What Are the Advantages of Ceramic Braces?

Ceramic Braces vs. Metal Braces

For many people, the decision to straighten their teeth is an easy one. The bigger question is which way to go about it, as there are several options to choose from. Ceramic braces are a popular choice that offers numerous advantages. For expert work with these braces, orthodontists delivers beautiful results with less trauma than traditional braces.

Ceramic Braces in a Nutshell

Old-school metal braces were a technology that nobody liked – that is, until the day they were finally removed from the mouth. Everyone loved the results; they just hated the process. Children (and adults) endured mouth pain, anxiety over food and drink, a stigmatizing look, and a metallic taste in the mouth for years in order to have straight, healthy teeth.

In the 1980s, orthodontic specialists began experimenting with high-tech composite materials that had been originally developed with NASA technology. Today, these ceramic materials are frequently employed instead of metal braces. Both methods are used in the same way and perform the same function. But because the ceramics are less visible than metal, the experience of “having braces” is very different, and for many patients much more tolerable.

What Are the Advantages?

The differences between ceramic and traditional metal braces aren’t generally a matter of results. Both methods are proven and effective. The main advantages of ceramics are in the patient experience. Ceramic braces offer a host of physical, emotional, and practical “pros” that make them the most popular choice for professional results.

Much Harder to See

Ceramic braces straighten teeth with largely the same techniques as today’s modern metal braces. The biggest and most obvious difference is that ceramics are much less visually prominent during the 18-24 months it takes for them to finish their work. In fact, depending on the condition of the patient’s teeth and the choices made in the actual coloring of the ceramics and supporting wire, these braces can be nearly unnoticeable.

The ceramic materials used can be matched to virtually any tooth color. The wire that holds the braces in place can also be nearly invisible, making the braces even harder to see. As an alternative, a color for the wire can be chosen by the patient that will put a personalized stamp on their smile for the duration of the treatment.

Major Emotional Relief

All people, young and old, would love to have straight teeth. Many, however, miss out on this opportunity because they feel that they’d be too stigmatized to be seen wearing braces for all that time. Adolescents in particular are highly sensitive about the way they look. A spot of acne is a temporary blemish in theory. As all teens (and parents) know, they can be much more than that in practice.

Being able to go through the orthodontic process without the stigma of being seen as a “metal mouth” is extremely liberating. This lower emotional overhead of orthodontic treatment makes for happier patients with less anxiety about their appearance. Moods are better, sleep is better, stress is lower. These are not just cosmetic advantages. They are, in fact, health advantages.

More Comfortable

Another reason why ceramics are preferred over metal is that they are less intrusive in the mouth overall and less likely to cause injury. Metal braces have come a long way since the clunky apparatuses the Baby Boomers lived with. Even today, metal braces can be painful, scratchy, and irritating to both gums and inner cheeks. Ceramic braces have smaller brackets and smoother, rounded surfaces.

No Damage to Enamel

What’s the effect of a foreign object on your teeth for years? In the case of ceramics, it’s minimal. Discolored tooth enamel through demineralization once conventional braces come off is a real concern for both patient and orthodontist. Ceramics leave less of a visible “footprint” even after they’ve been removed, with minimal damage to precious tooth enamel.

Easier to Remove When Done

Ceramic braces are easy to take out when the teeth are finished with their straightening. Even though the braces have been strongly bonded to your teeth, they are easily removed by a “de-bonding” agent that chemically undoes the adhesive. There is no after-effect on the tooth’s looks or integrity. When ceramic braces are worn, they’re barely visible. When they’re finished, they leave no trace of themselves besides straight teeth.

Fast Results

Ceramic braces can straighten teeth more quickly than other methods. Depending on the severity of the case, straightening with this method usually takes a year and a half to two years. That’s comparable to metal braces – although those can stay on for as long as three years — but faster than tray methods such as Invisalign. Also, because they’re so visually subtle, the time spent wearing ceramics doesn’t feel as long and traumatizing as metal braces.

What Are the Benefits of Ceramic Braces?

If you have decided that you could benefit from tooth straightening via braces, either for hygiene or cosmetic needs, there are several types to choose from. Ceramic braces were designed for people who wanted their orthodontic treatment to be less noticeable. When they first came out, they stained quite easily and were not as durable as other forms of braces. Now, thanks to technological advances, ceramic braces are a great option to give serious consideration if you want your braces to be more discreet.

What Are the Benefits of Ceramic Braces?

There is a lot to think about when decided what type of braces to use. Some of the benefits that ceramic has over other material types include:

Appearance

Perhaps the most popular reason that people choose ceramic over metal braces has to do with how noticeable they are. Although they have similar shapes, ceramic braces can use much smaller brackets that are harder, if not impossible, to see. If you are concerned about people seeing you as having a mouth full of metal, ceramic may be the way to go.

Comfort

Another great reason to go with ceramic is they cause much less irritation in the mouth. Your gums will especially appreciate not having metal rubbing up against them. Again, the brackets are smaller and less likely to rub the inside of your mouth.

Easy Removal

When you are ready to kiss your braces goodbye, ceramic is much easier to remove than other options. As mentioned above, the adhesive will not demineralize the tooth enamel, leaving the underlying teeth healthy and straight.

Faster Than Invisalign®

You may be asking yourself why people do not use Invisalign® if they are concerned about how their braces will look. The short answer is that ceramic work faster. Invisalign® trays can be removed, something that happens often and slows down the treatment process. Ceramic braces are working to straighten teeth 24/7.

How Do I Get Started?

The decision regarding which method you’ll choose to straighten your teeth is something you’ll want to discuss with our orthodontic masters. The “best” decision relies on a number of factors and varies by patient, age, condition of the teeth, and willingness to spend the time and effort for the orthodontic process.