Clearly Ahead of the Curve
At Morgan Orthodontics, we offer ceramic clear braces, which look translucent but are just as strong as metal.
About Clear Ceramic Braces
If you’re not a good candidate for Invisalign but still don’t want your braces to stick out, ceramic braces might fit the bill.
While traditional metal braces remain our most popular orthodontic treatment choice, some patients at Morgan Orthodontics love their ceramic braces.
These clear, tooth-colored braces give you a new twist on the conventional braces system by offering a much less noticeable treatment method.
These aesthetic-focused braces come in a nearly invisible and tooth-colored polycrystalline ceramic material, and the color blends in well with your natural smile.
Although they're not completely invisible, and the brackets are about the same size and shape as metal braces, they’re more discreet.
How Clear Braces Work
Dr. Morgan and Dr. Coffelt use clear braces to correct your bite and align your smile the same way as metal braces. That means we’ll attach the brackets to your teeth, insert a wire, and bend the wire.
This creates different kinds of pressure on different teeth, encouraging them to move into the positions we want to see.
The difference between metal braces and ceramic braces lies in the parts they use.
As you can guess from the names, metal braces come as a sequence of metal brackets, while ceramic braces come in either translucent (monocrystalline alumina) or tooth-colored (polycrystalline) ceramic brackets.
Both of these ceramic options blend well with your smile's natural color. Though not completely invisible, people don’t notice the ceramic braces as much as metal, even though the brackets are about the same size and shape.
Pairing ceramic brackets with clear, white, or tooth-colored wires and elastic ties can also create a discreet way to straighten your smile. As you might expect, our adult patients find this orthodontic option very attractive.
Even though most of our clear braces patients love how inconspicuous they look, some of our teen and adult patients enjoy using colored ligature ties. This gives their braces a unique neon look, where the colors pop off the clear brackets.
Other Differences Between
Clear & Metal Braces
Staining
Many people in the Leesburg and Winchester areas worry about their ceramic braces staining, but this is not a problem that we have seen for years. Fortunately, ceramic brackets are resistant to staining.
However, the glue used to attach the brackets to the teeth and the clear elastic ties that hold the wires in place can become discolored over time, which may create an overall discolored look.
Some patients with ceramic braces avoid certain foods and drinks, such as coffee, tea, red wine, tomatoes, mustard, and more, to reduce their chances of staining. However, there is no need to do so because we change the elastics at every adjustment appointment at Morgan Orthodontics.
As long as you maintain good oral hygiene and keep up with your brushing and flossing routine, you don't have to give up your morning coffee or evening glass of wine.
Strength
If you're deciding between metal and clear ceramic braces, here's what you need to know. Metal braces are stronger and can handle more pressure, making them a better choice for big corrections. Ceramic braces, on the other hand, are more fragile and tend to chip or crack easily.
Clear brackets come in a more fragile material that’s prone to chipping, cracking and breakage. The technology behind clear braces improves every year, but the ceramic material tends to be less durable than their metal counterparts.
Metal braces might serve you better if you need drastic tooth or bite corrections. Ceramic braces need slightly smaller adjustments, too, so it can take a little longer for Dr. Morgan and Dr. Coffelt to align your teeth. Having said that, both types of braces work to align your teeth in the same powerful way.
Cost of Ceramic Braces
If you’re looking at the total cost of your treatment, the material we use for your braces makes a big impact. Ceramic brackets may cost a little more than metal brackets at Morgan Orthodontics.
We need to factor in the work it takes to put on your braces, adjust them, and remove them into your total treatment cost. Placing and removing ceramic braces requires a sensitive technique and demands more time and attention from our team.
Lastly, your regular adjustment appointments at our office can take longer because they’ll be more involved.
We believe in giving you incredible value for a reasonable fee. While your total fee depends on the complexity of your orthodontic treatment, Dr. Morgan and Dr. Coffelt will determine a treatment fee that fits your specific needs.
The good news is that at Morgan Orthodontics, you can choose from flexible payment plans, enroll in automatic bank drafts, and have us check with your insurance company for orthodontic benefits.
We’ll do everything we can to help you and fit your family’s budget. Our treatment coordinators will be happy to go over the cost with you at your first free consultation at our office in Leesburg or Winchester.
Want to Know More About Ceramic Brackets?
Once Dr. Morgan or Dr. Coffelt looks at your teeth, we'll figure out the best way to make your smile shine. Ready to start? Book a free consultation with us at Morgan Orthodontics.
Come to our location in Leesburg or Winchester to see if clear braces are your smile's new best friend.