Ceramic braces may chip teeth???

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#1 Post by **Rosie** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 12:17 pm

Hi all

I went for my first consultation with my orthodontist on Monday. I have an overbite and was advised against getting ceramic braces on my lower teeth in case the ceramic chipped or damaged my upper incisors. Does any one have any advise as the orthodontist said it could be my decision but she had to make me aware of this issue. I think it might be strange having ceramic on top and metal on bottom. I really don't know what to do. Help!!!

#2 Post by **Clairey Fairey** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 12:24 pm

I've never heard of that happening, but I would probably follow your orthos advice as they know best.

As far as I'm aware a lot of people go for metal on bottom and ceramic on top, so it seems to be a good option. I have all ceramic but wouldn't have minded metal on the lowers as you can't see them anyway!!

#3 Post by **Rosie** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 12:42 pm

Thank so much for your advise Claire. Was just reading your blog is overjet the same as an overbite???? Thanx again!!!

#4 Post by **ohmyjaw** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 12:48 pm

I have ceramic on top and metal on bottom. My bottom teeth don't show much so it's not a big deal. I think it's best to be on the safe side and not risk a chipped tooth!

#5 Post by **Rosie** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 1:10 pm

I can't thank you enough finish the fight. That reply has been a great help. I think I'll just go for it and get ceramic on top and ugly betty metals on botton!!!

#6 Post by **Clairey Fairey** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 4:26 pm

Thanks Meryaten!! I was just about to reply but u have already given a good explanation!!

Apparently I have a 'normal' overbite, so I suppose that why the teeth chipping wasn't mentioned as my uppers wouldn't hit the brackets. I definately wouldn't risk chipping your teeth.

Yeah the ceramic brackets are slightly larger than some of the the metal ones, but then they're less visable anyway so doesn't really matter.

#7 Post by **BeeHappy** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 5:18 am

I am going through the same process. I don't have to decide until the day before I get braced (18th Oct), but it feels like I have to make a decision without full knowledge of how my teeth will move and interact throughout the whole treatment, and you can't really change your mind afterwards.

It is a bit of a catch 22.

My ortho said that if I went for ceramics top and bottom and they ended up catching, he could fit some blanks to stop my teeth from hitting each other. There are loads of posts about this on the forum, and it seems that these THIS IS SPAM PLEASE REPORT IT TO THE ADMINISTRATOR. THIS IS SPAM PLEASE REPORT IT TO THE ADMINISTRATOR. THIS IS SPAM PLEASE REPORT IT TO THE ADMINISTRATOR. THIS IS SPAM PLEASE REPORT IT TO THE ADMINISTRATOR. can make it difficult to chew properly.

If you look at the thread
viewtopic.php?t=7057&start=615&postdays ... 84c597d016
there are loads of pics of peeps with ceramic uppers and metal lowers. So it is fairly common.

Don't know if we all start from a position of metal top and bottom and then "upgrade" if we feel it is necessary.

How did anyone else decide on whether to go ceramic?
Top, bottom or both??

#8 Post by **BeeHappy** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 6:56 am

That is ok if your ortho has recommended a particular plan, but what do you do if you are given a choice, and left to made that choice by the ortho??

How have other people decided on what to do??

Especially how did you choose whether to have ceramic lowers if there was a chance of them hitting uppers??

#9 Post by **Clairey Fairey** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 11:50 am

I didn't get an option of a mixture of metal and ceramic. It was either full ceramic or full metal (metal being the cheaper option). I made the desion to get ceramic just because I knew that they wouldn't stand out as much, and as the option for 'less noticable' braces was there, I thought I may aswell take it!!

If there was a chance of my teeth chipping I would've had metal, (or just metal lowers if there was the choice) because there was no way I'd risk chipped teeth.

All depends whether u are bothered about how noticable your braces will be and how certain types of braces will affect your teeth.

One disadvantage to ceramic uppers that I've noticed is that from a distance it looks like my teeth fan right out. because you can't see the wire and the brackets stick out and are the same colour as my teeth. I've noticed it on some of our holidays pics. You can't see the brace but instead my teeth look really 'sticky outey'!!

#10 Post by **BeeHappy** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 10:34 am

Thanks everyone for the update

.

I think I was also tending towards ceramic uppers and metal lowers, anyway, as you can't see my lowers unless I do a really big grin

. Not that I think I am bothered about seeing metal on top either really, as reading a lot of the posts here, it seems that no-one is going to notice anyway

I have told my manager that I am having braces fitted, as I will need time off work, but will be interesting to see who else a) notices and b) says anything!!

Here's to straight teeth. Roll on the 18th.

Can't wait to get started.

#11 Post by **SnowSara** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 12:43 pm

Not to talk anyone out of anything, but just my experience with this decision:

I was going to do ceramic on top but ended up getting all metal, and I can tell you that most people don't notice either way. As a coffee drinker I'm glad I didn't go discreet - I didn't want to end up with stained ligs and yellow looking teeth - the metal/colored lig combo I have going may not be discreet, but it sure is easier to take care of in that regard (more brightly colored ligs tend to stain less easily and yes, you can do bright ligs with ceramics as the brackets themselves won't stain.).

I realized after getting my braces that no one else really cared about my braces as much as I did and I made the right choice. A few lady friends of mine have said that they would get all-metal, too, if they were to do it all over again - when they had braces they went with ceramic and clear ligs to be discreet and ended up staining them. Looking back at photos they realize how yellow their teeth looked, you can't see the braces, just the effect they had on their teeth. Then again, other people don't have as much trouble with their ligs staining and say that they can't see their braces at all in photos, so it could go either way

REGARDLESS of what bracket you chose, congrats for taking the steps toward bettering your self and your smile! It's a wonderful thing to be doing for yourself