Dr. Megan LeCornu, Board Certified Orthodontist in Santa Clarita, CA, answers top questions orthodontists are asked about in Santa Clarita.
So, a lot of patients that come in that want braces ask me the difference between clear braces and metal braces. When we refer to these types of brace we’re referring to braces that are on the outside of the teeth, so these are the kinds of braces that we see.
Metal braces are traditional braces. This is the bracket we’ve had pretty much since the early 1900s, okay. It’s been around for a very long time. People are used to it. They’re comfortable with it. It’s a very easy bracket to use.
Clear braces are relatively newer. They’re newer because of the developments that we’ve had in ceramics. Back in the day, the ceramic material was not as good as metal braces in certain types of orthodontic movement. The reason for this is because there was more friction. The ceramic was more brittle, so if you were trying to add certain forces to the teeth it could cause the braces to break.
However, nowadays there’s new improvements in clear braces. The bracket that we use a lot is a bracket that is very, very strong, so it no longer breaks, or is brittle to certain forces. It’s very low friction, so it does everything that a metal bracket does.
When my patients ask me what is the difference between clear and metal braces, what I tell them is it’s just a difference between wearing a white T-shirt and a black T-shirt. It’s your preference.
The important thing is that you know you’re gonna be going through treatment from anywhere between 12 months and 24 months, so depending on what your orthodontist says. You need to make sure that you’re going to be comfortable wearing the bracket that you choose for that full amount of time.
In our office you can have colors with either bracket, so for a lot of people that’s kind of their favorite part because they can have a little fun while they’re going through orthodontic treatment with the colors. Well I hope that answers the question on the difference between clear and metal braces.
For further information on this topic can contact us at:
2 Locations
Embrace your Smile Orthodontics
23206 Lyons Avenue, Suite 206, Santa Clarita, CA 91321
(661) 259-2388
Embrace your Smile Orthodontics
27891 Smyth Dr. Unit A. Valencia, CA 91355
(661) 295-8288
