why only 6 ceramic on top?

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#1 Post by **ladyg** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 2:59 pm

Hi everyone

Im not due to get braces for another month but im curious about the brackets ill be getting. My ortho has said metal on the lower teeth and 6 ceramic on the top with the rest being metal. I thought the reason we were going with ceramic on the top as they are *slightly* less noticeable than the metal.... therefore im wondering why im only getting 6 upper teeth with ceramic and the rest metal?? youll be able to see the other metal brakets so will it not make it look a but strange??

does anyone else have this? how does it look? any photos?

Thanks
lady g

#2 Post by **lionfish** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 3:05 pm

I don't have this combination, but it is a very common choice. Someone will post a pic for you, I'm sure.

#3 Post by **SnowSara** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 4:36 pm

This is really common, and would have been my situation had I opted for ceramics with my ortho.

#4 Post by **where2be** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 6:42 pm

I have ceramic on the front 10, which I'm pleased about. My front 8 are fairly visible, and even the last two are noticable when I smile big.

For me, getting ceramic and having at least a bit less visability was important and 6 wouldn't have worked for the way my teeth show.

The one thing I'm surprised about is how many people say no one notices their braces. I've only had mine for a week now, but I'd say everyone I'm friends with and work closely with has said something (all but one positive). Others who I work less closely with I know have noticed by the way they looked, but didn't say anything. Is it just the way my teeth show, I smile, or something else.

#5 Post by **ilovemacs** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 7:08 am

Hi I got my top braces 21 days ago! I have tops only right now, bottoms in 2 months! I had the choice of getting 6 ceramic on the top or all metal.
They said I could only get 6 ceramic on top because when you smile only 6 top teeth will show. I went for all metal, but it's up to you. My ortho's office showed me models of both kinds, they looked good but I liked the look of metal better! Hope this helps!

#6 Post by **totalwise** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:28 am

I've had 8 upper and 8 lower in ceramics, and the big molar barckets metal (I don't think they make em in ceramic.

I don't see what the big fuss is about, ceramic or not, you can still see a big fat wire running across your teeth, So nobody is going to _not_ notice your train tracks.

To be honest Id rather have metal brackes all over, because they don't stain and they're less bulky which would have made my lips less pouty (it looks sexy on women, but it's just wayy too gay on me).

Oh well I lonly have 1 month to go.

Yippee

#7 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:55 am

Well I would have had the upper 10 but I had premolars extracted and have the upper and lower 8 in clear. Surprisingly, when I meet up with people at night, whether we're outside under the street lights or in a bar, they always say "When did you get retainers and why are you wearing them out?" Then I have to explain that they're braces and bonded. Not bad considering the fact that I've had them for 6 months!

#8 Post by **ladyg** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 11:58 am

Hi everyone, thanks for replying. I think i might ask my ortho about the possibility of two more ceramic uppers instead of metal, taking the total ceramic to 8. Its only because im trying to keep them as discreet as possible and when i smile you can see more than the 6 teeth at the front.

only thing is, im worried about the extra cost, for the 6 that he quoted me in the first instance, they are costing Â£1300!! and i just dont know if i could afford another Â£433 on top of my already big bill!!

thanks
lady g

#9 Post by **TigerLily** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 12:42 pm

I have 6 on the bottom. I think I'm having 8 on the top (my fault for not knowing, the ortho did explain which uppers at the fitting of my lower brace, but there was so much going on, I wasn't paying enough attention). I don't think I would be able to have 10 on the top as I have two missing from extractions on the top (as well as the bottom) from when I had braces as a kid. Seems it's not possible to have them on the molars (not sure about the pre-molars).

I was a bit put out about only having 6/8/10 as when I was given the options of metalics/ceramics with the different rices I didn't realise not all the teeth would be in ceramics. It was never mentioned.

So to me, it seems like a big surcharge on the bottom for only 6. Particularly considering I have a coiled spring on the front so I have metal there anyway. Though looking at it now, knowing what I know, I think I still would have gone for the ceramics option.

#10 Post by **totalwise** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 5:20 pm

Meryaten wrote:totalwise - ceramic brackets don't stain.

Yes I know, The clear ligatures and powerchains used with ceramics stain. I didn't realise someone would read so closely to my words.

Meryaten wrote:And, whilst I respect your decision that you like metal brackets, please do respect that other people don't share your preference, and are more worried about sporting a mouth-ful of metal for 18+ months. You don't have to understand our reasons - just accept that what's right for you may not be right for everyone

Yeah, that's fine. I'm just airing my preference. Wasn't trying to imposing my preferances onto someone else.

#11 Post by **lionfish** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 5:49 pm

Yes I know, The clear ligatures and powerchains used with invisalign do stain.

????

#12 Post by **Lala7603** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:47 pm

i had ceramics on my front 6 teeth and the rest were metal. i was kind of upset at first but you really didnt see the other metal brackets. this picture was taken a few days before i got my braces off...(ALMOST 3 YEARS AGO) sorry its not the best picture ever but it shows that you cant really see them.(although its not a bad pic for a camera phone...lol) Now that i think about it, im glad i only had 6 ceramics because 1. Personally....it hurt to get my ceramics off and 2. they are a little bigger that metal brackets and would have been less comfortable.

hope this helps!
SMiles
LALA

#13 Post by **jennielee81** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:52 pm

I had ceramics (Opals) on my front 6. I show (on top) 12 teeth, but my metal brackets weren't an issue at all as they're around the side the angle made them less noticable. Maybe one more would have made a difference, but that wasn't offered so it's not something I even looked to critique. See my picture

edited to fix a typ-o

#14 Post by **acd** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 9:56 pm

My upper 10 are ceramic but if I had it to do again I'd go with all metal. My lower metals are smaller and more comfortable and after a while I gave up caring if anyone knew that I had braces but the reality is that if I couldn't have gotten the upper ceramics I probably wouldn't have had the courage to have gotten braces. Bottom line--no matter what brackets you have the end result will be worth it.

#15 Post by **Dimples** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 7:31 pm

I have 10 upper ceramics.