Ceramic Brace

They are both tools that orthodontists use to align teeth.  Both tools are designed to be as discreet as possible but use different mechanics to move teeth.  Aligners can only push teeth into the right place, whereas ceramic braces can push and pull teeth.

While ceramic braces rely on brackets and wires, clear aligners utilise a series of progressive aligner trays that you swap out at home.

Ceramic braces are able to correct more complicated teeth and bite alignment problems compared to clear aligners.

They are also a better choice for patients who might have an issue wearing their trays as instructed. Ceramic braces are fixed to the teeth, once they are placed they will stay there throughout the treatment, making them easier to keep up with.  There is less for you to worry about since the dentist does all the work!

Compared to metal braces, ceramic braces have much flatter brackets, making them more comfortable against the lips and cheeks, and the elastics are usually transparent or tooth-coloured as well.  The end result is an appliance that is virtually unnoticeable to other people.

Ceramic braces are just as strong as silver metal braces, so your dentist can put as much pressure on your ceramic braces as they would on metal braces. Most patients wear braces for 1–3 years, whether they’re white, clear, or silver, depending on the complexity of the treatment.

Slightly, but not for long.  This is a good sign that the braces are working at transforming your smile as the bone needs to soften to allow the teeth to move.  Patients have likened it to having a bruise around each tooth, that only lasts 2-3 days.

For the early days, you can utilise minor pain medication, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, to help alleviate the discomfort, and sticking to a soft diet if necessary.  It is normal to feel temporary discomfort when you wear or change the aligners for the first few days.  Please contact your dentist if you are having continued pain during your orthodontic treatment.

No, since your teeth are locked together with the wire they will not move unless we want them to,  they definitely will not feel wobbly.

Your initial consultation to discuss treatment options is free!  You can call us at 0131 229 7899 or use the contact form at the bottom of the page to send us an enquiry and we will contact you as soon as possible to arrange your free consultation.

Depending on the complexity of your case we can offer ceramic brace treatment from £2,000 to £2,500.  We think of orthodontic treatment as an “investment in yourself, your smile, and your dental health”  rather than a “cost”.  We have flexible 0% finance options available (subject to a credit check) to help make the treatment as affordable as you like.

This price includes clinical photographs, X-rays, a thorough clinical and orthodontic exam, a bespoke treatment plan and outcome simulation, 4-8 weekly review appointments, case refinements until you are satisfied with the result, and retainers at the end of treatment.

After your consultation , to adequately assess your teeth, jaws, and bone we book a 45min long assessment, and your case will be thoroughly planned over the next 4 weeks.  A non-refundable deposit of £250 is required before this appointment is booked, which will be taken off the final treatment cost if you choose to go ahead with investing in your smile with orthodontic treatment.

Treatment length will depend on your personal circumstances and the complexity of your treatment.  For most adults, treatment time is just under one year.

It is important to speak with your dentist about how your situation and treatment goals fit into an orthodontic treatment program, and how long it could take.  After your case has been planned we can give you an accurate estimate how long the treatment will take.

Especially with more complex treatments ceramic braces are much more efficient and effective in moving teeth.

Your teeth will only be able to move 1mm per month.  It will not be immediately noticeable to yourself, especially day-to-day.  However, throughout the months of treatment, your new smile will become more and more defined and eventually your friends and family will ask if anything has changed, and give you complements on your new smile.

Ceramic clear braces are designed to blend in with the patient's teeth and they are virtually impossible to notice when worn.  People would have to look really hard at your teeth to spot them.  Most people will never know you are wearing them unless you tell or show them.  Of course, you need to take really good care of your teeth and the ceramic brace, since they can get stained and give off an odour if they are not cleaned properly.

If you lose or break a ceramic bracket, or damage the wire, let your dentist know immediately. Your dentist will work with you to ensure you stay on-track with your treatment plan by making you an emergency appointment to repair your ceramic brace as soon as possible.

If there are any sharp areas please use orthodontic wax, or modelling wax to cover the sharp area.

The brackets themselves are unlikely to get stained, but what is more likely is that the clear bands that connect the wire to the ceramic brackets get stained. The clear bands are replaced every appointment anyway, so they won’t be stained for long.

Dark and coloured foods and drinks will stain clear bands.  Try to avoid foods like dark soda, coffee, red wine, curry, and spaghetti sauce as these will stain your bands.  Every time you eat, rinse with a fluoride mouthwash and your brackets themselves shouldn’t stain

With braces on, your teeth are more difficult to clean.  Brushing your teeth properly after every snack and meal will reduce the risk of decay and gum disease so you must be very careful to not leave food on your braces.  In addition, three minutes of brushing is needed every morning and night.  It is a good idea to have a toothbrush with you at all times to ensure you can keep your ceramic brace clean at every moment.

You can use disclosing solution or tablets to check if your teeth are clean, and see where the leftover areas of plaque are hiding.  Please be aware that you will need to replace your toothbrush more often as it will wear out faster.

Use interdental brushes and single-tufted toothbrushes to get to all those tricky to reach places, particularly around the brackets.

Chewing gum while having ceramic brace treatment is not advised as gum can stick to the wires, elastics, and brackets.

Smoking tobacco products can also lead to stains forming on the brackets and wires that come with ceramic braces.  Smokers are often asked to explore other options.  Dentists typically replace the elastics that come with clear braces every 4-6 weeks.  This typically gets rid of most stains since these elastics are the most prone component to staining.

The vast majority of patients report no effect on speech. However, as with traditional orthodontic appliances, there is an initial adjustment period associated with having something new in the mouth.  It may take a couple of days for your tongue to get used to having your ceramic brace in your mouth, and you may have a slight lisp, but this should disappear quickly.

The vast majority of patients report no effect on their ability to play, but it may feel weird and unusual at the start.  If you play a musical instrument with a mouthpiece, it will take you one to two weeks before you become as skilful as before.

You should wear a bespoke mouthguard that is specific for patient’s wearing braces.  Since your teeth are moving you may need a new mouthguard every few months, please let your dentist know if your current mouthguard no longer fits, and a new one can be made to keep your teeth safe.

Chewies – Chewies are another product that can help you with switching the aligners in and out. You can usually get them 2 in a pack.  They are a must for any aligner treatment.

Orthodontic Wax – Even though aligners don't have metal or ceramic wings, you can sometime still experience so discomfort from the aligners.  You can place the wax on any areas that are rubbing your cheeks or gums,  or smooth them down with a nail file.

Aligner Retrieval Tools – Usually there is a learning curve to learn the smoothest way to get the aligners in and out of your mouth and there are tools available that can make it a lot easier to get the aligners on and off your teeth and to make sure it is positioned properly.  Look for one that is made of surgical stainless steel so it is easy to keep clean and will last you a long time.

Travel Oral Hygiene Kit/Storage Case Combo – Probably the most important accessory for your clear aligners is a storage case that also doubles as an oral hygiene kit.  You are wearing the aligners for 22 hours and will be taking them in and out at different times of the day so being prepared is key.  You need a discrete place to store the aligners when you are not wearing them and you need to also have on hand all your cleaning products and tools because you need to clean not only your teeth and gums every time you take the aligners out, but also the aligners themselves.  To have all this in a compact travel kit you can take everywhere will make your life so much easier.

Cleansing Towelettes and Sprays – If you are looking for quick ways to clean your aligners and freshen them up, you can buy cleansing towelettes that you can simply wipe your aligners quickly without the need to rinse them out. If you prefer a spray to towelettes, you can get an aligner and retainer cleaner spray.

Cleaning Crystals – As well as brushing the trays you can purchase packs of aligner cleaning crystals.  You place the trays in water, mix in the crystals, and let them sit for about 15 minutes. Take them out, brush the aligners, rinse them in warm water, and voila! Clean aligners!

With any type of orthodontic treatment, you will need to wear retainers after your clear aligner treatment. This will help keep your teeth in their position permanently.  If you follow the instructions to the letter you can be assured that your smile will be permanent.

The end of your treatment doesn’t necessarily mean that your teeth will be perfectly straight for the rest of your life.  It is strongly recommended that you wear a retainer even after the completion of your aligners work to prevent your teeth from moving back to their original position over a long period of time. The more drastic the correction, the more likely that you’ll need to wear a retainer as much as possible.

At the start you must wear your retainers full time for a year, and then you can start wearing them at night time only.  As you get older you can start wearing the retainers less and less.  If you feel that the retainer is tight, it means your teeth have moved and you must wear it more often.

While there are many different types of retainers, the best retainers on the market are Invisalign’s Vivera retainers.  Vivera retainers were specifically designed for use after clear aligner treatment, and are made from a proprietary material 30% stronger than other leading clear retainer materials which helps you to keep your new smile.  

If you lose or break your retainers, get in touch with your dentist immediately.  The longer you leave your smile unprotected without a retainer, the more likely your teeth are to move back to it's original position.