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some of you oldies will remember me, I haven't posted in a while. I have had 8 clear uppers and the rest metal self-ligating for 10 months. The clear (for me) were a nightmare. They popped off all the time, the ligs stained and looked bad and they were basically a big hassle for me. I just had them removed and got full self-ligating and I couldn't be happier.
I just wanted to share my experience - the avatar is my "before" with clear, and here is me with metal:
Quite honestly, I like them better. My teeth look whiter and they are much smaller. Also treatment will be faster. Just my personal experience!
k8
Braced 11/16/2004 Ceramic uppers, Metal lowers, one extraction. Serious midline discrepency, open bite, cross bite, crowding.
You know, sometimes I wonder if I should have gotten all metal. I have only popped one, but they do make my teeth look yellow. (They're self ligating so there's no ligs, but I don't care for the overall color).
I clicked on your little picture but I couldn't see the picture, it just took me to the image shack web page. I'll try again later.
From the TINEY picture, your teeth look nice!! Good to have you back!!
Hi jennielee! Your teeth look GREAT!!! What progress!!
That is great you got clear self-ligating, no ligs to stain. You wanna talk yellow and nasty, you haven't lived until you've had clear ligs and some coffee. Yuk. My DH things these look a LOT better. For some reason, my teeth just didn't hold those clear. I only had 8 clear and have had at least 10 broken brackets in 10 months. Last month I lost two, and I lost so much ground before my next appt I could have cried. One of the ones that popped had been connected to my power chain, so it was a major mover.
I have missed everyone, but this is my very busy season at work and I have like NO time for anything. The good news is treatment goes by fast because I don't have time to think of it!
I will post a bigger pic later when I have more time.
L8tr
Braced 11/16/2004 Ceramic uppers, Metal lowers, one extraction. Serious midline discrepency, open bite, cross bite, crowding.
I have clear braces on top and also do purple ligs on top...I did pink and purple alternating at this last appointment. I had trouble with my ligs staining too. I quite like the colors...just my 2 cents
Braced and Hydrax expander 8/4/2005
SARPE 8/23/2005
Expander out Oct 2005
Next adjustment 2/16/2006
Mommak8, your teeth are looking great! I love the new metal braces, I have always been a firm believer in metal, in my opinion they look much better because people see right off the bat that you have braces and sometimes with the clear ones you have people staring at your teeth for a while trying to figure out what's 'wrong' with them only to find out that they're braces. Plus, imho metal look cleaner and who can argue with a shorter treatment time?
~Eve
Braced September 9, 2002
Debanding: JULY 5!!!!!!!!
I had the clear uppers and metal lowers for two years. I switched to metal uppers for the last year and I just got them all off last week. After having both types I most definitely liked the metal brackets better for many reasons. The big stares and people asking what I had on my teeth because it isn't initally obvious what is on your teeth so people look really hard. With the metal it is initally very obvious. I also thought my metal braces were much smaller, smoother and made my teeth look very white. Also, the clear ligs and brackets tended to get lipstick/gloss on them and the metal looked clean and never stained. I fouind the clear brackets very hard to get off and they shattered two brackets when they took them off. The metal ones simply popped off and no problems at all. And... the biggie problem for me with the clear brackets... STAINED ligs. Just my experience.... I think they both look nice honestly. People complemented me with the clear and the metal. I think everyone pretty much thinks braces are attractive. I honestly was told over and over how "cute" my braces looked on me. And to think I was scared and nervous to get them just to have everyone tell me how darling I looked wearing them. No worries about braces with me. It was all worth it and now my smile looks wonderful.
