Metal Mouth Message Board

Is there a limit to the number of teeth on top that can have ceramic brackets?

During my initial consultation, they told me that I could have 5-5 (total 10) teeth on top w/ceramic brackets. We agreed on 5-5 on top in ceramic and 3-3 (total 6) on bottom with ceramic. The rest would be metal. I went in today to get the tops bracketed and now they tell me that they can only do 3-3 (total 6) ceramics on my top teeth, and that they do not have ceramic brackets available to do the other 4 (& that the ortho does not do that).

I am confused because we had previously agreed upon 5-5 ceramics for the top and 3-3 ceramics on the bottom. Is it possible to get ceramics on all visible teeth on the top? Anyone know the answer?

I have 8 ceramic brackets on top. I figure that's because I have a wide smile. I've read that some people only get 6 though.

Did you ask your ortho why he decided to go that route instead of what you had already agreed upon?

Erin

Thanks for your response, Paws917. The ortho gave no justification and the assistant's response seemed to imply that more than 6 on the top was "just never done"??? I have a very wide smile as well so the metal is very visible.

I had the exact configuration that you had agreed upon with your ortho: 10 ceramic brackets on the uppers, and 6 ceramic brackets on the lowers. So, this type of configuration is definitely done. Was the agreed-upon configuration indicated in your contract? If so, you should have a sit-down with your ortho whenever possible.

Hi--I too have eight ceramic brackets on top. My ortho told me that I would have six on top, but when he actually put on my brackets, decided that eight would be better because I show eight of my upper teeth when I smile. It definitely sounds like a discussion about this would be a good idea. Good luck (I hope you get what you are wanting).

My ortho tried to convince me to do 6 ceramics on top. I have a HUGE smile and negotiated 8 ceramics on top. Now looking at my smile, I probably should have gone with 10, 2 of my metals are fairly visible when I smile big.

I guess 6 on the top is the "norm" but as others have said, many people do have 8 or 10. Good luck talking with your ortho.

Thanks for the info. It's now been taken care of...I had to have my husband (who is a lawyer) call the ortho office and talk to the general manager. Fortunately, it was spelled out in our paperwork that 10 ceramics would be on the upper teeth. They have agreed to fix it; I go back next week.

While I am glad that everything is getting fixed, I am still annoyed that the ortho and assistant just "blew me off" and did not seriously listen to my concerns. I suspect that it does not bode well for the future (i.e., if I cannot trust that they will listen to my concerns)...I will likely be relocating in a year so I'll be extremely careful when selecting a new ortho in the future.