Clear vs. Metal (opinions please)

[Miss Smiley]

I have clear ceramics upper and lower. I like mine because they don't make my lips all big and pouty. You can check out what they look like on my www link below. As to being uncomfortable and pokey, I didn't really have a problem except with the occaissional irritation, easily solved with wax and keeping hydrated. Time frame, I was told it wouldn't make a difference. I figured I was having these things for nearly 3 years so I might as well get which ones I think were cuter. Clear, I can use clear ligs to be discreet about them or I can use color to show them off. So far no complaints, I have more complaints about my pokey archwire.

[SnowSara]

I like my metals just fine!

[lelerz]

I have ceramic uppers and metal bottoms. I chose this because there was a female coworker in the office who had full metal, and maybe she just had a really large smile that exaggeratted the metal... but it just looked rather frightening. People often talked behind her back about how scary her smile was! That totally turned me off!

I love my top ceramics though. Not that many people notice I have braces until they are up close, which is exactly what I want. And in photos, it is never noticeable either.

[SandraJones]

I'm getting metal and I couldn't care less what people say about me behind my back. If I had a leg brace or a halo for a head injury, would they be so catty ? Probably. Well, that's their problem, and I'm not going to let them make it mine.

[SnowSara]

People often talked behind her back about how scary her smile was!

Uggh, that is nasty!

[mikecl]

I have upper and lower ceramics and I happy with my choice - I haven't experienced wearing metal brackets so can't compare the two but I have had very little discomfort with the ceramics apart from the very rare irritation on the inside of my lower lip - and as Miss Smiley also said, wax and hydration soon took care of this.

I think it has to be your own personal choice - whatever makes someone feel more comfortable in getting braces has to be down to the indvidual themselves and so my advice for anyone thinking about getting braces is to go with whatever will make you happier.

Cheers

Mike

[Milk n Cereal]

I have ceramic uppers and and metal bottoms as well. They both do the job, so really it is only a matter of personal preference. I chose to have ceramics on the top because I'm still in high school, and some people are still artificial and the like (unfortunately), so I figured the discreet option would be best.

As for the feel and comfort, I haven't really noticed a different between the ceramics and metals. I have yet to need wax, probably because I do the salt rinses so often!

For the most part, people don't notice or care when someone has braces. It is mostly those currently undergoing orthodontic treatment that notice because we seem to be consumed by our teeth

[Shorty20]

well im new to getting braces as well i will be getting mine August 13th and im 20 years old, i will be getting ceramic on the top and metal on the bottom. right now i have spacers in my bac molars, 8 of them and i find it hard to chew it is painful, any suggestions what to do? or how long it lasts?

[Bellita]

it lasts about 4-5 days, advil worked for me but I had to eat really soft food.

[Bellita]

it lasts about 4-5 days, advil worked for me but I had to eat really soft food.

[Laurie]

My ortho preferred all metal for me. With what needed to be done he said it was the best way to ensure optimal placement of my teeth.

I'm fine with it too. It's great.

[4113n]

I was given the choice of ceramics or metal with a cost difference of $400. So I opted for ceramic. While slightly bulkier I don't mind them at all. What I like most is people hardly ever notice them. One time, a person didn't even notice them until several hours later and we were hanging outside in the sun. lol

several hours with ceramic?

my class mates took like 2 months to notice minexD. i dont think they all know even now.

i win =D

[brac3fac3]

I have invisible on my top teeth, and silver metal ones on my bottom teeth.




I chose to do it like that cause this is my last year of highschool and i don't wanna look like a total geek on prom and graduation day..lol

[iBorg]

As I stated before, I started out with ceramics and will be switched over to metal as the ceramics keep coming off. Maybe in a couple of months I can give a better answer about comfort. I do know in my case, I had one tooth that had the bracket reapplied so often (I couldn't keep count) that it was suggested to try metal for that one tooth instead. It has remained. With the amount of movement that my ortho is attempting she did tell me that a switch might be needed. When I had two loose brackets at the last adjustment, I was ready to switch out of frustration.

This has helped my find some perspective. The metal is clearly more visible and if you want to "hide" your braces are a good choice. I had my clears on for several months before some friends noticed. If you want to be able to start up conversations with others with braces about where our treatments are, metal is a better choice. A lot of it is how you want to handle, if at all, the braces in a social way. I have also noticed people with metal seem more open to talk about their braces.

Finally, for some of use, our ortho will suggest one over the other based upon what they believe would be best for our treatment. If the ortho makes a suggestion to do metal over clear, I'd go metal. If the clear is an up sale option, ask yourself if its something you want to hide or if its something you're willing for others to see.

Mike

[nvcarissa]

I started with ceramics on my six social and then after three months switched over to all metal. For me, the ceramics felt too bulky (I never got used to the feeling) and I was constantly worrying about the ligs staining and making my teeth look yellow. Once I switched to the metal I was much more comfortable and had a lot more fun with colored ligs. Click on my www for my story and pictures of the difference.