Clear Braces - 6/7 Months - Before/After (pics)

[jamie vs]

Before getting braces I looked around for pictures of others who had a similar misalignment to mine so I could read their updates and kind of get an idea of what to expect once I began treatment. Sadly, I didn't have much luck in finding anyone's teeth even remotely similar to mine. As you can imagine, everyone's teeth are different but this forum is a nice bank of information so hey you never know, maybe my pics and 6/7 month update will help someone if they see this post and have similar crowding on their lower teeth like I did which has been my primary concern. The reason I wrote "6/7 months" is because I've had my upper braces 1 month longer than the lateral. Last month that I went in for my 6th tightening appointment they changed my upper wire to a thicker one (they called it a 16) and last week on my 7th appointment they changed my lateral arch wire to a "16" also. As you can see from the before picture, my teeth have really began to straighten and align. It hasn't exactly been a joyride but it's looking back at where I started and where I am know that keep me positive and confident in knowing that when my treatment is done, it will all have been worth it.

[SoCalUniveristyLed]

Wow! You have really nice chompers lol. The clear braces look pretty cool too! How much longer do you have? You look very close to finished

[jamie vs]

Wow! You have really nice chompers lol. The clear braces look pretty cool too! How much longer do you have? You look very close to finished

lol, thanks for the compliment but my teeth are actually really worn although somehow still manage to look okay now that they're beginning to straighten. My Ortho said it was gonna take at least 12 months for my bottom teeth to be pulled forward but it only took 6, my top teeth had 3 small gaps, 2 of which are closed and the last gap is just about closing too. I was quoted 24 months minimum but on every appointment he seems to be surprised with my progress. To be completely honest, I think it's gone so fast because I change my own elastics. I didn't ask if I could because I'm pretty sure I would have been told not to but, as you may already know the clear elastics stain easily and I go out every weekend (clubs, parties, etc) so I change my elastics Friday nights. There's a couple of topics on here with a huge debate as to if you should do this or not. I'm not saying you should but personally, I don't feel comfortable going out to socialize with stained yellowish elastics so that is why I've chosen to change them myself. I have to deal with the slight tightening discomfort that comes with new elastics for a few hours each time I change them but it's not that bad at all and I really do think it's made a difference time wise. AGAIN, I'm not suggesting that anyone do this but that is the choice I made personally and so far it's been fine.

And yes, the clear braces are kewl, I'm glad I got these over metal and even though you can see the wire most ppl don't notice them. If they do, they think they're cool too. Part of me wants to be done already. On the flip side, I think I'm gonna miss them when they take them off.

[Matilda]

Wow! Unbelievable progress!

[jamie vs]

Wow! Unbelievable progress!

Thanks xD

[DaisySmith]

I can only echo the above. You must be over the moon. I love seeing before and after photos so thanks for posting.

[jamie vs]

I can only echo the above. You must be over the moon. I love seeing before and after photos so thanks for posting.

Aww thanks, yea it's exciting

[Norrie]

Wow. Absolutely beautiful! Your teeth look amazing. That is incredible progress!

Are these Damon braces? Or are they a different form of clear braces? I have lingual braces right now, but am having a lot of problems with them and am considering switching over. I would love to hear more about these, and how they compare price-wise to ceramic, etc.

[jamie vs]

Wow. Absolutely beautiful! Your teeth look amazing. That is incredible progress!

Are these Damon braces? Or are they a different form of clear braces? I have lingual braces right now, but am having a lot of problems with them and am considering switching over. I would love to hear more about these, and how they compare price-wise to ceramic, etc.

Thank you

They are clear ceramic but are not Damon. Damon braces are self-ligating meaning that when you go in for a tightening they won't use ruber band ligatures coz they're not needed and instead just change the wire. From what I understand Damon's work faster than braces with the older traditional design. I would have gotten Damon braces just coz of the self-ligating feature but my Ortho didn't tell me til it was too late that it was also an option. They come in clear too so if you're gonna switch you might like to go clear. Price? That just depends where you live and where you go but mine were only $500 more than metal (non-Damon) which I found well worth it.

[Norrie]

Thanks so much for that information! So this is a stupid question, but are clear ceramics different than just plain ceramics? Yours look so much brighter and more clear than what I think of in terms of ceramics.

How often do you have adjustments? How long did it take you to adjust to having them (sore lips, etc.)?

I can't tell you how much this helps. I've been really, really struggling with my braces, and seeing yours made me about 95% sure that I will switch over.

[jamie vs]

Thanks so much for that information! So this is a stupid question, but are clear ceramics different than just plain ceramics? Yours look so much brighter and more clear than what I think of in terms of ceramics.

How often do you have adjustments? How long did it take you to adjust to having them (sore lips, etc.)?

I can't tell you how much this helps. I've been really, really struggling with my braces, and seeing yours made me about 95% sure that I will switch over.

I think that all ceramic braces are clear though I've seen some pics where the ceramic brackets look white and the person's teeth look off-white so I'm not sure, maybe there's clear and white. The only reason I specified that my "clear" braces are also "ceramic" is because you asked how the two compare whereas what I have are both clear and ceramic. To be exact they are made of "sapphire ceramic". In my initial consultation I told my Ortho that I wanted "clear ceramic" and he kept referring to them as "Sapphire". I didn't care what he called them lol as long as they were clear and I thought ceramic was the correct word to use :p

On my bonding appointment I got to see the box they came in and it said they were made of clear sapphire ceramic so I guess that would be the best term to use when you ask about them althoug I would still have chosen the clear Damon (my guess is they're also Sapphire) if given that choice. As I wrote in my firt post, the clear ligatures stain easily so in 1-2 weeks no matter how much you brush or avoid eating food that will stain them quicker such as pasta sauce, coffee, dark soda, etc they will still turn yellowish and make your overall smile/teeth look dirty. With clear Damon braces you wouldn't have that problem bc they don't use ligatures.

My adjust appointments are every 28days with my Ortho but, since I change my ligatures weekly, I've actually been performing my own tightening appointments myself every Friday :/

Getting used to them only took a couple/few weeks like most anyone else

[kids041]

Where do you get the ligs to change your own?

[jamie vs]

Where do you get the ligs to change your own?

You can find ligs, power chains, and pretty much anything else even wires or a whole set of brackets if you wanted them on eBay. There's many vendors that sell them and they're really cheap. You can also get different colors if you want. I've only bought clear ligs and power chains. Oh, you should know that power chains come in the 3 sizes (small/medium/large), the difference is the spacing between the rings. The large size has the most spacing while the small have the rings really close together and are tighter. Ask your Ortho what size he/she uses so you can get the same size power chains. Tip: Say you're just curious bc you read there's 3 different sizes. I use the medium, my Ortho said that is the most commonly used. Ligs are all the same size so no worries there.

eBay search terms: orthodontic ligatures, orthodontic power chains, orthodontic brackets, etc. Just put the word orthodontic in front of what you're looking for.

Alternatively: I've heard that some Ortho's (not many) will let you change your ligs and will let you take home those that are left over on the stick when you go in for an appointment. This seems to be in rare cases so I didn't ask but if you feel comfortable asking your Ortho he/she might tell you it's ok and give you a few ligs so you can at least change the front ones out. I've also read some forum users say that their Ortho let them go in more frequently just to to get new ligs, not sure how likely that is but if yours would let you do so you might not have to go through the trouble of doing it yourself.

[Norrie]

Thank you so, so much for all of your help! It's really appreciated. It's good to hear the info about the ligs. I drink black tea every morning, so mine would probably be stained within hours. If I go that route, I may have to break that habit.
I am going to call my orthodontist in the morning to try to set up a time to talk to him. During the appointments, he bounces from one chair to the next pretty rapidly, and it doesn't seem like a great time to go, "hey, I totally want to change my treatment plan". I have a regular appointment on Tuesday, so maybe I can have a few minutes either before or after it.

I keep reading that ceramic brackets are bigger than metal, but yours don't look like they are. I really like the look of yours.

So your orthodontist tech doesn't notice that you're changing out your own ligs in between appointments?! That is sort of awesome. I could never be so brave (I'm so squeamish that even regular appointments make me cringe).

Looking forward to following along with your journey. It's moving so fast!

[jamie vs]

Lol, you're welcome. My appointments always fall on Friday's since they're every 28 days. I asked to be scheduled that way because it's more convenient for me to do things and run errands on Friday. So, the Friday of my appointment I am wearing 1 week old ligs which I would usually change that night but due to the appointment I go in with the slightly stained ligs so the Assistant doesn't notice.

Ceramic brackets are slightly bigger than metal however even if the metal ones would be half the size that they are now, they would still be more noticeable than the ceramic which are clear as glass. Good luck Tuesday, feel free to pm me and tell me how it went or if you post an update send me a link so I can read it