photos in the post

[Kezza]

I also have the 'Invu' Ceramic on my top teeth and at first I thought, 'OMG these are HUGE'! but after a couple of weeks I was totally used to them...yes, they are still quite noticeable...I started off with a white wire but the white coating just wore off so I went with a metal wire....people DO notice them. I have had people just keep staring at my mouth the whole time I'm talking to them! but now I really don't care..I'm 7 months in (2 months with metal bottoms) and my top teeth are looking fabulous! I think they will be coming off in the next month or two. The ceramic are much less noticeable in photographs. Staining is another issue...I've done my best to avoid curries...I ate a portion if golden rice recently without a second thought...looked in the mirror the next morning and my Ligs were bright yellow! aaarrrggghhh!! after a few days it did wear off though! I don't regret getting the ceramics.

[cakemamma]

Hi Kezza, do you have any photos of your treatment you'd be willing to share? I have been given a 9-12 month estimate too, and i see you're in the UK, they seem to do things alot differently here than in the US going by these boards. I'd love to see someone else in InVus! And have you stuck with the clear ligs tho whole time? I think mine are yellowing
Abi

[mapleleafman888]

I have damon clears on the upper 10 and they are slightly bulkier than the rest of the metal brackets. Honestly though, I can't really even tell much of a difference in size just by feel. I even measured the brackets and the difference in size is about 1mm so were talking about a minimal difference. The clear brackets haven't showed up in any of my recent photo's that have been taken from 4 feet away or more...just the wire shows. Ceramics are good, there's close up photo's of mine in my link in my signature if you want to see.

[juliets]

SO helpful as I have been worried about the size of my ceramics today (day 2) and this has calmed me down and made me glad I have them
thank you

[angelina]

You'll be fine juliets! It does feel super awkward when you first get braces. I had all metal when younger and now have 6 ceramic at the top and no matter what you choose it's always going to feel like a foreign object in your mouth for the first little while. Funnily enough, it's my metal bottom ones giving me grief at the moment but this too shall pass!

[lmk]

I had all metal as a teenager and have ceramic this time around on all my teeth, top and bottom. I actually didn't even know ceramics were more bulky until I read this! Hahaha! Well, I have to say I'm completely happy with my brackets because they are hardly noticeable. Which ever type you choose, it just takes time to get comfortable with them in your mouth. But that'll pass before you know it.

[juliets]

Thank you lovely people - I think I just need to get used to them but all new and a bit weird right now!