Is it me or ceramics tend to be more "noticeable"?

[Crafter]

I got braced about 2 weeks ago with ceramics and clear ligs. Although my braces are almost unnoticeable on a distance, when talking to people on closer distance (friends, waiters at a restaurant, bank cashier, etc) people seem to get confused about the strange look of your teeth and tend to stare more (maybe they think you have a weird tooth on top of another tooth...).

Maybe with metals you don´t get the stare (and the obvious effort to figure out what's going on your mouth... "is it braces?? weird teeth??") because everyone is familiar with metal inside the mouth and as soon as they notice some silver shine they know you have braces on, as opposed to ceramics that are not that straight forward.

Is it my "newly braced" paranoia or people really tend to stare more when you wear ceramics? (and the fact that they feel like you have something the size of a car sticking out of your mouth).

[kitsune]

It's funny that you posted this because when I first got my braces on, I noticed people frequently staring into my mouth in a puzzled manner (I have ceramic uppers). The whole watching-people-try-to-figure-out-what's-going-on thing was the main reason why I decided to get colored ligs during my first adjustment. I figure that it makes my "situation" a bit more obvious instead of potentially appearing like I've got a weird thing happening in my mouth.

In hindsight sometimes I wish I had just gone full metal, but colored ligs over ceramic brackets can actually look quite nifty and glowy!

[belistic10]

i have noticed a couple of people look when at the shops etc but they did try to be subtle. oh well i guess i will get used to it eventually. I have the damon clears and metal lowers. i think they are all noticeable

[Maeraj]

I have ceramic uppers and lowers. Just got them 3 weeks ago. I really thought that people would notice them when I first go them but I have yet to have anyone really notice.

Some of my regular acquaintances didn't even notice that I had gotten braces until I mentioned it. I had really considered going with all metal because I was afraid that people wouldn't realize I had braces and might just think my teeth are funky but now I am really glad I didn't.

I think the ceramic brackets are a bit larger so maybe people are just noticing you move your lips a little funny--I definitely had that problem for at least a week after I got mine and even developed a speech impediment for the first week and half...thankfully it didn't last longer than that!

[Crafter]

A week and a half?? It's been 2 full weeks since I've got my uppers and one for my lowers and I still speak funny (specially the "s" and the "f"). And eating is just getting plain silly.

I even check my mouth everyday (hoping to see some nice change) but I guess 2 weeks is just too soon.

I considered getting colored ligs... but I am 32 years old and I teach at college, so I have to speak a lot in front of several people. I am not really sure I want all my students to notice some pink or green stuff in my mouth (although some of my students have braces on as well).

I truly admire most people here who seem to be happy about wearing braces. To me is just a mean to an end, a sacrifice that I must do to get a beautiful smile, but I am not loving it at all and really, can't wait to be finished. This is getting depressing

[klobird]

I have the full metal jacket and I'm 55! If people are staring, I haven't noticed much. And all I do is look straight at their teeth. You should see the heads go down. The majority of people don't seem to have Hollywood smiles, that's for sure!

You will get so used to everything about braces that none of it is that much of a big deal any more....at least that seems to be the case around here...

[belistic10]

A week and a half?? It's been 2 full weeks since I've got my uppers and one for my lowers and I still speak funny (specially the "s" and the "f"). And eating is just getting plain silly.

I even check my mouth everyday (hoping to see some nice change) but I guess 2 weeks is just too soon.

I considered getting colored ligs... but I am 32 years old and I teach at college, so I have to speak a lot in front of several people. I am not really sure I want all my students to notice some pink or green stuff in my mouth (although some of my students have braces on as well).

I truly admire most people here who seem to be happy about wearing braces. To me is just a mean to an end, a sacrifice that I must do to get a beautiful smile, but I am not loving it at all and really, can't wait to be finished. This is getting depressing

ditto! i am not loving it so far but i guess being in pain constantly will do that to your mood! it will be worth it in the end i am sure

[prettyyoungthing]

I've got ceramic braces on top & bottom with metal wires, and I was a bit paranoid at first about people noticing them, especially because my mouth was sore I was lisping and talking differently, but turns out after a few months people I spoke to at work every day hadn't even noticed! And a lot of friends would ask me ages after having them how long I had them on.

The response has been really positive! I know my teeth look better now than they did before braces so I'm more confident in my smile etc and most people say they either don't notice them, or they look cute

[SueAsh5]

I´m so happy to finally be getting straight teeth that I don´t care if people are staring. Some of them need braces worse than I do! They´re probably just jealous. I feel it is a privilege to have all this stuff in my mouth. My speech is slightly weird but improving and after only 6 days I noticed slight movement on the bottom and more every day. My ortho loves having an adult patient to talk to as there aren´t many of us here. Hang in there and just remember the goal.

[AM21]

When I first got braces, there were some that noticed them but not many. Some probably still don't know. I blew the surprise anyway, because I was just so happy to finally have braces, I was telling everyone. lol!

[JennyLaughs]

I feel it is a privilege to have all this stuff in my mouth.

Well said.

[Crafter]

Thanks for all the nice examples and words. I guess I still need to get used. Although I am not happy about being braced, at least I am proud that I am doing something about my smile

A little bit of patience (and noticing progress) is all I need. I´ll be done soon anyway (my ortho said that I will only need about 10 months on braces (but I believe it will be more).

Before, eating pizza and sandwiches were a challenge for me because I have a bit of an overbite (7 mm, i Think) and tomatoes and cheese slid though my teeth!!! I wasn't able to bite and cut flat things. Well, I hope that will change somday next year!

[katiemcb09]

At first I felt like my ceramic uppers were extremely noticeable, but my family swore up and down they only noticed up close.

Now, 10 months into it, I'm SO glad I did ceramic on top... if only for the nifty fact that they don't show up in photos. I had to get my photo taken for our law school composite the other day and I've dreaded it for the whole 10 months... but when I got the proofs back, you can't even barely see them! Wonderful.

The only bummer is the powerchains - my "white" ones stain terribly.

[drgnchsr36]

I got braced about 2 weeks ago with ceramics and clear ligs. Although my braces are almost unnoticeable on a distance, when talking to people on closer distance (friends, waiters at a restaurant, bank cashier, etc) people seem to get confused about the strange look of your teeth and tend to stare more (maybe they think you have a weird tooth on top of another tooth...).

Maybe with metals you don´t get the stare (and the obvious effort to figure out what's going on your mouth... "is it braces?? weird teeth??") because everyone is familiar with metal inside the mouth and as soon as they notice some silver shine they know you have braces on, as opposed to ceramics that are not that straight forward.

Is it my "newly braced" paranoia or people really tend to stare more when you wear ceramics? (and the fact that they feel like you have something the size of a car sticking out of your mouth).

Hmm, I didn't have any issues with mine..I have silver ligs. I spoke to my parents for 2hrs and they didn't notice.. my boss and co-workers didn't notice until I mentioned braces...then they peered at my teeth.. but my bottom metal ones are super noticable. I have a friend who has all ceramic and I can't see 'em at all.

[purplepetunia]

Crafter I too have ceramic uppers and metal lowers and also notice people's eyes lingering on my teeth as they try to figure out what's going on in there! I usually just smile even bigger so they can get a full view and arrive at the realization I have braces, and I sometimes even make reference to my braces if it fits well into the flow of the conversation. I find that if I talk about my braces in the beginning of a conversation it gives people permission to look at my teeth, satisfy their curiosity, and then we can all move on to another, more interesting topic.