Metal Mouth Message Board

So getting braces in about 1 month and just wondering what everyone thinks about clear ceramic braces? I have the option of choosing these ( for $ 500 ) more. My Ortho uses the regular metal braces with little elastics on them ( they do not offer the Damon brackets) so just wondering if its worth the money? Someone told me the ceramic brackets sometimes get discolored ? Anyone hear of this?

Ive had these on my top teeth for 15 months now and the brackets themselves have not got discoloured but the elastics have, these are easily changeable

Mine were only $200 extra for the clear brackets, and I have no ligs that can stain because they don't have them, wire pops in and out of a little gate in the bracket. I like mine as not many people really notice I have braces.

Z

I had ceramic uppes for 21 months and they did not stain at all!! Mine cost an extra $200.

I drink coffee, red wine, and eat stuff that can stain but they came off as white as they went on.

Mind didn't have ligs either. Here's a picture towards the end of my treatment...still nice and white:

Mazdagirl, I've just done a search and you might want to check out this thread:
viewtopic.php?t=23656

and this one:
viewtopic.php?t=23196

where some of the advantages/disadvantages of ceramic vs metal have been discussed.

All down to personal preference in the end... good luck, whatever you choose!

I think the $500 is canadian...am I right about that?

That would work out to be close to the $200 USD I paid....I think...

hmmm... I thank you for doing that research for me Meryaten!!!

i had ceramic brackets with round , i found them bigger an thicker , the clear o rings will stain not the brackets , i found having them removed took a bit more to get off than my metal ones that were removed on 1/31/08, all in all i liked the metal ones over the ceramic, but thats just me

After reading all the post , I have decided to go with metal braces. Mostly for cost and comfort reasons. Ceramics do not seem to work for everyone and money wise its quite a bit more $$$$. So ill go with the metal, I was looking at the nice colors everyone has had and was quite impressed, heheh cant wait to get them on now.

i think you'll like the metal one's an you can pick great colors

when i was negotiating for price on my braces, my ortho "threw them in." i would not have got ceramic brackets otherwise. now, i still not sure if i care either way; maybe i should have asked for more money off. :D

it seems to me both the metal & ceramic are about the same, comfort-wise, with all of 8 days behind me since installation. no staining so far after red wine, coffee, & tea.

I think you'll find that either way most people will not notice your braces, or care. I went with all metal braces and didn't mind them at all!

Thanks for all the advice, cant wait to get them on, what kinda pain should I expect the first few days? Should I get ready for soft foods ?

Depends on how you handle pain in general. Some people don't feel much pain from getting braces, but have pressure.

On day 1, I had pressure and ate a normal meal with normal food. The next morning was a very different story . I had to eat soft food for a little while after that first day.

As I recall, the 3rd day seemed to be the worst, after that things quickly got easier.

I would get some soft foods for the first few days anyway. Just in case you need them.
Let us know how it all goes!!

Meryaten wrote:As noted above, ceramic brackets don't stain, but the little rubber ties (ligs, modules, elastomerics) can and do, unless you choose deep colours.

However, I do wonder what aesthetic brackets your ortho offers. Since they usually only place the aesthetic brackets on the front teeth (let's say 4 to 4) that's one heck of a surcharge! At least it is unless those are nice fancy, self-ligating aesthetic brackets, in which case there's be nothing to stain.

Is this a US thing, as I have ceramics on all of my top teeth, apart from the back two on each side which are the self ligating brackets?!?

I dont know the difference in price between these and the metal as I asked for the ceramics or the behind teeth braces for aesthetic reasons