On the structural level, ceramic braces are essentially the same as metal braces. Both types of braces involve bonding brackets to your teeth, and those brackets hold the wires that straighten your teeth in place. The difference with ceramic braces is in the bracket itself. Instead of metal, ceramic braces are made of – you guessed it – ceramics. With ceramic braces, the brackets are available in a variety of colours, as well as clear and tooth coloured.

The obvious advantage of choosing ceramic braces is that they’re less noticeable. The main reason most people choose to get braces is to eventually have a more attractive smile, but the actual process of wearing them can make even the most confident among us self-conscious. Ceramic braces are much less visible, leading to fewer moments of awkward embarrassment for the patient, which is a major selling point for this type of braces.

Ceramic braces aren’t without their drawbacks. An informed decision means considering all the factors involved – including effectiveness, price, how they feel–and not just how good they look. Also worth pointing out, traditional metal braces can interfere with MRI scans and will need to be removed before scans. Ceramic braces on the other hand are MRI safe and would not need to be removed. That being said, any metal parts would need to be removed before you’re able to undergo any scans.