Size of metal bracket vs ceramic - did it affect your choice

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#1 Post by **beth1966** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:49 am

Hi -

Wondering what affected your choice in metal vs. ceramic brackets BESIDES cost? I've had orthos tell me it is $1200 more for ceramic upper and lowers, others say it is $400 more, others say there is NO difference in price. I've had some say I can have ceramic on top AND bottom and others say ceramic ONLY on top and metal on bottom. One point an ortho made was that given the profile size of the ceramic both my top and bottom lips will protrude so if i have metal on bottom it will be more inconspicuous.

I've been told ceramic will slightly slow down my treatment time, others say no difference.

I can't obviously make sense of the price difference, nor change it and I also can't possibly know IF ceramic will take longer then metal - NO ONE can, unless we have a crystal ball.

BUT I know what I see - - - and at my most recent consult, the ligating metal brackets by GAC that I saw that one ortho offers are CONSIDERABLY smaller in actual size (I think we call that footprint) and CONSIDERABLY lower in profile - as in they protrude farther out from the tooth.

The ceramic brackets offered were by Unitek - I am guessing they are called Clarity but I will call to confirm. They are by far the largest ceramic bracket I've seen to date - so for me and my mouth I don't think it would be worth it to get them. They will cause my lip to protrude and I also have concerns with ligs staining - they told me i can come in for changes as often as i like - even every 2 weeks, but i'm just not sure about them.

Anyway - I'm wondering if she offers one of the smallest metal brackets, sure looked that way and they were very smooth and tiny. And the ceramics -well the ortho said she has tried many many kinds - in her residency and in her practice (she has a huge practice with her dad) and she feels these work best.

I still have to confirm which GAC metal bracket she uses - - I know for sure they are ligating and require ligs. She also told me that self ligating brackets are very bulky as well.

Any feedback on how you made your choice is appreciated!
Thanks!

#2 Post by **acd** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:59 am

Bracket size really didn't affect my choice but it probably should have. I have ceramic uppers which are a lot larger than my lower metal brackets. If I had it to do all over again I would have gone with whatever has the smallest footprint and is the lowest profile, which would have been metal bracket upper and lower. At the time I was more concerned with other pepole's reaction to flashing a mouth full of metal. It didn't take long to realize than people didn't care that I had braces and didn't react negatively to them.

My suggestion would be to go with the smallest, lowest profile bracket possible but not to let the brackets be the ultimate decision maker. You're going to be spending a lot of time in the office with the assistants and orthodontist and you need to feel comfortable with the treatment plan and with them.

#3 Post by **beth1966** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:05 am

Thanks acd!

So far the office that offers this very small profile/size metal bracket is by far the office I like best. They have GREAT hours - 3 orthos (2 daughters and a father), have a great reputation and thriving practice, everyone was SUPER nice, and I was very very comfortable with the ortho I met with. So the practice itself is DEFINITELY one I am comfortable with - I am a little concerned that they do not do anything more in the way of pre-records before putting on my braces.

No molds, xrays, and no spacers. I went for the consult last night and my next step is to get braced!

#4 Post by **LCARA** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:16 pm

I've never considered the bracket size an issue at all, and I have porcelain on top, metal on bottom.

I'm no dentist, but I can tell you that my top row have moved a lot slower than my bottom row, and my orthodontist specifically told me this would be the case if I chose the porcelain.

#5 Post by **beth1966** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:59 pm

Thanks LCARA - for the info!

#6 Post by **beth1966** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 1:03 pm

I think some of us to consider bracket size if we have smaller mouths or lips. I have a small, narrow mouth and thin lips - the bulkier the bracket the more difficult it will be for me to adjust and cover the braces in my mouth - no doubt about that. I'm sure for others it would not make nearly as much a difference.

#7 Post by **TumbleDryLow** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:07 pm

I have Inspire Ice brackets (sapphire) on my upper front 6, and although their footprint is much bigger than the metal, I do not regret getting them at all. My main reason for getting clear was vanity. I didn't want to be a metal mouth. No, the clear brackets are not invisible, but unless someone is right in front of your face, they are not very noticeable. Nor are they very noticeable in photos. My mouth is not puffy. At all. I was worried about that since I too have a small mouth. As for staining of ligs, my adjustments are two months apart so I worried a lot about ugly looking ligs, but I use smoke ligs and powerchains, and they hold up very well against staining with reasonable precautions (no curry, and I drink coffee thru a straw).

#8 Post by **dissonance** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:50 pm

I also have the Inspire Ice on top and metal on the bottom. Like TumbleDryLow, I agree their footprint is bigger than the metal, but they aren't uncomfortable and I definitely don't regret going with them over the other options.

What ultimately sealed the deal for me (I bounced between the Ice, ceramics, metal, linguals, you name it) was actually seeing the Ice on the consultant at the ortho's office. You couldn't even tell she had braces on her uppers - of course I could see the wire - but I sat across from her talking for 30 minutes before even realizing she did in fact have brackets. Since getting them myself I've actually gotten a number of compliments on how well they blend in and how nice they look.

At my particular ortho, it was the same price to go with the Ice or metal. She said they typically never do the clear on the bottom teeth because one, they are larger, and two, the material can cause a person to chip a tooth if their bite is off. Sometimes they'll do clear if they are certain a person won't run into any problems with their bite.

As for length of treatment, I heard varying things about whether having clear/ceramic would extend the treatment time. I was told it wouldn't in my case, but everyone is probably different. Even if it does extend treatment time a bit it was worth it to have the clear, for me.

Good luck!!
dissonance

#9 Post by **beth1966** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:21 pm

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with me. Do any of you have photos of yourself with the clear braces? I am seeing an ortho on Monday who offers the Inspire Ice brackets.

The ortho last night told me she thought the Ice brackets were TOO white and if your teeth are not already white - they look funny. I think because they are 'sapphire' they are 'whiter' then others? She said the brackets she offers (Clarity self ligating) are clear, but she also said they are way bulkier then metal (as i mentioned above).

She really did not seem to be trying to downplay other brackets - i think she just genuinely prefers the ones she uses.

I am curious to see what the Inspires look like when i see him on monday.

#10 Post by **dissonance** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:03 pm

Here's a pic of mine... reminds me, I need to get a My Braces story going.

They are actually clear, not white. I also was told they look best on whiter teeth though just like you said. I prepped by doing whitening prior to getting them put on.

Hope this is helpful!
-dissonance

#11 Post by **beth1966** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:36 pm

WOW - thanks for posting. They are BEAUTIFUL!

#12 Post by **dissonance** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:54 pm

Thanks!!

I have to say it was strange for the first few days, trying to get used to my top lip having to go up and down over the brackets. It wasn't terrible by any means but it was a little awkward (no one else noticed though, just me). Not sure if this is due to them being larger than metal brackets, or just a normal adjustment everyone goes through.

You'll have to let us know what you decide. In the end, everyone is different, and you just have to choose whatever is best for your own particular situation. I'm sure whatever option you decide you will be happy with since you will be a step closer to a fabulous smile!

#13 Post by **EmbraceMe** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 3:43 pm

I got the clear on top and metal on the bottom. I wanted clear for vanity reasons. If I could go back and do it again, I would have metal top and bottom. My bottom teeth have never bothered me, while my top have. The clear braces are a lot bulkier. I have a very small mouth, and wish i would have chosen metal.

#14 Post by **beth1966** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 3:49 pm

Thanks EmbraceMe - - do you have any pictures of your mouth with the braces on smiling and closed?

#15 Post by **sauerkraut** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 11:56 pm

acd wrote:

My suggestion would be to go with the smallest, lowest profile bracket possible but not to let the brackets be the ultimate decision maker. You're going to be spending a lot of time in the office with the assistants and orthodontist and you need to feel comfortable with the treatment plan and with them.

I second that

!

I have InOvation self-ligating brackets, ceramic for the social 6, metal everywhere else. I must admit I didn't think too hard about it, just accepted what my ortho likes to use. I haven't noticed any difference in any way between the ceramic and the metal, other than that the ceramics are less visible of course (and cost a little more!).

I'm a bit surprised that your favourite ortho doesn't even do xrays. Does he maybe have copies from the dentist? I thought they needed to check the condition and position of the roots and bone before they start moving things around. I'm no expert, though