Are metal braces really faster than ceramics?

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#1 Post by **Evelyn** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 8:56 pm

Hey! I've been hearing a lot about metal braces vs. ceramics, and people claiming that metals move teeth faster. I was just wondering, is this an urban legend or is it really true? Also, are metals easier to get off? I was just wondering from a scientific point of view what the difference was. Thanks! Eve

#2 Post by **fins** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:12 pm

I think it's an urban legend but I guess your ortho would know. What I do know is that I have ceramic and metal braces and they will come off (uppers and lowers) at the same time. If the ceramics cause me a few extra months in braces, I don't mind since I think they look great.

#3 Post by **geekgirl** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:49 pm

I was told by my ortho that metal brackets can be faster because they're stronger, and therefore the orthos can apply more force and get the job done a little bit quicker. Whether or not that's true, i wish i knew...

#4 Post by **caryca** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 1:08 pm

I was said 1,5 year...and then I have chosen clear braces...so I guess it does not make that significat impact, however with my rotated tooth I was asked whether metal bracet is ok with me...as more force can be used...so I guess it does impact a bit

#5 Post by **glowstix** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 10:12 pm

i think the metal brackets are better. we'll obviously never know if they do indeed move teeth faster. they're smaller and don't stain. the ceramics or clear bracket are bigger and not even less noticeable since you have to have an archwire and ligatures/chains anyway so why bother?? if you really want less noticeable, get invisalign; if not, just get the metal.

#6 Post by **Gable74** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 4:38 am

I am sort of on the fence about the whole issue. I have ceramics on the top front 6 teeth and metal everywhere else. At the onset, i thought i would prefer the ceramics because they were "clear", but after 8 months in braces i am finding that i could really care less. They are bigger and take a little more getting used to, but they are relatively invisable i guess. I really think its a mental thing when your sitting in the chair before you get your braces on and the doctor says, "they will be invisable, no one will really see them". It kind of appeals to the population that are timid about the whole thing to begin with. I bet that if halfway through your procedure you were asked if you want ceramic or metal the number of people taking metal would double compared to when they asked you in the beginning. Each has thier strong points, but in the long run its just a mental thing if you ask me.

#7 Post by **Evelyn** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 4:42 pm

Interesting...I agree with all of that. I have metals myself and seriously I've never second-guessed that. Actually ceramics weren't a choice for me since they needed something strong to use as an anchor for my impacted so metals in my opinion must be stronger, but I was wondering if there is any scientific proof that metals are faster.

Gable that's so interesting what you said, and it's so true. I think about 6 months into treatment most people just give up trying conceal their braces and would probably go to metals. Interesting, very intersting....

~Eve

#8 Post by **Gable74** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 4:49 am

Plus, chocolate donuts are much more promanent when stuck between "clear" braces as apposed to metal.....

#9 Post by **fins** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 8:24 am

Having had full metal and a metal/ceramic combo, in my opinion there is no comparison. Hands down, ceramic looks much nicer on me. I have never tried to hide my braces, I give my ortho a lot of credit, I think my teeth look great and I still have quite some time left for treatment.

#10 Post by **Evelyn** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:11 pm

Dr. J? any insight?

#11 Post by **Granola** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 3:49 pm

I am reading this thread with interest, and hope a lot more people weigh in with their opinion (and especially Dr. J).

I will be braced in January, and am debating which to get on my uppers, stainless or ICE ceramics. I think the ICE look so nice (someone who works at the ortho's office showed me hers) but there seems to be such much conflicting info out there about which is better. I love how ceramics look, but the debonding sounds seriously painful.

Thanks for posting this question, Evelyn!

#12 Post by **jennielee81** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 4:19 pm

Gable74 wrote:Plus, chocolate donuts are much more promanent when stuck between "clear" braces as apposed to metal.....

OH YEAH!

#13 Post by **fins** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 4:39 pm

Granola - I was worried about debanding ceramics too. Don't worry, I had two removed and it was no big deal. I just want the ortho doing it, NOT the assistant!

#14 Post by **joplin** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 7:57 am

I love how ceramics look, but the debonding sounds seriously painful.

I had two ceramic brackets replaced recently. They snapped right off, no pain, no problem. The assistant had some kind of an appliance she used to remove them. It made a stapler-kind-of-SNAP! sound and the bracket was off. That eased my mind a lot about having all of them snapped off in the end of my treatment, who knows when that will be.