Clear
Ceramic Braces
Almost-Invisible Braces
Ceramic Braces Are Clear
These clear brackets are made from a clear and durable ceramics.
The clear ceramic material blends with the color of your teeth, making them perfect for patients who want a subtle treatment.
A Clear Alternative to Metal Braces
Ceramic braces are also referred to as clear braces, tooth-colored braces, or esthetic braces and they work the same way metal braces do.
Our clear braces are designed to be less noticeable on your teeth than metal braces and they're smaller than ever and are made of nearly invisible tooth-colored polycrystalline ceramic material.
Both of these ceramic options will blend in well with your natural smile.
Though they're not completely invisible, they’re much less noticeable than metal braces, even though the brackets are about the same size and shape.
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 esthetic-minded teens.
Ceramic braces are perfect for patients who 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®.
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 most people haven’t seen before.
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 braces are also able to tolerate more pressure than newer ceramic ones.
If you require more severe corrections, metal braces could be the better option. Adjustments have to be slightly smaller with ceramic braces, so it can take a little more time to align your teeth successfully. Having said that, both types of braces work on the same principles and tend to be equally as effective in most cases.
Some people worry about ceramic braces staining, but that hasn’t been a problem for several years. Ceramic brackets won’t stain. 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
When looking at the cost of your treatment, one of the biggest factors will be the materials used to craft your braces.
In our 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, Dr. Frey 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.