anyone switch from ceramic to metal...

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#1 Post by **peach** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 3:22 pm

I have ceramic uppers and metal lowers. My ortho said the lowers are done but my upper teeth are taking longer to move (my ortho said I have dense bone). I've been in braces for over three yrs now, which is about a yr over my original tx diagnosis. I've read on this site that metals can move teeth a bit easier than ceramics. I asked the ortho assistant about this at my last appt and she agreed. I was wondering if anyone switched from ceramic to metal? And if it made much difference? I'm thinking of asking my ortho if she feels this would make a difference in my tx or not.

#2 Post by **VA5** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 5:45 pm

Really?! I had no idea. I only have ceramics and if I knew this I would have gotten metals from the start. I wonder why that is though...

There is somebody here (catygirl??) who had her metals taken out for ceramic.

For me, I don't like the ceramics b/c they are bulky feeling. They are slightly larger than the metals and I guess right now I'm used to it, but for about the first year, it always just felt so BIG and bulky in my mouth. Another reason I wish I had gotten metal from the start.

#3 Post by **catgyrl** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 6:04 pm

Yep, that was me. I got them changed for aesthetic reasons. I did ask in the beginning if the ceramics would slow down my treatment at all, and I was told it may, but maybe by only a few months. Then again... I've been told that there's no difference whatsoever. I hear so may different opinions about this (and many other orthodontic matters), that I almost don't want to ask questions anymore.

#4 Post by **ashesgap** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 6:07 pm

I think at this point it would slow down treatment for you, because i'm pretty sure you have to move down in wire size anytime you remove and replace brackets.

#5 Post by **SilverGirl** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 6:45 pm

My time estimate for ceramic braces was about 2-4 months longer than metal. I was told it's because the ceramic isn't as strong and can't take as much pressure from the archwire. I opted for ceramic on top and metal on bottom, but now I am more bothered with the *annoyance* of having braces than with how they look, so am almost wishing I'd gone all metal to get it over with. The ceramics do feel really big, but they don't catch the inside of my mouth like the metals do, so it's kind of a trade-off.

#6 Post by **VA5** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:48 pm

ashesgap wrote:I think at this point it would slow down treatment for you, because i'm pretty sure you have to move down in wire size anytime you remove and replace brackets.

I have had a bracket replaced b/c it fell off and I don't think they went down in wire.. I think if they place it in the exact same place, there is no need to change the wire to a weaker one. If they move the bracket, then that's a different story.

#7 Post by **DrJasonKTam** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:21 pm

Contemporary ceramic brackets do not slow down movement compared to metal brackets. Changing your brackets at this stage may lengthen your treatment, as you may have to step back into smaller archwires before getting back into larger ones.

I cannot comment on why your upper treatment is taking that long, but speak to your orthodontist directly to discuss your concerns. Good luck!

#8 Post by **Snowglobe32** » Tue Sep 28, 2010 9:39 am

DrJasonKTam wrote:Contemporary ceramic brackets do not slow down movement compared to metal brackets.

THANK YOU Dr. Tam! I can't tell you how irritated I get when people write that ceramic brackets take longer.

#9 Post by **catgyrl** » Tue Sep 28, 2010 10:43 am

I was just coming here to also thank you, Dr. Tam! It drives me nuts to hear that. I think as long as you take care of your ceramics (don't crack them or abuse them), there should be no problem with them doing their work. All my ortho said was "You just have to be a little more careful with them (don't whack them with your electric toothbrush, for example). But I know you're very good about that stuff." He's pretty straight forward, and I'm sure he'd tell me if I'd be in them for a whole lot longer.

#10 Post by **peach** » Tue Sep 28, 2010 12:07 pm

Thanks for all the responses. I didn't know that switching brackets could set me back. That's really helpful to know. I had also considered switching because I'm kinda tired of having to watch what I eat to avoid staining the ligs. But since it would set me back instead of help then there's no sense in doing it. There's no way I want this to last even longer! LOL

#11 Post by **catgyrl** » Tue Sep 28, 2010 12:17 pm

peach-

I can absolutely understand your frustration with the staining ligs. I had clear ones first, which stained after about 2 weeks. I changed to Pearl, thinking they'd be a little more resistant to the stains. Well, they lasted about a week longer than the clear, before the yellow really shows up. I go in for my next adjustment in 2 days, and am going to get colored ligs. Yes, they're more noticeable, but I'd much rather people see me with pink or purple bands on my teeth than yellow teeth, thinking I don't brush! haha

I'm not sure if it's coincidence, but when I switched from metal to ceramic in July, he put in the same wire I was already using since June... and I still have the same wire. I don't know if it's because of the switch in brackets, or because the wire is still "working".

I also had to pay extra for the change in brackets, so that's another factor to consider.

-Cathy

#12 Post by **SilverGirl** » Tue Sep 28, 2010 1:14 pm

Interesting - that is good to know that ceramics shouldn't take longer! I wonder why the time estimates my ortho gave me were different? I really hope I'm done in the shorter time period.

And I drink a lot of coffee and noticed staining of the ligs after 3 weeks. I might consider going with colored ligs when I get them switched out in a couple weeks.

#13 Post by **DrJasonKTam** » Tue Sep 28, 2010 5:23 pm

Snowglobe32 wrote:
DrJasonKTam wrote:Contemporary ceramic brackets do not slow down movement compared to metal brackets.
THANK YOU Dr. Tam! I can't tell you how irritated I get when people write that ceramic brackets take longer.

It's a very common misconception. I have similar feelings when I hear about self-ligating brackets or Damon braces moving teeth faster as well :).

Planning treatment properly, using any host of brand-name brackets, individual biology, and the skill of the orthodontist are the biggest factors in the speed of tooth movement :).

#14 Post by **totalwise** » Wed Sep 29, 2010 9:34 am

i had ceramics, and I wanted to change to metals because I was fed up with staining.

I was too much of a cheapskate not to get them swapped over, because I was told it would cost me to get them swapped.

metal are better..

1) they don't stain (or at least the ligatures don't stain
2) apparantly the treatment time is shorter with metal braces.
3) people are going to see your traintracks, ceramic bracets don't hide that fact one bit.

also even if it was possible to get braces that are completely invisible, I'd still prefer to get metal ones because you get that puffy brace smile, and it would look odd if people couldn't see that you have braces on.

#15 Post by **catgyrl** » Wed Sep 29, 2010 9:41 am

totalwise-

I just have to correct a few things:

Re: ligatures staining. The ligatures used on metal brackets are the same as those used on ceramic brackets; so, if they stain on one, they'll stain on the other. The staining may just be more noticeable on the ceramic brackets.

Re: treatment time. If you read a couple of posts up, you'll see that one of our resident orthodontists, Dr. Jason Tam, states that treatment time should be no different with ceramics than with metals.

As for people seeing your brackets, no matter what - I've had people think that I removed my braces or gotten invisalign after switching over from metal to ceramic. It's only when they got up close... and I've pointed them out... that they noticed the clear brackets. Most didn't even know those were available.