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Ceramic Braces - The Pro's and Con's?

Ceramic brackets are white braces that blend in with the teeth for a more natural effect. They are made of composite materials and do not easily stain. Ceramic braces do look more natural and are a lot less noticeable than regular braces. They are often a good choice for adults who are not good candidates for Invisalign.

Although the ceramic materials have improved greatly in strength and looks, ceramic braces are still not as strong and reliable as metal ones. If you have a particularly crooked smile, your orthodontist may recommend just sticking with the plain old vanilla metal one for overall ease, cost and strength. Some manufactures are now making self litigating models, also known as "speed braces" which have an improved design to speed up treatment times.

As with metal braces, rubber bands or ligatures hold the arch wire onto the ceramic brackets. Again, just as with metal braces the ligatures are changed each time the brace is adjusted, usually once a month or so.

The Good:
Great cosmetic choice for adults
Blends in well for a natural look
Your orthodontist can achieve a good result easily and quickly

What are the benefits?

The Bad
More expensive and not quite as strong as metal braces

The Ugly
The ligatures can really stain - especially with tumeric, coffee, red wine and other spices.