My orthodontist doesn't offer ceramic braces. Does anyone know why that would be?

Question

I am 21 years old and was thinking about getting braces. However, my ortho doesn't offer ceramics. Now I am thinking twice about getting braces. Are there problems with ceramics? Thanks.

Answer 1

Depends on the Dentist. some do and some don't, I quess it depends on their school, and where they got their degree from. Like most Dr's. what one does, the other may not. strange, but true. If you have been there for a while now. I would just trust him.

Answer 2

That's just his personal preference.... The ceramic brackets work just as well as the stainless steel. There are a few reasons that orthodontists don't like to use them.

1. They are wider than stainless steel brackets and most peoples bottom teeth aren't wide enough to use them and get a good result. (We frequently place ceramic on top and stainless on the bottom.)

2. The porcelain/ceramic material is actually harder than the teeth, so if the top teeth are hitting the lower ceramic brackets, it can cause unnecessary wear on the teeth.

3. The ceramic brackets are also a little harder to get the o-tie on than the stainless steel. (O-ties are the little rubber band that holds the wire into the bracket)

If you really want or need braces, I would recommend that you go to an orthodontist that offers what you want.

Answer 3

It could just be personal preference...he or she just doesn't like ceramic brackets. There can be limitations to what kind of cases you can treat with different types of braces. If your teeth don't need to be moved very much, you may want to ask about Invisilign or Orthoclear (I think that's the brand name). They are basically clear retainers that you wear all the time, but can take out to eat and brush your teeth. There is no metal involved, so they look nice. You can't always move teeth very far with them, but they can be great. Hope it helps.