Experiences- Those who switched from ceramic to metal

[thewanione]

Hi, I am new here.
I would love to hear experiences from anyone who has switched from ceramics to metal. I have braces on the top only with 6 being ceramic and the rest metal; bottoms will go one next month (definitely getting metal). I am thinking when the bottoms go on to have the ceramics switched to metal.

The irritation from the ceramics has not stopped. I was told the ceramics are not that much bigger than metal, but in my opinion they look jumbo-sized compared to metal and having thin lips doesn't help; with wax on the ceramics they really stick out. I would think that the metal brackets being smaller would cause less irritation, and the ceramics would cause more irritation since they are larger. I chose ceramics because they were less noticeable, but now if I knew metal were less irritating, it would not matter if I had a tin grin.

Also, the ceramics are leaving indentions behind my lips (very irritating). Will these indentions remain after over 2 years of having braces?

[catgyrl]

I have ceramic on top and metal on bottom, and I can tell you that the irritation is pretty much equal for both. And the only indentations I get on my lips are from the metal ones, not the ceramic. if you still plan to switch them out, make sure your ortho won't charge you extra for the switch. Mine did...

[thewanione]

Yes, the metal are bit irritating, but the ceramics seem more so. They are large and annoying; may not be as bad if they were smaller. There is an extra charge to replace them. I hear it is quite an experience having them taken off.

[catgyrl]

I will be honest... It was NOT fun getting them off. I had metals for 3 months before switching to ceramic, and my teeth were SO sensitive; that was probably the worst pain I'd ever felt, and that's including the 10 months I've been in elastics.

The rubbing won't last the entire time. Your mouth will toughen up snd will get used to the braces. In fact, for the past few months, I'd considered giving my ortho my stash of silicone wax because I thought I'd never need them again. I do need it here and there, though.

[thewanione]

Sounds like it would be painful taking them off considering how sore they still are now. Taking the glue off when getting the braces felt like my teeth would crack.
Had braces on for almost 2 months; had to use wax every night and will probably use it every night for the next 2 or so years :/
Thanks. Still debating on switching. Hope to hear more experiences.

[ArchWired28]

thewanione
I started with metal right away so I don't have any experience with switching, but... My mouth was very irritated at first. I had huge sores and indentations from brakets in certain spaces in my mouth, that did not seem to go away. Well, they eventually did - to the most part. I am not exactly sure on the timing as this happens gradually, but definitely, 2 months is NOT enough time for a sensitive mouth to heal and adjust. So, my best advice would be to wait for at least a month or two longer until making a decision to switch. Just try to take things easy as they are now and don't think that switching to metal will immediately help all your problems. I know what you are going through and how annoying and hard it is at times (I have a very sensitive mouth so I am in the same boat), but better not to rush. As bitter as it may sound, in many cases with braces it may be better to live with what you have now rather than try and change things - just to discover, that the change is not for the better
Good luck to you, and keep us posted!

[thewanione]

Yes, so true, change isn't always better; I was thinking the same. Maybe I will wait longer. Are In-Ovation braces any less irritating?

[jamsmak04]

I have ceramic uppers and metal lowers. My metal lowers are now the only ones that ever bother me. I just had some brackets added to my back molars so my mouth was pretty sore and there was new movement and I only got sores around my metal brackets. I got a small one by a ceramic one but one day with wax and it was gone.

Sores will come and go with tooth movement it seems. I only had a sore mouth for 2 weeks or so but I guess it can last longer. I also wanted to switch my ceramics for metals but now I am happy I got the ceramic uppers.

[thewanione]

Thanks for the replies.

The ceramics are getting a bit more bearable, but they still are uncomfortably large. I know I will probably get used to them eventually, but not sure if I can get used to my lips sticking out for 2 years. I am glad I did not get all ceramic on top.

If I had to do over again, and since both metal and ceramic are irritating, I would have chosen metal. Because metal are smaller, I think they would have been easier for me to bear.

[Maya]

Hi,

I have ceramic top and metal bottoms. Both cause ulcers and both stick out. I had 4 extractions and my teeth were flared out and needed to be pulled in and also to close the gaps.

Ulcers may still occur when your teeth move and hit a new spot that hasn't toughened up yet. Stay with it, it does get better, I agree it is the toughest time in the beginning. I had many moment of "what the hell have I done? "

[klobird]

Wow-I'm surprised at the responses...I have all metal Damon Q. They are sooo small and smooth--(no ligs-self ligating). The brackets themselves from the very 1st minute have been almost unnoticeable. It's the elastics, and elastics hooks, and buccal tubes, and poking wires that have been a total pain in the *ss!!!