Metal Mouth Message Board

I'm glad I found this site, a great resource.

Anyways, I'm 28 and finally decided to do something with my teeth. There are not too bad, a slight overbite and spaces especially between the top front, but moderately straight overall.

I've gone to several orthodontists for consultations and finally found one that I was happy with. Every orthodontist that I have visited stated that I would be a good candidate for Invisalign. The latest orthodontist that I visited gave me three options metal braces, invisalign, and ceramic braces. The metal braces are the lowest cost, invisalign is $300 more and the ceramic braces are $500 more.

Originally I wanted invisalign, but I don't know if I can handle having to take them out all the time to eat, drink, etc. My dental hygiene right now is pretty good so I doubt that would be a problem with braces or invisalign. I think I would rather just clean the braces after eating each time. I also became concerned with invisalign as many users have complained they have seen improvement but not to the extent they were looking for. I feel the braces can be controlled more by the doctor, not as much with the invisalign. Although to counteract this the orthodontist i'm planning on going with said he will install braces at the end of the invisalign treatment if he or I was not happy with the results.

He estimated around 18 months for invisalign and probably 15 months for regular braces. I didn't get an estimate for the ceramic braces, but I assume they are around that timeline also.

I've already paid for the metal braces and my appointment is next week for the spacers. They said I can always change my mind before that appointment if I want to go the invisalign route.

The problem I am having is I'm still really on the fence on what direction to go. I've read and read reviews, thoughts, pros, cons etc for all of them and still really undecided. I'm not sure if it's worth the extra $500 to go ceramic (this is only for the top, metal would be on the bottom)? Some people rave about the ceramics and other say if they did it again they would just go all metal. I just want to make the decision that I won't regret down the road. Invisalign is still on the table, but i'm leaning toward metal or ceramic (ceramic top only). I will probably continue scanning through the posts and reading until right before my appointment this week.

Hi and welcome

It sounds like you've got some fun decision-making ahead! Has your ortho expressed a preference, or indicated which system he thinks will achieve the best results?

I don't know anything about invisalign, but I've got ceramics on the "social 6" and metal everywhere else. If you wanted to go that route it might work out just a bit cheaper than having ceramics on all the top teeth.

I've been perfectly happy with my choice. Some people say they find ceramics feel bulkier, and I've also read on here that some say ceramics work a bit slower. For myself, I've noticed no difference whatever between the ceramic brackets and the metal ones, apart from appearance. The ceramics are very discreet but they are still noticeable, especially if you need heavy-duty archwires later on or extra applicances like springs or power chains.

In my experience other people pay very little attention to my braces (in case that's something you're concerned about). I've had no negative comments and although I would never have believed it at first I often find myself forgetting I have brackets on my teeth. You very soon get used to cleaning up after eating, and it sounds like you have a very positive attitude to that anyhow.

Now that you've found us do keep us informed, won't you. I'm intrigued to hear what you decide in the end .

Doctor didn't really have a preference, but I think I'm going to do braces. Just not sure if I should get ceramic on top. The price I got was only for the 6 teeth with ceramic on top. Not sure if it was worth that extra $500.

I also have ceramic on the 6 top front 'social' teeth and I'm happy with my choice. I initially investigated Invisalign but the cost was prohibitive ($2000 more) and it was not likely I'd acheive the result I wanted. Additionally I followed the progress of someone who had the 6 month invisalign treatment, which was not sucessful - they're still in them now, and it's 2.5 years down the track. They've not had to pay additional costs despite being 2 years over, but I've already been braced 1 year and seen more significant results.

The biggest thing to bear in mind about ceramic braces is that the ligatures do become more noticable through the month, but if you brush regularly and avoid some foods then it's not a problem.

Hi,

I have ceramic on the top 6 and metal on the rest. I still hate the metals but I was unable to do ceramic on all. Mine are self litigating so I do not have ligs, so no staining issuess for me. My ceramics do not feel any different than the metals, they don't seem bulkier or any more uncomfortable than the metal ones can be a times. The metals do at times seem heavier.

I didn't have to pay extra for this combo but it is definitely worth it. When I look at my bottom arch, all I see is silver and I hate that. Luckily for me, when I talk, you can't really see the bottoms and I don't see them unless I am looking in a mirror. I love this combination and I recommend it to everyone getting braces.

save yourself $500 and get the metal, braces are braces, i have aligners on top and metal on lower and i prefer the metal. aligners are a hassel and like i said braces are braces, people are going to notice.

i have metal braces top and botom and am sentenced to around 18 months. right now i am 8 months in. the reason i decided to go with metal, is because braces are braces and plus the ortho recommended that metal would be more durable compared to the ceramic. i have even read for people who have ceramic brackets that as the arch wire gets thicker, you start to notice the braces more. ceramics are not totally unnoticeable, but less noticeable compared to metal.

since the ortho told you would only have to do 15 months i would just go with the metal mouth for the time being. before you know it 15 months will be over. i look back now and am surprised 8 months flew by so fast.

as for the invisalign, don't worry about getting that. if you want a nice smile and bite, go the braces route. even though your ortho did mention that they can put braces on if you don't like how the invisalign turn out, that is a longer treatment time.

just get the metal braces and call it a day. i have had no regrets in going in all metal.

If I didn't read wrongly, aesthetics isn't the most important factor for you. If so, you could just go for metal braces as it's high on reliability (in terms of moving the teeth), the most durable and cheapest.

I'm on metal braces (both arches). I didn't consider ceramic brackets for the upper arch because ceramic brackets are bigger and not that inconspicuous anyway. Oh, and I thought it would be fun to change the colour of the ligatures monthly. Invisalign wasn't a choice in my case. Not sure whether it was because I grind my teeth at night but in any case, the cost of Invisalign braces is about twice the cost of metal braces where I am.

By the way, would you be charged extra if you continue with metal braces after Invisalign?

The ortho said he would not charge if I needed to go into braces after invisalign. I grind my teeth also, well not lately for some reason but I figured invisalign would be helpful since it may protect the teeth some, although on the other hand I wouldn't want to break one of the trays.


To update everyone, I decided to go all metal. I've had my spacers in now since Thursday, somewhat annoying and painful but not too bad now (Sunday). I think I am used to them now, but I will be glad to get them out on Friday. My braces go on the 18th. Just in time for the holidays, I guess so much for eating anything good over the holidays.