Braces have long been a powerful, reliable teeth-straightening treatment, and today, there are more varieties than ever.
Sometimes having many choices can feel a little daunting, but don’t worry—that’s why we’re here. In this guide we will compare metal and ceramic braces, so you can better understand which might be a good fit for you.
Table of Contents
Treatment Overviews
Metal braces are a tried and true orthodontic treatment, capable of transforming even the most severe teeth and jaw misalignments. Even though they’re a time-tested orthodontic method, metal braces aren’t the only option available.
Ceramic braces entered the orthodontic scene in the 1970s, giving patients a more discreet orthodontic option. These brackets can be clear or tooth-colored, camouflaging them against your teeth. Ceramic keep a fairly low profile, with the power and oversight of traditional metal braces.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both metal and ceramic braces. Read on to see what each one has to offer, and which might be a better fit for your smile.
Effectiveness Comparison
Both metal and ceramic braces are widely considered safe, but metal braces are slightly more powerful, since they can treat any case of misalignment or malocclusion.
Metal Braces
Ceramic Braces
- Can tackle even the most severe cases of misalignment
- Very durable material
- Must avoid certain foods during treatment to prevent damage to brackets and wires
- Best suited for mild-to-moderate spacing and crowding
- Less durable than metal braces
- Must avoid certain foods during treatment to prevent staining and damage to brackets and wires
What Can It Treat?
Metal braces can straighten your teeth no matter how severe your condition is. Whether you’re dealing with crowding, spacing, overbite, underbite, or even a severe case of open bite—metal braces can get the job done.
Ceramic braces are best suited for mild-to-moderate spacing and crowding since their materials aren’t quite as durable. Their scope of treatable conditions might be slightly narrower, but ceramic braces are still a versatile option.
Materials
Metal braces are incredibly durable, which is why they can treat anything and everything. Ceramics and plastics aren’t quite as durable, so severe misalignments can apply excessive pressure on ceramic braces, causing damage or breakage.
Consistency
If a bracket is damaged or broken, you’ll need to visit your orthodontist for an emergency appointment. These added appointments and repairs can delay your treatment and add additional expenses. As we’ve already established, both types of braces are liable to break, but it’s likelier with ceramic ones, making metal braces the more consistent option.
Affordability Comparison
Orthodontia is expensive—there’s no getting around that. Looking at average treatment prices might have you searching couch cushions for extra change, but the good news is that there are ways to make your treatment more affordable.
Treatment prices vary depending on the severity of your condition. Yet ceramic braces are typically slightly more expensive than metal ones.
Metal Braces
Ceramic Braces
- No set sticker price, average cost is $5,000
- Your insurance may be able to contribute, but you should check with your provider
- In-house financing options vary, and third-party financing often requires a credit check
- No set sticker price, average cost is $6,000
- Your insurance may be able to contribute, but you should check with your provider
- In-house financing options vary, and third-party financing often requires a credit check
Sticker Price
Braces have no set sticker price because treatment costs vary depending on your condition and orthodontist. Metal braces usually cost about $5,000, while ceramic braces are often around $6,000. Ceramic braces use newer technology than metal braces, which adds to the overall price tag.
Will Insurance Cover It?
Your orthodontic insurance plan might provide full or partial coverage for your treatment. You should check with your insurance provider to see if your plan will cover your costs, and ask for a list of in-network orthodontists.
Is Financing Available?
There are no universal financing plans for braces. Many orthodontists offer in-office payment plans, but they vary from office to office. Regardless of which type of braces you choose, be sure to check with your orthodontist about their financing options before starting treatment.
There are also third-party financing options to consider, like CareCredit or beWell FTL. These plans cover orthodontia, but require a credit check, so they aren’t available to everyone.
Convenience Comparison
Orthodontic treatment is a commitment of both finances and time. Adults lead busy lives and often want to find an orthodontic treatment that can easily fit into their lifestyle.
Both metal and ceramic braces demand a certain amount of your time. Each treatment is a lengthy process, and you’ll need to attend regular appointments throughout your treatment. This means you will have a great deal of oversight, but it also requires a time commitment.
Metal Braces
Ceramic Braces
- Average treatment time is 24 months
- Metal brackets can cause irritation
- Brushing and flossing around brackets and wires takes more time
- Average treatment time is 18-24 months
- Larger brackets, potentially causing more irritation
- Brushing and flossing around brackets and wires takes more time
Treatment Time
Metal braces have an average treatment time of 24 months, while ceramic braces average 18-24 months. This is partially because metal braces can treat very complex cases, which take more time. Since ceramic braces can only treat mild-to-moderate cases of misalignment, it makes sense that their average treatment times would be a little shorter.
Comfort
It takes time for your mouth to get accustomed to braces, no matter which type you choose. That being said, ceramic braces are a little bigger than metal ones—which can cause more irritation, particularly at the gumline. Your orthodontist can give you wax to place over the brackets if irritation persists.
Any treatment that shifts your teeth will cause some discomfort. That discomfort often comes when your braces are first put on and each time they are tightened, but it usually fades after a few days.
Cleaning
All orthodontic treatments require a high commitment to oral hygiene, but with ceramic braces, you’ll need to be extra vigilant. Brackets provide many places for plaque to hide, and the larger ceramic brackets are closer to the gumline. It’s always important to brush plaque from our teeth, but especially near the gumline, as it can lead to gum recession over time.
Though both treatments can complicate your oral hygiene, metal braces are slightly easier to maintain because of their comparatively smaller size and their stain-resistant metal.
Appearance Comparison
Many adults seek out braces treatment to achieve a smile that makes them feel their best. But they’re often concerned with their smile’s appearance during treatment too. This is the category where metal and ceramic braces differ the most. Though still visible, ceramic braces offer a more discreet treatment. Metal braces are very visible, there’s really no hiding them.
Metal Braces
Ceramic Braces
- Highly visible
- Smaller brackets than ceramic braces
- Metal is stain resistant
- Clear or tooth-colored materials blend in with the teeth, providing a more discreet treatment
- Larger brackets than metal braces
- Light-colored materials are easily stained
Appearance is where ceramic braces really come out on top. They blend in with your teeth much better than metal braces, making them a far more discreet treatment.
Though ceramic braces offer a low profile, they stain easier than other forms of treatment. It’s a good idea to rinse your mouth out with water after consuming dark food and drinks (like berries or coffee). This can help you preserve the light ceramic color, which makes the hardware less visible.
If discretion is something you want from your braces treatment, then ceramic braces may be worth considering.
Patient Experience Comparison
An orthodontist will oversee your treatment with either type of braces. This dedicated in-person care provides a high level of oversight and support throughout your treatment.
Oversight
Regardless of which braces treatment you choose, you’ll have regular appointments with your orthodontist throughout your treatment. These appointments are great opportunities for you to ask questions or express concerns. That in-person oversight can help you better understand each step of the process and feel supported the whole way.
Refinements and Adjustments
Teeth don’t always move exactly as your orthodontist predicts. Braces make any potential extensions to your treatment time simple—you’ll just need to wear them a little longer. With other treatments, extending treatment may mean you’ll need to get additional scans, or wait for materials to be manufactured. But metal and ceramic braces don’t require any extra effort, just a little more time.
Which Should You Choose?
Both types of braces are considered safe treatments that can give you a smile you’ll love. The best option for you depends on the severity of your condition, your aesthetic preferences, and your budget.
Who Should Choose Metal Braces?
Metal braces can treat even the most severe cases at a more affordable price than ceramic braces. If you don’t mind the aesthetics of metal braces, and you’d like a more affordable option, they’re definitely worth exploring.
Who Should Choose Ceramic Braces?
Ceramic braces are best suited for mild-to-moderate cases of spacing and crowding. If your condition isn’t too severe, and you’d like a more discreet treatment, then ceramic braces may be worth considering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will braces give me a lisp?
It can take a little while for your mouth to adjust to braces, and sometimes that means you may start treatment with a slight lisp. This is usually temporary and goes away once your mouth becomes more accustomed to its new hardware.
Which braces treatment is more stain-resistant?
Metal braces are more stain-resistant than ceramic ones since ceramic braces use lighter-colored and a more porous material.
Will I need to wear a retainer after braces treatment?
All teeth straightening treatments require you to wear an overnight retainer indefinitely. This helps keep your teeth in their new positions.
Do all braces treatments require you to give up certain foods?
All braces treatments require you to give up certain foods since sticky or crunchy foods can cause damage. Clear aligners like Invisalign do not require you to give up foods, because you can simply take out your aligners for meals.
Can I still play musical instruments during braces treatment?
Yes. There may be a small adjustment period when you first get braces, where playing woodwind or brass instruments is more challenging. But with time, you’ll grow accustomed to it. Your orthodontist can give you wax to place on top of your brackets to make them more comfortable.
What happens if you break or damage a bracket during treatment?
If you break or damage a bracket during treatment, you will need to go to your orthodontist for an emergency appointment. These visits can add to your treatment’s length and cost.
Are some cases too severe for ceramic braces?
Ceramic braces are best suited for mild-to-moderate cases of misalignment. Since ceramic braces aren’t quite as durable as metal ones, a severe misalignment may put too much pressure on the hardware. If your condition is on the severe side, traditional metal braces may be a better fit.
Which braces are easier to break or damage?
Ceramic braces tend to damage or break more easily than metal braces. This limits the scope of conditions that ceramic braces can treat.
Are there other forms of discreet treatment?
Yes. Lingual braces are attached to the back of your teeth, making them virtually invisible. Clear aligners are also a discreet form of treatment. You can receive clear aligner care from your dentist or orthodontist with brands like Invisalign, or you can complete treatment remotely with at-home clear aligners.
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