Problems with Ceramic Braces: 3 Things to Consider Before You Commit

Getting adult braces can be embarrassing.

Whether you’ve just graduated the university or are in your 40s, correcting a malocclusion after the teen years tends to be conspicuous.

To avoid drawing attention to orthodontic treatment, many adults are choosing alternatives to traditional metal braces, and one of those options may be ceramic braces.

Ceramic braces contain brackets that blend into the colour of your teeth, providing a more discreet option compared to brightly coloured or silver-metal brackets.

However, this alternative hardly provides an ideal situation. Ceramic braces may hold the promise of concealing your orthodontic treatment, but they also contain several pitfalls that affect both your appearance and your convenience.

Here are three important facts you should know before you commit to this option:

1. Ceramic Braces Can Stain

According to Oral-B1, ceramic braces can stain easily, a fact that isn’t surprising given their light-coloured appearance. The Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics2 released a study on the colour stability of ceramic braces.

During the study, researchers studied the effect of these liquids on ceramic braces:

• Coffee.
• Red wine.
• Coke.

Researchers concluded that these liquids stained the ceramic braces and that this staining worsened over time.

If you drink multiple cups of coffee or are partial to soft drinks, you’ll want to consider the implications of this study before you choose ceramic braces.

It’s important to note that your ceramic braces can also stain from foods, such as blueberries, beetroot and red grapes.

2. Ceramic Braces Have Archwires

No matter how much your brackets and ligatures blend into your teeth, there’s an undeniable fact about ceramic braces—your braces will still require archwires that are less than attractive.

Without a doubt, metal archwires can seriously detract from the appearance of your ceramic braces. Even archwires that are more discreet present problems, with the aesthetic options of…

• Transparent archwires.
• Coated metallic archwires.

The goal of each option is to help your archwire appear less noticeable. However, the colours of these options don’t erase the fact that you have a visible wire passing over your teeth.

3. Ceramic Braces Still Require Effort

Even though ceramic braces are less conspicuous than other types of metal braces, you’ll still spend significantly larger amounts of time caring for your teeth as you would with other fixed orthodontic appliances.

Just because your brackets aren’t metal doesn’t mean food won’t stick to your braces during a meal. Furthermore, ceramic braces still present the same oral hygiene problems as traditional braces, which means it’s more difficult to keep your teeth free from plaque.

The good news is you can avoid each of these concerns by opting for Invisalign clear aligners. Unlike ceramic braces, Invisalign allows you to…

• Avoid staining. Because your clear aligners are removable, you can easily take them out before drinking your coffee.

• Avoid archwires. Invisalign aligners are made out of plastic material. Instead of having brackets and archwires that protrude from your mouth and detract from your smile, you’ll enjoy how your discreet aligners help you maintain your confidence.

• Avoid extra effort. Take out your aligners before a meal, and never experience food clinging to the brackets and wires of your braces. You can also pop out your aligners to easily clean your teeth.

Instead of settling for the option of ceramic braces, you can enjoy the convenience, simplicity and discreet appearance of your Invisalign aligners.

Discover how Invisalign can help you find a straight, beautiful smile when you locate your nearest MiSmile Invisalign provider and schedule a free consultation.