What Are Clear, Ceramic Braces?
Ceramic, or clear braces are exactly what they sound like. Pictured right, you can see that the brackets are made from a specialized clear, durable ceramic.
These types of materials blend perfectly with the color of your teeth, making them the ideal solution for patients who want a more subtle treatment than metal braces.
Frey Orthodontics offers clear braces at our Algonquin, IL location. Call now to schedule a FREE consultation.
A Clear Alternative to Metal Braces
Ceramic braces work the exact same way as metal ones, although they are easier to chip because of the ceramic material. The only significant difference is aesthetic.
Our clear braces are designed to be less noticeable on your teeth than metal ones. The brackets are made of near-invisible, tooth-colored polycrystalline ceramic material.
These are perfect if you want an esthetic treatment option but don't want the extra hassle of removable aligners and the responsibility of wear time with clear aligner systems like Invisalign®.
BLEND IN WITH CLEAR BRACES
Ceramic brackets are an inconspicuous way to straighten your smile when paired with clear, white, or tooth-colored wires and elastic ties. These are an especially attractive option for our adult patients or aesthetic-minded teens.
Even though most patients in ceramic braces love how discrete they are, we do have some teens and adults who like to use colored ligature ties.
These give braces an almost neon look, where the colors pop off the clear brackets, creating a really unique look.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CERAMIC & METAL BRACES
Metal braces are known for their durability and strength. Although ceramic braces are also tough, they are made from a different, more fragile material that is easier to chip or crack. Traditional metal ones are able to tolerate more pressure than their counterparts, meaning ceramic braces may make treatment a bit longer. If you require more severe corrections, metal braces might be a better option.
Having said that, both types of braces work on the same principles and tend to be equally as effective in most cases, despite a different treatment schedule.
Some people worry about ceramic braces staining, but new technology has solved that for several years now. However, the adhesive used to attach the brackets to the teeth can stain, and so can the clear elastic ties used to hold the wires in.
This can give an overall impression of discoloration or staining over time. Some ceramic braces patients will avoid things like coffee and tea, red wine, tomatoes, mustard, etc. to cut back on the chance of any staining, but this is likely unnecessary since we place new elastics at every adjustment appointment.
As long as you maintain a good oral hygiene routine, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about giving up your morning cup of coffee or evening glass of wine.
Cost of Ceramic Braces in algonquin
When looking at the cost of your treatment, one of the biggest factors will be the materials used to craft your braces.
In our Algonquin office, ceramic brackets are slightly more costly than metal brackets.
The good news is, we offer flexible payment plans, automatic bank drafts, and we will also check with your insurance company for orthodontic benefits. Our goal is to provide outstanding value for reasonable fees!
While those treatment fees will vary depending on the complexity of your orthodontic treatment, we will determine a treatment fee that fits your specific orthodontic needs, and our office will do everything we can to accommodate you and your budget.
The work it takes to put braces on, adjust them, and take them off must also be factored into the total cost of treatment. Placing and removing ceramic braces are more sensitive to technique and requires more time.
Our treatment coordinators will be happy to go over the cost with you at your first free consultation.