Are Ceramic Braces Right For You?
If you need to correct your teeth with braces, then you might be a bit worried about the future. After all, braces can seem pretty awkward and uncomfortable, particularly if you are concerned about the appearance of your smile. Thankfully, there are different types of braces, and some are much easier to hide than others. Here is an explanation of one such option: ceramic braces.
What are ceramic braces?
While you might be familiar with traditional braces, you might not have known that ceramic can actually be used in place of metal. Ceramic offers comparable durability to metal, but it has the huge added advantage of blending in with the rest of your teeth. In other words, ceramic braces are much harder to spot in your mouth than metal braces, which means that you can be more comfortable with your smile and appearance.
The installation and maintenance process for ceramic is largely the same as you would get with metal, which means that you will probably need to spend several hours in the orthodontist's chair over the next few months and maybe years. The magnitude and frequency of adjustment sessions will depend on the state of your teeth and just how much they need to be moved.
Why are ceramic braces better than other options?
You might be surprised to find that ceramic braces don't cost very much, and can even end up costing you less than metal braces.
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With traditional metal braces, you can expect to pay around $5000 without insurance and $3500 with insurance.
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With ceramic, your cost might be as low as $2000, but will likely end up around $4500.
Even if the price of ceramic ends up being higher, then the advantage of being able to hide your braces is still a massive draw. Ultimately, individuals that are concerned about the appearance of their braces should seriously consider the possibility of trying ceramic.
What are the drawbacks of ceramic braces?
Unfortunately, ceramic can have some pretty noticeable drawbacks, the biggest of which is the possibility of staining. Certain foods and beverages can visibly stain ceramic, which is why you want to steer clear of red wines, soda, and coffee when you have ceramic in your mouth. These substances can be cleaned off if caught immediately, but they can also lead to permanent stains if you let them sit for a long period of time. For this reason, you need to be very vigilant about everything that you eat and drink.
For more information, talk to a dentist like Benjamin D Hull DDS.
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