Clear braces have become an increasingly popular alternative to conventional metal braces. Both types of braces serve the same purpose of realigning and straightening crooked teeth.
Those who are concerned with how noticeable their braces are will find the ceramic variety, also known as clear, is more visually pleasing. The ceramic variety has brackets made with either ceramic, porcelain or plastic. These brackets can be translucent or colored to match your teeth. Ceramic braces blend in quite nicely with the teeth. The days of ceramic braces requiring a metal wire are long gone. Nowadays, even this wire can be made with translucent material. Alternatively, traditional metal braces are quite noticeable when one talks, smiles or laughs. If you suspect you will be self-conscious about your smile, regular metal braces are not ideal.
Metal braces are revered for their durability. Though clear braces are certainly tough, they are made from a more brittle material. This material has the potential to crack or chip. Those who play sports or engage in other activities in which contact with the jaw or mouth is possible will find traditional metal braces to be the better option as it will greatly reduce the possibility of potentially costly repairs.
Some patients state the ceramic material bothers the inner portion of their lips. This is potentially due to the interaction of the material within the mouth or that ceramic brackets are larger than conventional ones. Though this discomfort is rare, it might be an issue if your mouth is sensitive.
There are plenty of articles on the web that state staining is a problem with ceramic braces. Though the original ceramic braces did stain, especially when made with cheap plastic, today's ceramic braces do not have a similar issue. Yet it is possible for ligatures to stain. These are the small rubber bands that hold the wire along the braces in place. Such ligatures are used on both ceramic braces as well as metal braces.
Teeth move a bit more freely when metal braces are in place so less treatment time is required. Braces function by applying pressure to brackets that move teeth across the arch wire. The braces must apply ample force in order for the teeth to move. Metal brackets have minimal friction against the metal wire compared to the ceramic and plastic varieties.
Conventional metal braces can withstand more pressure than the newer ceramic variety. This is why metal braces are optimal for severe corrections. Ceramic braces will likely require more time to align to the teeth as adjustments must be a bit smaller.
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