Currently, orthodontic methods are increasingly gaining attention in the field of oral healthcare, especially ceramic braces – a modern and highly aesthetic option. With their delicate design, ceramic brackets have a color close to natural teeth, helping patients feel more confident during communication while still ensuring effective orthodontic treatment. This is considered a breakthrough in modern dental technology, not only improving smiles but also contributing to enhancing the quality of life. The advent of ceramic braces is a testament to the trend of combining technology and aesthetics in dental treatment.
How much do ceramic braces cost?
Ceramic braces are an aesthetic orthodontic method chosen by many today due to their aesthetic advantages. Unlike traditional metal braces, ceramic brackets are designed from a bright white material that matches tooth color, making them almost “invisible” when attached to the front surface of the teeth. Along with the orthodontic archwire, this method still ensures effective orthodontic capabilities without affecting appearance.
Compared to metal braces, the cost of ceramic braces is often higher due to their superior aesthetics and body-safe material. Currently, the price of ceramic braces ranges from approximately 40,000,000 VND to 50,000,000 VND per treatment course. However, the specific fee may vary depending on each individual case.
The reason for this variation stems from the different dental misalignments in each person, including: diastema (gaps between teeth), buck teeth, overbite, underbite, crowded teeth, etc. For cases with significant dental misalignment, the orthodontic treatment process is more complex and may require additional treatment methods such as tooth extraction or supportive screws. In such cases, the dentist will need to calculate the appropriate tooth-pulling force and design suitable orthodontic stages to achieve optimal effectiveness and ensure patient safety throughout the treatment process.
Types of Ceramic Braces
Currently, ceramic braces are divided into two main categories: conventional ceramic braces and self-ligating ceramic braces. Both are highly valued for their aesthetics and effectiveness in tooth alignment, but each type has its own distinct characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages, making them suitable for different individual needs.
Conventional Ceramic Braces
Based on the principle of traditional braces, this method uses elastic ligatures to fix the archwire, preventing it from moving and reducing friction with the teeth. The pulling force from the archwire helps move teeth to the desired position, providing optimal orthodontic results.
However, the disadvantage of this type is its lack of elasticity and low robustness, which can lead to bracket detachment during the bracing process – affecting treatment time and user comfort.
Self-Ligating Ceramic Braces
As a superior improved version, self-ligating ceramic braces are designed with a self-closing clip to fix the archwire instead of elastic ligatures. This allows the archwire to slide freely along the dental arch, helping to minimize pain and discomfort during treatment. Furthermore, this system also effectively prevents bracket detachment and is more convenient to clean.
Self-ligating ceramic brackets are divided into 2 main types:
- Self-ligating ceramic brackets with metal archwire: These use a highly rigid and durable metal archwire, providing strong tightening force. However, this type of wire can be aesthetically unpleasing as it is visible during communication, making it unsuitable for those who prioritize high aesthetics.
- Self-ligating ceramic brackets with clear archwire: These use a transparent nickel-titanium archwire, offering an optimal aesthetic solution. They are almost invisible during communication, making them suitable for individuals who frequently work or interact with clients.
Important Things to Know When Using Ceramic Braces
Candidates for Ceramic Braces
The ceramic braces method is particularly suitable for individuals with dental conditions such as: crowded teeth, spaced teeth, overbite, underbite, or misaligned bites. Additionally, issues related to the jaw, such as jaw asymmetry, narrow jaw, or misaligned jaw, can also be effectively improved.
A notable advantage is the aesthetic appeal of these braces, making them highly suitable for individuals who frequently communicate, providing confidence even during the treatment process.
Popular Types of Ceramic Brackets
Currently, there are two main types of ceramic brackets used in treatment:
Conventional Ceramic Brackets
This is the conventional form of ceramic bracket, operating on a mechanism similar to metal braces, using elastic bands to hold the archwire, thereby creating frictional force to move the teeth.
However, this type has weaknesses: it lacks elasticity, is not very robust, and can easily detach if not cared for carefully.
Self-Ligating Ceramic Brackets
The self-ligating ceramic bracket type is an improved version, overcoming the limitations of conventional ones. A self-closing clip system is used to replace elastic bands, providing better archwire fixation and allowing it to slide automatically across the entire dental arch.
Advantages include: maximum pain reduction, easy cleaning, quick operation, and reduced occurrence of bracket detachment during treatment.
Accompanying archwire types:
Metal archwire: Possesses high durability and rigidity, creating strong tooth-pulling force. However, its disadvantage is that it is clearly visible on the teeth, easily making users less confident and affecting overall aesthetics.
Transparent nickel-titanium archwire: This is an optimal solution for those concerned with aesthetics. With a white color similar to that of teeth, the wire is almost invisible, making the orthodontic process nearly imperceptible to others.
Ceramic Braces Treatment Duration
The treatment duration for ceramic braces typically ranges from 18–24 months, depending on the patient’s oral condition, age, and the clinic’s technique. Some complex cases may require up to 36 months to achieve optimal results.
To shorten the treatment time, proper oral hygiene is the most crucial factor:
Diet: Prioritize soft, easy-to-chew foods to minimize tooth pain and prevent bracket detachment. At the same time, limit cavity-causing foods such as sugary items and carbonated drinks to maintain healthy teeth.
Oral care and hygiene: Poor brushing can lead to loose, detached, or broken brackets, affecting the entire treatment process. If teeth are not cleaned thoroughly, food can easily accumulate, creating conditions for oral diseases to develop.
