Are Damon braces really better than regular braces?
Thu, May 15, 2008
“is damon braces really better than regular braces” this was the actual phrase in one of our visitor’s search. The fast answer: YES they are better. Before I list again the benefits of having Damon braces, please read the 2 articles that detail how the 2 orthondontic systems work:
And now let’s see why I was so fast with telling you Damon is better. The Damon braces do cost more than the regular braces and in some cases the dental insurance might not cover this difference. Still you are lucky .. in my country no orthodontic treatment is covered by the insurance, but this is something different, so I need not digress.
In order for a doctor to be able to work with Damon, he/she needs to be accredited. This would be another small set-back since some orthodontists are not licensed to use this. Most top doctors do have the certification so it’s not such a huge deal in the end.
And now back to the subject at hand: why the Damon braces are better than the regular ones.
- No ligatures, smaller brackets – the self-ligating system on the brackets make Damon better. You don’t need ligatures on your brackets and the brackets themselves are smaller. Some are already partially “clear” so it makes them even harder to see. More discreet braces help with the aesthetics too.
- Some patients don’t need extractions - there are cases when the the Damon system can solve the problem without extractions. Sure, even if they do advertise this, it does depend on the patient. The thing is that when regular braces required extractions, Damon might solve this without them. Still there are patients with problems that can’t be solved other than having extractions. I was such a case. Damon was able to solve my huge problems (rotating teeth, teeth that were mispositioned not only misaligned), but still needed the space to work (since I do have big teeth).
- Faster treatment - some claim Damon works in half the time. I read about patients with regular braces and they needed over 20 months in treatment for complex cases. Even 3 years. If I wanted Damon only, my problems would have gotten solved in 14 months. I saw HUGE progress in just weeks. After 3 times in the treatment my teeth looked amazing already. Damon is a very serious system and the braces “don’t play”, they work.
- Overall Damon is not as hard to wear. After solving some sores in my mouth and getting pass the first painful days (all braces do this, the pain means the treatment is working), I really liked it. I know it might sound like I am a “masochist”, but it’s not that hard. The braces weren’t too big and I was able to have almost a normal life. And the Damon braces do look nice. I was scared at first for having a metal mouth (the reason I chose to wear Invisalign for my front teeth, after the lateral ones were getting straightened with Damon) and I regretted this decision after seeing some patients who wore full Damon. They looked pretty nice, as if they had some silver jewels on their teeth.
Damon braces are considered to be the “new generation” braces. My orthodontist doesn’t use the regular ones for some years already. He’s using Damon, ceramics, Incognito and Invisalign. I wore Damon 3 braces and so did many of his patients. The Damon braces use the ideas that made the regular ones work nice for years, but offer faster results, with less “equipment” needed (not ligatures on the brackets), with a better aspect and more discreet brackets.
If you can afford Damon, I do advise you to go on this route. Regular braces do work nicely, but Damon does work BETTER.
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Tags: Damon braces, metal braces, regular braces, self-ligating braces
October 21st, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Sorry, but you are wrong on a number of counts. Damon brackets are not smaller than traditional twin brackets. Their profile is much larger than not only traditional but other self-ligating brackets on the market. This leads to not only more discomfort but an increased incidence of loose brackets due to bond failures.
Their “clear” bracket has a high failure rate as the plastic-metal interface breaks down over time and has to be replaced. Also the metal slot becomes dislodged in the bracket and torque control is lost. Oral hygiene is also a problem as the increased size and material used is tougher to keep clean.
It is the wider shape of the arch wire that dictates the expansion present in Damon cases and allows more non-extraction treatment. It is not the bracket. It is true that tooth movement may be faster initially but most orthodontist that have used this system will tell you that finishing these cases takes longer and is more demanding because of the large amount of “slop” in the slotsize.
There are many of us that have used the Damon bracket (we “drank the juice” of Damon promises and anecdotal evidence) and have since changed to different bracket systems due to the problems we had with it.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:13 am
I haven’t worn clear brackets, just Damon 3 and they were VERY SMALL. I saw the “classical” type and they were bulkier, not to mention the ligatures. In 7 months I wore Damon for my laterals I had no issues with any debonding or brackets getting lose, even if my ortho cautioned me it might happen. I guess it’s all in the ortho’s work too, mine is a maniac and won’t let anything at chance.
My ortho doesn’t use the non-self-ligating types for years now. He’s using Damon, Incognito and Invisalign and they do the trick pretty well.
I can guess Damon know how to sell their product, but in over 1000 ortho cases treated in his clinics a lot of my ortho’s patients used Damon and the results have been amazing.
For me, as the “end user’ Damon was OK since the brackets were small (I saw the “normal” type and they are bigger than Damon 3), I didn’t have to go every 2 weeks (we’d meet on a monthly basis for some small tweakings, maybe archwire change etc.) and it was confortable … weird indeed .. but it wasn’t that bad as I would have expected.
Anyway .. I am glad you dropped by.Please come back and offer your input. You do know a lot about these and I am glad I have someone to discuss with
December 14th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
As a teenager I had 2 years of braces that followed 4 teeth extractions. Today I am 14 months, out of a possible 22 months, into Damon3 braces and my progress has been slow and discouraging.
As recommended by the Orthodontist my appointments are every 8 to 10 weeks; I think has extended my treatment. If only I could have done Dojo’s “meet on a monthly basis for some small tweakings, maybe archwire change etc.” By the time I have each appointment my teeth have moved beyond where they expected, so they move them back again, making progress inefficient.
Some of the “doors” of the Damon3 braces won’t close and I endure painful pushing on the teeth while the assistants and/or Orthodontist try to close them. Dr. Straight said “the metal slot becomes dislodged in the bracket and torque control is lost” and “finishing these cases takes longer and is more demanding because of the large amount of “slop” in the slotsize.” When the doors can’t be closed they have to be tied down like other braces. This defeats the quality of movement along the wire that Damon touts as their best feature.
Sometimes once the teeth begin to move the door can be closed, but it is never suggested I return sooner. With the door open there is yet another protrusion, like an arch wire sticking out, playing havoc with the inside of my mouth. Also, Damon provides such a false sense of ease for the Orthodontist that the assistant with Orthodontist’s instructions performs most all of the adjustments; some instructions are either forgotten or carried out incorrectly.
Still not corrected fully are my overbite, very slight crowding, one crooked molar (his greatest challenge (?) and of course now I have a bite that is out of alignment with all the moving back and forth, as well as lower front teeth that I can barely floss now that they are even more crowded than before I started treatment.
I have diligently worn my rubberbands in every imaginable configuration, worn bite turbos for longer than the expected 2 to 4 months, bumpers around the front bottom brackets, and wire & elastic chains around the top front brackets. Oral hygiene is indeed also a problem with all this other equipment additions.
I have had loose brackets due to bond failures. Their “clear” bracket was recommended for the top only, because the Orthodontist thought that in spite if bite turbos and bumpers my overbite would knock off the lower brackets unless they were full metal. This would seem to corroborate the Dr. Straight’s assessment that the Damon braces are indeed bigger. In spite of all this careful planning one of the brackets actually split in half from the base to which the assistants indicated the bracket was probably was defective. Or is it the “high failure rate as the plastic-metal interface breaks down over time and has to be replaced.”
No impressions have been made of my teeth as I progress; only 2 panoramic X-rays to track root health. How do they know they are progressing? And, I have had to remind them of the purpose or objective that we are supposed to be working for when he claims after 9 months “we are getting close.” Even with a fancy computer system with terminals at each station, I have to remind them of my goals. Can I us these for 14 months in preparation for the Invisalign treatment?
Adult patients have a unique view point. We vividly feel the experience instead of being an observer and don’t passively accept: we question more!
December 16th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Thanks Dojo. I think there are probably some differences in brackets between the US and Romania. Most non-ligating bracket systems are smaller than the self-ligating systems. It is true that Damon appointments can be scheduled further apart and in many cases the protocol is to let the patient go 10 weeks on the first wire and 6-8 thereafter. I like to see my patients every 5-6 weeks and that is using the non-ligating brackets. (Most kids need some motivation with oral hygiene and elastic wear and I like to check for any problems in that time frame.)
I am glad that your orthdontic experience was a good one and there are orthodontists getting excellent results with a variety of bracket systems.
Happy Holidays.
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:19 am
Miranda I am really sorry for your problems, although someone else should do something about this and make it easier to you. My experience in Damon was excellent as it is now on Invisalign. I think I am a lucky woman in the end since I see other patients had less luck, even if being a model patient when it comes to taking care of their teeth and doing what’s required from them. It is possible for the problems to slowly solve, I really hope it’s like this. In some case the big changes come later and you’re almost sure the treatment doesn’t work.
What does your ortho say about this? He should really have an answer about these complications …
Dr.Straight .. thank you again for the good comments. It’s really nice getting to talk to a specialist in this area
December 24th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
He should really have an answer about these complications … is true!
As the patient in the chair it’s easier said than done. My orthodontist is hard to pin down, since his patient contact amounts to a few minutes. Only when I state a concern does he then act.
He said I should trust him and be patient.
Does it ever occur to anyone that these guys/gals are just biding their time until you have made all your payments?
January 9th, 2009 at 1:32 am
What Dr. Straight has said is absolutely correct and I can confirm with my experience in treating patients. There are no randomized clinical trials showing that the Damon system can perform all of its claims. They have done a great job of advertising to the general public (but so did Celebrex). A lack of research means that the patients themselves serve as the subjects of the experiment. Why else is there a Damon 3? Too many problems with the other series. The Ormco rep, who no longer is with the company, informed me of all of the problems that he had with his offices.
One of the reasons that is being sold to orthodontists is that you only have to see your patients every 8-10 weeks instead of the traditional 4-5 weeks. This is supposed to decrease patient chair time and increase profit. I am more interested in the care of my patients than an increase in profit. As many have mentioned previously, frequent appointments, every 4-5 weeks, allows for the best/quality treatment.
January 26th, 2009 at 1:56 am
I am currently using damon braces for 3 months now and my teeth have improved dramatically but are not straight yet…how long did it take you until your teeth were perfectly alined?
January 26th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
The key concept I got from this article is “if you can afford it”…with the escalating costs of just about everything these days and health and dental insurance which is now nonexistent, it is extremely hard to make ends meet let alone get braces for my son. I’m not sure I am convinced of the superiority of Damon braces. But thanks, Dr. Ortho, for stating that you are more interested in patient care. I like your philosophy of creating dental smile art!
March 7th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
I have a question on the Damon 3 braces (which i just started less then a week ago). I am 18 and I really dont have bad teeth. Bite is good and mechanially everything is tip top shape however it was more of a cosmetic choice to get braces. In fact my friends encouraged me not to get them because they thought my teeth were fine. I have no crowding on the top and minimal to no crowding on the bottom. The problem is just small spacing issues.
I realize that there is no way to determine exactly, especially with pictures etc. But how long do you think a problem lke this could take with the Damon 3 braces?
Another question is my next appointment is in 8 weeks! I think that is a little long especially bcause i just got them on. I am not sure but im guessing they will put in thicher wire which what solves the spacing. I am supposed to have them on for a “year or less” but the sooner the better. Do you think more “tweaking” sooner would make the treatment faster or is the 8 weeks sort of standard and is important to keep the teeth healthy or do you think my doctor is trying to keep me for as along as possible?
I would really appreciate an answer. Thank You.
April 3rd, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Hi Eytan,
If your teeth are not too crowded and your bite is good, it should be a pretty easy case of braces that should take about 1 year to complete. Did your orthodontist recommend Invisalign for you?
Appointments at 8 weeks apart are very common as the orthodontic braces and wires now-a-days are very efficient. The tightening your orthodontist places into your braces can last up to 6 months. In the hands of an experienced orthodontist, your teeth can move at top speed at 8 weeks appointments. Make sure you keep your teeth very clean and show up at all the appointments.
April 8th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
I just have a comment. I am 62 years old and recently began the Damon system.I have had braces for two months and I already can see a difference. My major problem is an overbite. I spent six years as a child and three years as a young adult with braces in an effort to correct the overbite. I have confidence that this will work, however when I ask questions, my doctor gives me just short answers. She treats me as if I were a teenager and not a well read adult. I should be able to have better communication with my doctor, so as a result I am disappointed in her “bedside manner”. The turbo’s that she put behind my two front teeth have required a real adjustment. I have had a very difficult time eating, sores in my mouth from the brackets, and a sore tongue from the sharp edges on the turbo. Seems to me they should know how to smooth the back side of the turbo. The doctor just says deal with it. Well life is short and I think the doctor should make the patient as comfortable as possible after all it is the patient (customer) who is paying. I am hoping that the Damon System will shorten my pain. Having read other comments I now understand the profit motive of not having to see a patient or deal with the patient very often. So I guess the question is who does this system benefit the most, the doctor or the patient? I guess time will tell.
April 12th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
hey
im 17 turning 18 in a couple months…i went to my orthodontist and told me i need braces i my teeth are not bad but i few spaces here and there. I want a perfect smile…the kind that turns head…i was wondering if it’s worth investing in the damon braces or should i just get the regular braces? and so how much would it cost with insurance?
April 13th, 2009 at 9:42 am
I have damon braces right now and they ARE small then traditional brackets and they do hurt LESS. I have had numerous friends who had the traditional brackets and had them on for 2-3 years. I getting mine off in august when I just got them on in febuary of ‘08
May 14th, 2009 at 12:17 am
I have damon3 system for more than a year now, IT IS TRUE that damon is not for everyone. At the begining, I did not have any extraction and it expanded my arch so wide and my teeth were so forward, and my gums were showing even more. Since I have a small face and small mouth,this is not for me. I transferred to a different doc and she told me that I should have extractions to correct the problem, and that the damon brackets have much larger profile than the traditional ones. Yes it is smaller and narrower, but if you have full lips, wearing damon3 will make your lips looks very full!!! so befor eyou make your decision, ask yourself if you will look better with broader smile (wider arch) and with teeth more outwardly. Now I have to wear my braces for 2 more years.. and I totally regret the decision i made with damon system.
May 21st, 2009 at 4:41 pm
This is an update on my Damon braces. I have now had them on for almost four months now and I can’t believe how much progress has been made. My overbite is starting to close and my teeth are already straighter than when I started. I am very encouraged. I just had to get through the first two months of agony with the turbos. Also I can eat now, which means I can chew! I am very pleased with my doctor now and have the utmost confidence in her ability. Her practice is the most professional I have ever seen.
June 12th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
I have an appointment in 2 weeks, and I think I might be getting my braces then. I’m pretty sure I’m getting Damon although I don’t know much about them. I’m going into highschool, and I wanted to know if invisalign has any disadvantages? Also, how long approx. it takes for Damon? If you could reply I’d be thankfuL
June 19th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
I have worn Damon braces for almost 1 1/2 yrs. for an overbite. My teeth were basicly straight. They come off in September. My 1st appt. was also after 8 wks., then 1/mo. after that. Each time my dentist put a thicker wire. I didn’t have any problems…an occasional poking wire. They are small and work! No regrets.
June 30th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
dr. straight, you are completely wrong. damon braces are way smaller than traditional braces. my orthodontist had the two brackets sitting side by side and i could see up close and personal that damon is wayyyyy smaller. and my friend who goes to a different ortho has the traditional brackets. i got my braces on 2 days before she did and my teeth were worse than hers. mine are already completely straight (after 10 months) and hers are still very spaced out and tilted
July 1st, 2009 at 2:42 pm
I have braces and they work fine! I am almost done with them!
September 4th, 2009 at 4:03 am
From my view, I think Damon braces is much better than regular braces. Damon braces is costly than regular braces. The higher the price the result will be good. While putting the Damon we should be careful as some of the doctor is not license to use it but senior doctor have the certificate. Damon braces even though it have a disadvantages like painful during treatment and costly. As the result is good I have to feel the all the pain during the treatment and need not to wear for a longer period. It does not hurt for a longer period like normal braces. Moreover, it does not have ligatures and the brackets are small too. Damon braces is not hard to wear and it looks nice. I heard of new braces like invisible braces, which does not have wire and brackets, it’s a thin layer which cover up the teeth and people are hard to recognized.
Can I know the difference of invisible braces and demon braces and which one will help limited in a limited period?
September 8th, 2009 at 1:38 am
From my view, I think Damon braces is much better than regular braces. Damon braces is costly than regular braces. The higher the price the result will be good. While putting the Damon we should be careful as some of the doctor is not license to use it but senior doctor have the certificate. Damon braces even though it have a disadvantages like painful during treatment and costly. As the result is good I have to feel the all the pain during the treatment and need not to wear for a longer period. It does not hurt for a longer period like normal braces. Moreover, it does not have ligatures and the brackets are small too. Damon braces is not hard to wear and it looks nice. I heard of new braces like invisible braces, which does not have wire and brackets, it’s a thin layer which cover up the teeth and people are hard to recognized. Can I know the difference of invisible braces and demon braces and which one will help limited in a limited period? I also want to introduce a newly plan for dental.
September 28th, 2009 at 2:30 am
I think Damon braces is much better than regular braces. Damon braces is costly than regular braces. Some people hardly use Damon braces as the price is higher compared with the regular braces but we should remember that the higher the price the result will be perfect. While putting the Damon we should be careful as some of the doctor doesn’t have license to use it but senior doctor having the certificate can use the system. Damon braces even though it have a disadvantages like painful during treatment and costly. As the result is good I have to face all the pain during the treatment and it doesn’t need to wear for a longer period if we maintain good care while treatment. It does not hurt for a longer period like normal braces. Moreover, it does not have ligatures and the brackets are small too. Damon braces is not hard to wear and it looks nice. I heard of new braces like invisible braces, which does not have wire and brackets, it’s a thin layer which cover up the teeth and people are hard to recognized. Can I know which one is better the invisible braces or demon braces and which one will take a short time to clear up the treatment.
October 24th, 2009 at 5:02 am
Hi, I’m going to get my damon 3 braces in 4 days. last 3 days my doctor put 8 rubber bands between my teeth. It’s kinda hurt and i cant eat properly now. is it gonna hurt more when u wear the braces?
November 19th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
I have had my Damon braces for almost 2 years now, at first they were amazing and my teeth moved fast. The last few months, even after wearing my rubberbands constantly progress has slowed. I recently moved out of state and found a new orthodontist (who is certified for Damon) but told me that he want to remove my Damon braces and put more traditional brackets on for another year. He says that at first Damon brackets do well, but then towards the end of treatment, it’s a “wait and see”. I asked why my old Orthodontist never discussed this with me and he says that sadly, it’s about the money. They sold me on the Damon system at first with the fewer office visits and less discomfort, but in the end I’ve had to visit the office as much as if I had different brackets, my treatment time in reality is one year longer than they initially told me and about $3,000 more expensive than original treatment cost. I am 26 years old, a student and have to pay out of pocket every month for this.
My advice would be to do your research before choosing, get multiple opinions and have realistic expectations.
November 26th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I receieved Damon 3 about 3 months ago and so far they are awesome. The first week wes a bit of a chore to get used to, but honestly have no idea how they compare to other braces since the last time I was to get them was as child. But from what I gathered then, the tech has advanced a long way.
Also, for the claims of the “Dr” comments on here, kind of sounds like anti-viral marketing, one particular sentence urged me to comment “Why else is there a Damon 3?”
Same reason there is a Playstation 3, it’s call Research and Development and continual improvement on a solid system.
Anyway, anyone doubting the system, just check other places, I’ve seen very little dissapointment with them in my searches.
December 15th, 2009 at 2:44 am
very good article
December 15th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
I think Dr. Straight’s points are well taken however he is missing a few things.
Bioligically, it’s proven ( Doctors see the AJODO Nov 2009) that passive self-ligation provides lower forces than active or conventional twin orthodontics.
Kids, when you go get your braces tighted it hurts for a couple days. With passive self-ligation research has shown that patient comfort is at an all time high.
Aesthics, smile arc and class 1 relationships are all pioneer goals of passive self-ligation Damon Orthodontics. It would behoove a child,adult or anyone seeking ortho to not have a look at this style of Ortho.
Sure everyone can get from Point A to Point B. How do you want to get there? In a used Ford Taurus or a brand new Mercedes Benz?
December 15th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
three words. Passive Self Ligation = Lower Forces than conventional twin Ortho or Active Self Ligation.
Pick up the November AJODO.
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:38 pm
PEOPLE…….wake up and smell the coffee as they say. Here’s the deal…………. THEY DO NOT TREAT FASTER, that’s already been proven. You have doctors for years straightening teeth for years with brackets on teeth that cost virtually nothing and now this new bracket is said to treat you faster and make your smile better than all those doctors have done for 100 years and do it better and faster. Well guess what, that is ridiculous and not proven and it is a way for the docs to ask for more money from their patients…. wake up people!! When you hear this will treat you fasster as in 23 months vs 30 months ask for a guarantee or your money back then watch how quickly their attitude changes. Regular braces will treat just as fast and just as good and not be a gimmick for the doc to ask for more money from their patients!! Cheers
February 8th, 2010 at 2:47 am
been researching on the Damon system coz i’m about to get braces on tomorrow, kinda nervous. I hope the Damon brackets work.
March 1st, 2010 at 12:09 am
Hi, i have two of my back premolars extracted out when i was in younger time, this two premolars are located at the same position at left hand side of my mouth with one at the top and another one at bottom. Due to budget problem, i was refused to do Root Canal Treatment. I am 24 now, and i am planning to do my braces this year. will it be any problem with lost of 2 premolars? I am very regret with my decision last time. *sigh*
Thank you.