Dental Braces for Kids

Disadvantages of Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces have a few distinct advantages over other types of braces, especially in terms of visibility. When compared to the traditional braces, they are generally more aesthetically pleasing and they are cheaper than other forms of braces such as the invisible and the lingual braces. This being said, there are also some distinct disadvantages of ceramic braces as well.

Clear ceramic braces, compared to two more visible types of dental braces

Ceramic braces are more expensive than the traditional braces by approximately two thousand dollars. For individuals who work in the public and need braces but cannot afford the extra two thousand dollars, they may have no choice but to have the visible ones unless they can sort out a payment plan.

These braces, even through the brackets aren’t very visible, they are larger than other forms of brackets which affects the aesthetics and depending on the individual, may cause more discomfort at the beginning.

The elastics that are used with ceramic braces have certain materials in them that can cause the teeth to stain. Although this can be dealt with after the treatment and the staining may only be minor, it could mean the possible need for a whitening treatment after the braces.

Because of the nature of these braces, they are more breakable than the traditional braces. They do not withstand the pressure as well and cannot be used on many cases of severely crooked teeth. They are also not recommended for those involved in sports or other such activities where there is more chance of accidents. Also because of the materials used, the treatment does tend to take longer. It can be anywhere from three to six months longer depending on the treatment that is required.

Despite these disadvantages, the ceramic braces are great for those who can wear them and can afford them because the positives can outweigh the negatives.

Types of Dental Braces

There are so many types of braces out there to choose from that it’s hard to determine which ones to go with. The different types or brands of braces are: metal, ceramic, lingual, Damon, and invisible braces. Most people can wear all of these and based on the severity, how much you want to spend, jaw alignment, etc. will determine which ones will be best for you.

Metal braces are the most traditional and are the ones that was first introduced to people. They are metal brackets, sometimes combined with nickel and titanium, that are strung with wire and sometimes with colored bands. These are usually kept on for about 2 to 3 years.

The ceramic braces are just like the metal braces except the brackets are made of ceramic. The ceramic braces still have a wire that connects to the brackets but are not as noticeable as the traditional metal ones. Ceramic braces are one step closer to being almost invisible braces. They are, however, less sturdy than the metal braces as the ceramic can become a little more brittle do to eating crunchy foods.

Lingual braces are a little more expensive but the length of time of wearing them. Lingual braces has to be custom fitted for your teeth and affects the tongue instead of the cheek and lips like the metal braces do. Lingual braces are placed behind the teeth so they appear invisible and cannot be seen by others while you are going through the treatment.

Damon braces are braces that are self ligating, which means that they do not have ligatures on the brackets and allows the teeth to move more freely. Damon braces also cause less friction than the metal or ceramic braces, therefore providing a more comfortable wear. Damon braces works faster and some have seen amazing progress in several weeks. Brackets on the Damon braces are smaller which means less food being caught between them.

Invisible braces are those that are clear aligners that are switched out every two weeks. These clear braces are custom made for your teeth and help align your teeth in less time. The invisible braces can be removed anytime, but should be worn all the time unless you are drinking or eating. The most popular brand of these clear invisible braces is Invisalign.