Braces - are the ceramic tooth coloured train tracks worth it?

[ImperfectTents]

Was referred to orthodontist and am finally going to get my wonky teeth sorted . It is 400 extra per jaw to get tooth coloured ceramic things on the train tracks. Do they make much difference? And I have discounted Invisalign as too expensive

It’s a tough one because I feel like they have the potential to make the teeth look bumpy and filthy, whereas the classic metal brace is at least very obviously made of metal.
But don’t let that put you off

Oh dear

Sorry, my wording was a little strong. :(

Lol

I had both (oh yes, train tracks twice in my life)

Honestly? Save your money.

The wire is still metal, so to me it felt obvious that I had braces, plus if you enjoy a variety of food and drink, you will have to be careful as many can stain the little bands that are fixed to each bracket.

Is fixing the train tracks to the inside of your teeth an option? This wasn't available when I had mine, but is now. Not sure if it is more expensive.

I had them in my twenties, they always looked kinda yellowish (and I avoided curry!!). I would just get Invisalign.

(Invisalign is available in instalments if that would make payment easier??)

I had ceramic braces as an adult and had them removed about two years ago. It was the best thing I ever did (Braces) and I wish I'd done them before.

If you have problematic teeth, you are probably best advised to have braces rather than invisilign because of the limitations of that treatment. Insivalign is best suited to more minor cosmetic adjustments. If you have any major issues, then braces will give you a better result.

Personally, I would say it is worth having tooth coloured ones because bizarrely I found plenty of people didn't even notice I had braces. Turns out, many people don't spend their whole lives studying other peoples mouths. Colleague I saw every day first noticed my braces after about 8 months.

I add the following further caveats:

o - depends on whether it is a serious financial struggle for you. If it is affordable then I would do it - subject to further points below. If it is financially back breaking then I doubt it is worth it.

o - depends on your estimated treatment time. If you are looking at 12 months, you may figure it's not that long and save your money. If you are 18 months +, then it's a long time to be in braces and anything that lessens the cosmetic prominence is a good thing.

o - depends on how strongly the aesthetic bothers you and how much it affects your life. I was single and do a job with public smiling interaction so the aesthetic look was important to me. As it turned out I later resigned myself to not dating as it really bothered me and I felt a new man wouldn't be interested in negotiating the brace. If you are in a relationship and this is less of an issue, then again it maybe worth saving your money.

To sum up my advice:
If it's not a financial problem, 100% get tooth coloured ones. If it is a medium financial struggle, then I'd get them if you have a long treatment projected time (over 12 months) and aesthetics is important to you in your day to day life. If it is a big financial struggle, then it's not worth breaking yourself over.

I've just recently gotten mine off, I asked for the metal ones because I didn't really like the look of the ceramic but got told it would be more expensive so I decided against it.

Honestly, they're only on for a limited amount of time. It's not worth the extra money, unless you're obsessed with curries haha.
You're in pretty frequently anyways so can always ask for your bands changed (which is what I did). I also have Invisalign now just to tweak a few teeth since the dentist decided to take my brackets off, they're such a faff I'd honestly just recommend having your train track braces!

Thank you everyone, great to get a range of advice.

It will be for a year, so I am swaying towards just plain old braces. Invisalign is 5000 as opposed to 1800 for train tracks ,I can't justify spending that much more.

I've got ceramic and you can still blatantly see I have braces (and that's with white wire as well, instead of elastics ). In fact ,I would rather have saved the money and gotten normal metal ones as at least people could see straight away that I have braces and not have to study to see what I've got on my teeth.

Invisalign is 5000 as opposed to 1800 for train tracks ,I can't justify spending that much more.

Have you had a couple of quotes and got a second opinion?

That price difference sounds odd to me. I only ask because when I was looking into this, invisalign was considerably cheaper than orthodontic braces for the work I needed.

I think it is because with invisalign once you have had your models taken it is less labour intensive than orthodontic work - in the sense that for the most part you are just moving from one retainer to the next. With braces, you have to constantly see the orthodontist to have wires changed and so on. There is more professional time spent by the orthodontist with a patient with braces than with invisalign.

but Invisalign won't work or give as good a result for anything dentally complicated.

Braces are a big commitment and I saw about 3 or 4 different orthodontists to get a range of quotes and opinions. May sound daft but it is really important that you are happy with your orthodontist and trust him or her. You spent a lot of time there!

Me and my friend at work got braces at the same time, I got metal and she got ceramic and in the end she wished she had gone for metal too. They’re both obviously braces but if anything people looked closer at hers because they are different and they were curious as to what was on her teeth.

It’s very easy to stain ceramic, coffee, red wine, curry or anything with spices in has to be avoided. Plus if you have any ‘extras’ fitted like springs they will be even more obvious with ceramics.

You can also choose your band colours with metal ones and have a bit of fun with them.

Agree with others to save your money. I’ve had both (once in my teens and had to have them restraightened in my mid twenties). The staining you get with the ceramic ones can look worse than the metal.

I've got ceramic and you can still blatantly see I have braces (and that's with white wire as well, instead of elastics ).

Well yes they aren't invisible! But they are massively less obstrusive at a distance. It is only when people are really close to you and looking at your mouth that anyone notices. Most day to day interactions are at a distance where people just don't notice. that was my experience.

Of course the initial state and conformation of your mouth may also make a difference. Some people when they talk show a lot more of their teeth any way or have very gummy/protruding teeth which may make a difference.

Another advantage I found was that a ceramic brace isn't really visible at all in photographs taken at a distance (so group social shots rather than close ups). I was pleasantly surprised by this.

I was very happy with mine and would recommend tooth coloured braces.

“normal metal ones as at least people could see straight away that I have braces and not have to study to see what I've got on my teeth.”

This is what I was trying to say but put my foot in it.

I have the ceramic coloured brackets (Empower clear) and they haven’t stained at all, although if you need elastic powerchains to close gaps these stain easily with certain foods and take on a lovely yellow tinge until changed!

I’m glad I went for the clear over metal as I do feel they’re less noticeable and I will be in them for 18mths plus so quite a long time. I’m also a lot older than your average brace wearer and have a customer facing job so this was also a factor. I think I paid an extra £600 or so for them and had the option of interest free finance over the duration.

I paid an extra £500 for ceramic braces and I’m glad I did. I’m 5 months into treatment!

Thanks for the pic. Also you have lovely hair

Thank you it needs a good trim ha! You do have to be careful with staining but my dentist changes my bands if I do eat something that stains before I’m due to have my wire changed which is pretty good! Also I was sooo self conscious when I first got them but no one seems to care, but it is a pain in the bum eating with them as so much food gets stuck in it it’s gross, I carry a toothbrush and mini toothpaste wherever I go now!

I had "incognito. They're train tracks on the back of the teeth. Totally invisible