Ceramic vs Metal Braces

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Ceramic vs metal braces, it is a question that most people who need braces have trouble answering – let us outline to you the differences between these styles of braces.

It used to be the case many years ago that if you were diagnosed with any sort of dental misalignment issue then your only available option to treat it would be the harsh metal braces. However with the advancements being made in the medical and particularly the orthodontic field today you have a number of alternative options available to you to help straighten your teeth – one of these options is clear ceramic braces.

Because the material that ceramic braces are made from is clear and in most cases (unless it gets stained) almost invisible, ceramic braces offer a perfect solution to tooth straightening for those adults or teenagers who may be feeling a little self conscious and embarrassed about having to wear braces at all.

Why Choose Ceramic Braces Over Traditional Metal Braces?

There are basically four major reasons why adults and teenagers tend to choose ceramic braces rather than their traditional counterparts.

1. They are more comfortable - because ceramic braces are made from a clear ceramic plastic rather than the traditional metal braces of years gone past there is less irritation of the jaw and gums. It is also softer and as such will not cut the inside of your mouth as much, leading to a much more comfortable treatment.

2. They are just as strong as regular braces - the ceramic material that ceramic braces are crafted from is just as strong as the traditional metal brace material. This means that you do not have to worry about breaking these braces unless they come under considerable duress.

3. They are fashionable - this point generally only stands out to the teenage brace wearing community, however it may apply equally well to adults. Ceramic braces are highly fashionable because they are fully customizable in terms of color. You are able to change the color of your braces each and every time you visit your orthodontist to have a check up and refastening of the ceramic braces.

4. They are next to invisible - as we have already mentioned in this article, ceramic braces are crafted from a material that is next to invisible. This is great news as the majority of people whom you interact with on a day to day basis will never know that you are even wearing teeth aligners (braces).

Wont Ceramic Braces Stain When I Eat or Smoke?

One of the bigger concerns we hear when people are contemplating whether to get ceramic or metal braces is wont the ceramic braces stain if I drink lots of coffee or am a regular smoker?

Well the answer to this question is yes – these ceramic braces will stain if you drink loads of coffee or smoke. However they can be professionally cleaned by either yourself or your dentist. Many handy cleaning products can be purchased to keep your ceramic braces looking as clean as when you first got them which means they will stay near invisible to the naked eye for as long as you care to maintain them.

If you are having trouble keeping your ceramic braces clean then you should talk to your dentist. Your dentist is highly skilled at cleaning this style of braces and will be able to offer you tips and strategies for keeping them as clean as possible.

The Biggest Advantage of Ceramic Braces

Perhaps the biggest advantage of ceramic braces and the one that most people tend to cite more than any other for their choice of this style of brace is the fact that these braces will not leave stains on your teeth over the duration of your treatment.

Metal braces are notorious for leaving terrible staining of your teeth that will take years of dedicated cleaning and maintenance just to remove once your braces treatment is finished. People tend to try and avoid this altogether by just opting for the ceramic braces in the first place.

Ceramic Vs Metal Braces Costs

In terms of costs for these two types of braces there is not much difference. The exact cost of any treatment will of course depend completely on the individual needs of the brace wearer and the length of time their treatment is going to cover. However generally speaking traditional braces will cost anywhere from $4,000 to $7,500 dollars, whereas the cost of ceramic braces will fall within the $3000 – $8,000 dollar range completely dependent upon orthodontic circumstance and the length of treatment required.

As such it can be seen that cost should not play a factor in the selection between these two styles of braces. As an additional benefit if your insurance coverage covers dental issues and traditional braces are included in that coverage, then there will be no reason why ceramic braces will not be covered by the same policy. So make sure you keep this in mind.

Ceramic Vs Metal Braces Conclusion

You can see from the above commentary that ceramic braces offer all of the advantages of traditional metal braces for much the same cost and with additional advantages thrown in. The only thing to remember when deciding between the two is that every bodies circumstances are different and what may work for one person may not work for all. As such you will need to speak to your trained orthodontist prior to committing to either type of brace. However if available to you, ceramic braces offer substantial advantages over their traditional metal braces counterparts.