Ceramic braces
Tooth-coloured brackets that work the same way as metal ones, for a family who would rather the braces were less visible.
Ceramic braces work exactly as metal ones do — small brackets bonded to the teeth and a thin archwire that guides them into line — with tooth-coloured brackets in place of steel. Families choose them when they would rather the braces were less visible. Whether they suit a particular case is a question for the assessment.
When ceramic is worth asking about
The mechanics are the same, so the choice is usually about visibility and robustness rather than about what the braces can correct.
- An older child or teenager who is self-conscious about visible braces
- A case the orthodontist judges suitable for either material
- A family willing to take a little more care with the brackets
- Treatment where only the upper teeth show when your child smiles
What happens, step by step
- 01Assessment and recordsPhotographs, x-rays and scans or impressions, then a written plan and a cost before anything is fitted.
- 02Choosing the materialThe orthodontist explains where ceramic behaves differently from metal, so the choice is made knowing both.
- 03Fitting dayEach tooth is cleaned and dried, the brackets are positioned and set with a curing light, and the wire is threaded through. No needles and no drilling.
- 04Adjustment visitsThe wire is changed or tightened and the ties are replaced. Fresh ties at every visit are also what keeps clear ties looking clear.
Sometimes the answer is that metal is the better choice for this child, for a reason the orthodontist will explain rather than leave as a preference.
How ceramic differs from metal
The brackets are tooth-coloured rather than steel, and that is the whole of the cosmetic difference. The wire still shows, and so do the ties unless they are clear.
- Harder, but more brittle A ceramic bracket can chip under a hard bite where steel would not. That can make metal the practical choice for a younger child, or for the lower teeth.
- Clear ties can stain Strongly coloured food and drink can tint clear ties between visits. They are replaced at every adjustment, and the brackets themselves do not stain.
- Ceramic above, metal below Some patients have ceramic on the upper teeth, which show in a smile, and metal on the lower. The orthodontist will say whether that suits your child.
Looking after ceramic braces
The care is the same as for metal, with a little more attention to what the brackets meet.
Who you would see
Every doctor consults in English and Arabic.
Are ceramic braces as effective as metal ones?
They use the same brackets-and-wire mechanics, so they correct the same range of problems. Where the orthodontist recommends metal instead, it is usually about durability for a particular bite rather than about what the braces can achieve.
Will the braces stain?
The ceramic brackets themselves do not. The clear elastic ties can take up colour from strongly coloured food and drink, and they are replaced at every adjustment visit.
Can my younger child have ceramic braces?
Sometimes. Ceramic is more brittle than steel, so for a younger child, or for the lower teeth where the bite lands hardest, the orthodontist may recommend metal. That is a judgement made at the assessment.
Do ceramic braces cost more?
Ask reception when you arrange the appointment. Costs depend on the case and the plan, and are given in writing after the examination rather than from a list.
Your next step
Start with a conversation.
Tell us what is on your mind and reception will confirm the right specialist and a time.
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- Sat-Thu: 9AM - 7PM
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- Direct billing with 15 insurers. Check yours
- Find us
- Al Razi Building 64, Block B
Dubai Healthcare City