Braces

Types of Braces

Metal

Metal braces are traditional braces where the brackets and wires are made out of strong light weight metals.

Pros: Because they are stronger then other methods they deliver better results and shorter treatment times.

Cons: Visually they are more noticeable. However, using slightly gold colored wires makes them surprisingly less noticeable. Some patients report that some people never notice they have braces.

Ceramic

Ceramic braces the same shape & size as metal braces except the brackets are tooth colored or clear.

Pros: Ceramic braces are less noticeable than metal braces. They move teeth faster than clear plastic aligners (Invisalign).

Cons: They stain easily and are not as strong as metal brackets which means they break more easily and aren’t able to move teeth as precisely as metal brackets. Also, they are more expensive than metal braces.

Invisalign

Invisalign is a clear plastic mouth guard-like aligner that are removable and replaced every few weeks.

Pros: These are much less noticeable than other types of braces.

Cons: Treatment times are longer and this approach is unable to generate the same results as metal braces. As a result, invisalign is not suitable for many situations. The cost is similar or more than standard braces.