Ceramic Brackets – no real alternative

The labial ceramic braces which are offered as an alternative do admittedly represent an aesthetic improvement over steel brackets but are certainly not invisible because of the wire, which is usually made out of uncoated metal, is noticeable to a certain extent, depending on the light conditions. A further disadvantage of ceramic braces as opposed to normal steel braces is their brittleness: whilst ceramic can absorb great pressure, any shear forces can easily result in the delicate brackets breaking, so great care needs to be exercised when exerting any kind of pressure. Nonetheless, many patients actually prefer ceramic braces to the more expensive Lingual Technique.