Ceramic Braces
The field of dentistry has experienced many advances over the past several years. Some of the most impressive technological breakthroughs have occurred in orthodontics. In today’s society, a beautiful smile speaks volumes. However, in the past, in order to attain great looking teeth, metal braces were the only option to straighten crooked and misaligned teeth.
One of the recent dental miracles to surface is the use of ceramic braces in orthodontics. Ceramic braces are a wonderfully aesthetic alternative to the commonly used metal braces. With the metal variety, the bracket is adhered to the tooth, which is quite visible and unattractive. With the ceramic variety, the bracket is designed to match the color of the teeth of the patient, in order for the braces to be much less noticeable to the eye.
In researching the positive aspects of ceramic versus metal braces, the main advantage in choosing ceramic is appearance. The braces are adhered to the teeth in much the same way the original braces are adhered. With ordinary metal braces, metal wire runs across the teeth inside the brackets. This is what actually creates the tension that will over time cause the teeth to straighten. With ceramic braces, the major drawback is that the same type of metal wire is still needed in order for straightening to take place.
An added benefit of using the ceramic hardware is the choice of color. These braces can be in either a natural tooth-colored tone or translucent. The nearly invisible braces allows patients to be less self-conscious about smiling or engaging in conversation where the teeth will be apt to show.
While ceramic has many advantages aesthetically over the traditional braces, one vital fact must be mentioned. They tend to be less durable than their metal counterpart. The material requires a slower amount of tension in order to not create breakage. This can result in the patient having to wear the braces for a while longer than with the metal braces. The cost is also considerably higher with ceramic material.
Ceramic braces have taken the dental world to new heights. They have improved the appearance and comfort for patients having to wear them. Regardless of cost, this is certainly a sensible option for patients who desire straight teeth and a beautiful smile, with and without the braces on.
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