The metal braces have been used for many years to give us those amazing smiles. And still more and more patients are looking to wearing some more discreet braces, far from those bulky ones with ligatures. Many don’t want or cannot afford Invisalign or Incognito (or Ibraces) so they need something that doesn’t look that “metal” and still works.

So .. the orthodontists came up with something: cereamic braces.

These are not made from metal, so they don’t show like those. They are created from a ceramic material with a color close to our natural teeth colour. The only thing easier to spot is the archwire, but it’s a small line and not an entire bracing system to be seen. Thus the more discreet look.

As you can see in the image, the teeth look more “natural” and the braces do work nicely to straighten the teeth. And if you want another reason to think about this: even Tom Cruise wore ceramics to fix his slightly imperfect teeth

The advantage over the metal braces: they don’t show that much and are thus more discreet

The disadvantages:

• they cost a bit more than the metal braces
• the ligatures can get stained and this would make the braces more visible
• the brackets a bit more “bulky” than Damon for instance. But still with their “camouflage” colour way harder to spot.

Ceramic braces are let’s say a “compromise” made for beauty. Even if the braces are close to the metallic ones as function, they don’t show that much and are perfect for people who want to have a nice smile while still being able to straighten their teeth. Other systems (Invisalign or Incognito) are more discreet, but they cost way more and these ceramic braces can still do a great job with the looks too.

As their names said it, these braces are not placed on the visible side of the teeth, but “behind” them, in the tongue side. The fact they reside on the lingual side of the mouth gives them this name. We have 2 main providers: IBraces and Inconito (created by Dirk Wiechmann).

The lingual braces are an excellent solution for people who work in the business or PR system and can’t appear in front of their clients with metal braces or anything visible. In some cases the braces could ruin the career or at least a deal (since people are still not that at ease with seeing others braced, especially mature business partners). For them the 2 systems provide a working brace system that doesn’t show.

The advantages are mainly about aspect: the teeth show nothing on the front so it’s hard, virtually impossible, to spot them (unless the patient opens his/her mouth too much to make them visible. I assume no business person would do this though

The disadvantages are small:

• they cost more than the “normal” metal braces. The brackets are made for each patient (they are not “default” for all of them), it’s an individualized treatment (like Invisalign).
• not all orthodontists can work with them (as in other cases: Damon, Invisalign etc.) these braces require accreditation;
• the sores are a problem for the first days. The tongue is also there and for few days it’s hard to eat and speak. Some patients claim the time to recovery was very short, while others adjusted almost instantly. Do expect some sores as in the case of any braces system. In the end it’s a foreign object in your mouth, but you will adjust and have no more problems.
• the talking is affected for few days. Some patients require few days to be able to get rid of the lisp, others have a better time.

All bracing systems in the end have similar issues: small sores, lisp etc. This would be the toll we have to pay for having nice teeth. Together with the tooth ache once they start moving. Sure, nothing impossible to solve though. Lingual orthodontics is another excellent way to straighten your teeth and have them move to the right position. And your braces, even if there and working full force, are hard to spot.

For the people who need a good aspect and nothing to show their treatment, Lingual braces are a great idea.

These are still metal braces, but with a revolutionary ligating system, excellent results and in many cases no need for extractions. The system was created by the orthodontist Dwight Damon.

In many cases for the adults who cannot wear palatal expanders (it’s useless since they are no more kids so their bone structure now is final) extractions are needed. When the teeth are too big for the small mouth, the only way to make them “fit” is to extract some (usually the first pre-molars are extracted thus leaving enough space that will not show. The Damon System doesn’t require extractions all the time since it can solve the problems without any teeth being pulled.

In my case for instance extractions were needed since my teeth were way too large for them to fit. In this case the Damon braces needed these extractions too so that they can arrange the teeth properly. It all depends on your personal case and the way your orthodontist sees your treatment.

The good thing about the Damon braces is they no longer need those colourful ligatures. Sure, they can be cute, but why use them if we can do without? This is what Damon thought when he implemented the “sliding-doors” system on the brackets that close and open with no external help from ligatures.

The Damon braces have their brackets smaller (there are already some partially ceramic ones) and they look pretty good. I haven’t worn braces on all teeth, but I saw many patients who were fully braced and their braces really looked nice. The small stainless steel brackets looked like small silver jewels on their teeth.

And, if you want a funny aspect: they do attract the magnet. Yeah, I tried it too

Here are some of the advantages of the Damon braces:

• the brackets are smaller and look pretty nice
• no ligatures mean less chances to catch all that food in there
• they work faster and the results are sometimes astounding (in my case I had an incisor move 7 mm in just 4 months)
• it’s a new system and it’s getting improved constantly.

The disadvantages now, sure we have them too:

• they are still metal braces and offer you that “metal mouth” look
• the treatment is more costly than in the “classical” braces case
• the orthodontists need to be accredited to use the system. For a list of them, please consult the official DAMON site.
• the treatment can be painful in the first days, you’ll also have mouth sores (treatable with dental wax).

Still the Damon System is a great idea if you want to have a good metal braces orthodontic treatment. I used them for just 7 months in preparation for the Invisalign treatment, but the results were just amazing.

In this article we’ll discuss about the “old style” braces, that have no self-ligating system, but are still widely used with great results. Even if they are not as “modern” as other orthodontic braces, their efficiency is good and many patients have got excellent results and straight teeth now. This type will also help us understand how the braces work in the end to make us have that wonderful smile.

Invisalign works simple: you wear some plastic aligners on your teeth and they do the job. Invisalign doesn’t rely on a fixed system (as the classical braces), but on mobile aligners. You take them out to eat and brush and then place them back.

How does this work?

At first you are given this choice if your orthodontist has a license to use this system and if your case is not that complex. In my case for instance, the teeth were too crooked at first, so I had to wear Damon braces for 7 months (on the lateral teeth, to solve some of the big problems) and afterwards I was able to get Invisalign.

Since I am a 30 year old woman and have also got my own web design firm, you can imagine I wasn’t too pleased to sport a “metal mouth”. The Damon system worked nicely and it didn’t show (since the front teeth weren’t braced) and now Invisalign will finish the job.

Only your orthodontist can know for sure. You can use another system and then Invisalign or just go for the invisible braces, if your doctor advises you to.

In order for your treatment to begin, your doctor will take moulds and these will be sent to Align Technologies. There, these will be used to prepare the treatment in a 3D computerized system and the aligners you’ll wear. Your orthodontist will show you the animation and you’ll be able to accept or decline the treatment. You’ll be able to see your teeth moving till the final step.

Here is a very interesting video I was able to find on youtube: The Invisalign process

After you have accepted the treatment, you’ll receive your first set of aligners. Your doctor will help you put them on your teeth and some attachments might be added. The attachments have the same colour as your teeth and are very discreet. Some orthodontists don’t use attachments, so it depends on your doctor.

You wear a set for 2 weeks. Then another one and another one. All aligners come packed with your name on the bag, the aligner number and the total number of aligners. From this total number you can know how long your orthodontic treatment will be: in my case I have 26 aligners for the upper teeth and 37 for the lower ones (this means 13 months for the upper teeth and 18 months and a half for the others).

You are advised to wear them for 20-22 hours a day. The more you respect this requirement, the better. Take out your Invisalign aligners for eating and oral hygene and then place them back. Some lisp is also possible in the first days, but it does get better.

As a Damon braces patient before I can tell you that Invisalign is a walk in the park compared with the metal braces. I did have some slight pain in the first 2 days, but nothing compared with not being able to eat anything than very soft food for 10 days (as it happened with Damon). Some Invisalign patients consider the treatment to be hard, but I can tell you it’s one of the easiest.

Here are some things to consider:

• you might face problems with taking out the aligners at the first time. You might not be used to this. I find it easier to take the aligners from the laterals (molars) and then from the front teeth. The attachments might prove tricky: I just place my nail under the attachment (take care to not hurt your gums) and lift a bit till the aligner gets “freed” from the attachment. With some experience you’ll be able to take out the aligners fast
• don’t lose them. You have a nice box for the aligners. Try to not misplace them since it would be bad for your treatment. You’d have to wear the old ones and wait for the duplicates. DON’T LOSE THEM!
• you will brush like a maniac. Whenever I eat, I just take out my aligners, eat and then brush and then place back. Never had such clean teeth. Try to also clean the aligners, they’ll smell very bad otherwise.
• you might experience some slight pain. Some people complain about big tooth pains, it all depends on your body in the end. Just take some painkillers if you can’t cope with the pain. It will pass in few days.
• you’ll talk funny for some days. Even if so, you’ll still be able to discuss almost normally, so don’t expect to be too funny. I am a radio DJ and wore my aligners since day one. I did have some slight issues with my diction, but I am getting better.

What are the advantages?

• They are INVISIBLE. All my friends had to take a really good look at my mouth to spot them. If you don’t drink coffe or coke with them on, your aligners will remain clean and invisible for the 2 weeks you are supposed to wear them.
• easy to clean: I just use mouthwash and my toothpaste for them
• they don’t stain (unless you drink something that might do the trick)
• the mouth sores can happen, but we are talking less damage than from metal braces. I recall using dental wax for 3 weeks with the Damon braces, for Invisalign I just had something small, but after 2 days nothing was there.
• you can see how your teeth will look at the end.

Disadvantages:

• it’s costly. The system is not that cheap, and most of the times your health insurance won’t cover it.
• few doctors who can use it. Just go to Invisalign.com and see the doctors in your area.
• if your case is complex, you might not be able to get Invisalign.
• the treatment can be sometimes longer than in a metal braces case
• you need to be VERY serious with your hygene.