Considering how body conscious adolescents are, convincing your teenager to resort to metal braces for their orthodontic treatment can prove to be a herculean task. Some teens may be quite self-conscious and will not be willing to attract additional attention to their appearance. Conversely, your child may be confident but can be concerned about the potential of teasing once they have their braces installed. Fortunately, metal braces are not the only treatment option that you can see to straighten your child's teeth. If your teenager is averse to the prospect of metal braces, below are other orthodontic alternatives that are worth your consideration.

Ceramic braces

Mistakenly touted as clear braces by some people, ceramic braces are designed to mimic the natural colour of your teeth. Hence, they are considerably less conspicuous than metal braces. Ceramic aligners have the same structure as their metal counterparts do. The main difference is that the brackets of the braces are made from ceramic materials whereas wires are either made from transparent or tooth-coloured materials.

Since these kinds of orthodontics are manufactured from ceramic materials, they tend to be pricier than regular metal braces are. The primary drawback that these braces present is that they are vulnerable to staining just like teeth. Therefore, your child should take painstaking care in cleaning them or they will soon be conspicuous.

Lingual braces

This form of orthodontic treatment is also known as inside braces. The reason for this moniker is that the braces are installed at the back of the teeth, which keeps them out of plain sight. So if your child is leaning toward invisible braces, lingual orthodontics will be their best bet. Lingual braces also come with a hefty price tag just as their ceramic counterparts, but not because of the materials used. Instead, the customising of the braces requires advanced digital scanning and expert reconstruction, making them a tad more expensive than metal braces.

Nevertheless, lingual braces also do have a couple of notable drawbacks. Because of the placement of the braces at the back of the teeth, they are continually in contact with the soft tissues in the mouth as well as the tongue. Thus, your child should expect some nicks and bruises at the early stages while their mouth becomes used to the braces. Also, at the beginning, your child may have to use rubber bands to secure them in place, and these will be visible until the orthodontist takes them off.

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