Achieving a dazzling Hollywood smile doesn’t have an age limit. Just ask celebrities like Tom Cruise, Delta Goodrem and Faith Hill who all used ceramic braces as adults to help them perfect their famous smiles. But why would adults choose ceramic braces over other options?
Before we can talk about the motivations behind selecting a particular method, it’s important to understand what it is. Ceramic braces are basically the same as the traditional metal braces you know and orthodontists love – the main difference being that they’re made from a clear or tooth-coloured ceramic material so they blend in better with your teeth. While not completely invisible, they are less obvious than their metal counterpart.
The term ‘ceramic braces’ is often used for braces of varying, but similarly coloured, material. As well as ceramic, your braces can be made out of plastic that can be frosted or ‘esthetic’ so as not to stand out from your teeth.
- Ceramic braces can be provide discreet treatment for severe malocclusion that clear aligners may not be able to offer
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Their ability to match tooth colouration means they’re often not visible from a distance.
- Ceramic braces are super strong. While metal braces use a tougher material, ceramic braces are engineered in such a way that they are just as strong.
- You can customise them to make them even less noticeable. Ask your orthodontist about using silver wire and clear bands to make them less noticeable.
When it comes to treatment, no equipment is faster — it all comes down to the patient. People using clear aligners could experience shorter treatment times, but usually because they have less severe malocclusion. The good news is that ceramic braces won’t take any longer than any other treatment.
Lingual braces are the reverse of normal braces, in that you place the brackets on the inside of the mouth to tuck them out of sight. For some patients, this option can cause abrasion or speech alteration that makes other discreet options like ceramic braces more appealing.
Because of their material, ceramic braces can be more susceptible to staining than metal braces. As such, they’ll need a bit more care when cleaning. Be sure to brush after every meal, and floss against the braces to clear plaque from each area. Others have had success cleaning with a mixture of toothpaste and baking soda. Habits like taking reusable straws out with you can stop troublesome liquids from touching your braces.
The number of adults seeking out orthodontic treatment is on the rise, and their main concern seems to be aesthetics. Many have spent years modifying their smile to hide their teeth or avoiding smiling altogether, so it makes sense that they’ll be self-conscious about their treatment as it is being undertaken.
This makes the more incognito alternatives to traditional metal braces particularly popular among adult patients. Ceramic braces, clear aligners and lingual braces all offer varying degrees of invisibility in their treatment design, but they also come with their own limitations.
The rise of clear aligner treatments (such as Invisalign®, Spark® and 3M Clarity) have piqued the interest of many adults who don’t want everyone to know they’re correcting their bite. However, while clear aligners are an attractive option for image-conscious adults, they’re not suitable for use in all cases.
For example, you may not find clear aligners suitable if you have large gaps between your teeth or if you would require the removal of teeth as part of your treatment. Ceramic braces, on the other hand, are capable of performing the same complex tooth movements as traditional metal braces – the only difference being their materials.
When undergoing treatment with ceramic braces, your care instructions are basically the same as with traditional braces. This includes how you clean your braces and the foods that should be avoided until your braces come off. One big difference is that you should limit your intake of food and drinks that have the potential to stain the ceramic materials, such as coffee and red wine.
Learn more about your orthodontic options or use our Finder Tool to search for an orthodontist near you to get their opinion on what treatments might be best for you.
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