I have 12 hours to decide what kind of braces to get!

[ArchimedesDeathray]

I'm getting braces on tomorrow and I still haven't decided if I want ceramic or metal. The difference in cost will only be 500 dollars.

Metal- I've heard they move your teeth faster so I'll be done with braces sooner. Also, even though I'm 24 the idea of getting to wear different color rubber bands sounds fun. Downside is that they're more visible. Also, I'll be working at schools k-12 next semester and I'm worried I'll be mistaken for a kid!

Ceramic- Staining, cost, longer treatment time. But they are less visible. I've heard some people say if they could do it over they would chose metal.

I can't decide! Does anyone have any additional insight?

[jem]

I had clear damon brackets ( top only). They were less visible than metal; some people noticed them, others did not. Like many people, I was very self-conscious at first so was glad to have clear brackets. After a while, you realise that braces are no big deal and get past caring whether others notice them or not and appreciate that having metal braces instead would not be the end of the world.

Whether you get rubber ligatures or not depends on whether the brackets are self-ligating - not on whether they are metal or ceramic.

Clear or ceramic brackets do not stain, but if they are not of the self-ligating variety, the rubber ligatures on them can stain. That will be the case whether you have metal or ceramic brackets, but orthodontists tend to give you clear rubber ligatures if you have clear brackets to keep up the discreet appearance.

Good luck today.

Jem

[Ridingboots]

I have till next Wednesday to make up my mind but thinking Ceramic

[sirwired]

I'm pretty sure treatment times can be the same. Many ceramics have metal-lined slots, which means that as far as the archwire is concerned, you are in metal braces.

I'd go with ceramic if I were you... and if your ortho offers self-ligating ceramics, you won't have to worry about staining.

[Ciara]

I have ceramic with metal ties so no staining but I now have power chains that do stain. If I could do it all again, I would probably choose self-ligating, ceramic braces.
Good luck!

[jaime]

I hear ya, I had a hard time deciding too! I wasn't sure if the extra cost was worth it or not. I have ceramic on my upper "social six" and metal for the rest. I like it this way. I get the benefit of reduced visibility and I can still do fun colours on the bottom. Right now I have orange and black for Halloween. If I had to do it over, I would stay the same. I have not experienced much staining of the elastics at all (the ceramics have clear ligs), even though I drink black coffee copiously.

I heard also that ceramic can take longer but that doesn't bother me too much. There are photos of me in braces where you literally can't see them...I'd rather that for a few extra months than the metal brackets, but to each their own.

[ArchimedesDeathray]

So at 8am this morning ( two hours to spare)I decided to get metal. Hopefully I won't regret it.

I didn't prepare for eating to be this difficult though. Luckily no pain so far :)

[rocco11510]

So at 8am this morning ( two hours to spare)I decided to get metal. Hopefully I won't regret it.

I didn't prepare for eating to be this difficult though. Luckily no pain so far

I think you made the right choice. After thinking about it back and forth, I chose metal like you did and I am very happy with my decision. If I could choose again, I would still pick metal.

Don't worry, the difficulty eating will go away by this time next week! Your molars will first be able to handle food, then your front teeth will follow.

For me, it took a while (a few weeks) for my front teeth to be able to handle any food at all....but my molars were fine a week after getting braces so it was ok (molars alone could handle eating).

How's it going 2 days later? Best of luck and it only gets easier!

[NeilH]

Great choice! I'm 18 months into this adventure and still don't regret choosing metal brackets.

[ArchimedesDeathray]

[quote="rocco11510"][quote="ArchimedesDeathray"]So at 8am this morning ( two hours to spare)I decided to get metal. Hopefully I won't regret it.

I didn't prepare for eating to be this difficult though. Luckily no pain so far :)[/quote]

I think you made the right choice. After thinking about it back and forth, I chose metal like you did and I am very happy with my decision. If I could choose again, I would still pick metal.

Don't worry, the difficulty eating will go away by this time next week! Your molars will first be able to handle food, then your front teeth will follow.

For me, it took a while (a few weeks) for my front teeth to be able to handle any food at all....but my molars were fine a week after getting braces so it was ok (molars alone could handle eating).

How's it going 2 days later? Best of luck and it only gets easier![/quote]

Its the end of day three and its getting better. You were right in that my molars are less sensitive than my front teeth. I think I'll probably be able to eat normally in the next 2-ish days. I have so many mouth ulcers though! Dental wax is my best friend right now.

[rocco11510]

Oh no! Mouth ulcers! I have to say, I was one of the lucky ones who had very little issues with mouth ulcers or the need for wax. I had an issue a couple of times (feels like a rug burn in your mouth), but very minimal compared to others.

Hang in there!

[razorz20138aA]

[quote="jaime"]I hear ya, I had a hard time deciding too! I wasn't sure if the extra cost was worth it or not. I have ceramic on my upper "social six" and metal for the rest. I like it this way. I get the benefit of reduced visibility and I can still do fun colours on the bottom. Right now I have orange and black for Halloween. If I had to do it over, I would stay the same. I have not experienced much staining of the elastics at all (the ceramics have clear ligs), even though I drink black coffee copiously.

I heard also that ceramic can take longer but that doesn't bother me too much. There are photos of me in braces where you literally can't see them...I'd rather that for a few extra months than the metal brackets, but to each their own.[/quote]

i like your braces they look good.

[kleinblue]

Good choice! I have had metal too for about 10 months now. It's freeing to not worry about staining from food and drink. Not sure about you, but I just can't give up my coffee.