So I figured being over 40 and overweight wasn’t making dating quite challenging enough, so I’ve decided to get braces. 
Ok, so that isn’t the reason, but I am getting braces. Over the years, dentists have said to me, “Have you ever thought about braces?” I’ve always replied that I wouldn’t spend that kind of money on something purely cosmetic. It wasn’t until my last dentist explained that it wasn’t about the cosmetics, but about my overall dental health being vastly improved if my teeth were all aligned properly that I got on board.
My orthodontist of choice (truly, I loved him and his staff from my consultation) came recommended by my best friend’s dentist/friend (someone I trust). I’ve got to have extractions to make all the remaining teeth fit once aligned properly and while I do have small reservations about removing perfectly healthy teeth, I know there’s no other way. I didn’t do a lot of research prior to now because getting the braces was such a long time off. Well, now my extraction date is 8/5 and my braces install date is 8/19 and I’ve gone heavy into research mode.
My orthodontist only uses the Innovation-C brackets. These are a ceramic, self-ligating bracket. I fully understand that it isn’t the brackets that make teeth move, but the arch wires, so any good orthodontist could achieve the necessary results no matter what bracket they used. My concern about the Innovation-C brackets is that the ceramic brackets seem so much larger than the metal ones.
Larger, as in a bigger foot print on the tooth. I would think larger would equal more discomfort, but they say that while they are larger, they are smoother than the metal brackets, ergo, more comfortable in the long run. In the research I’ve done (reading braces message boards) the overwhelming majority of people that have had ceramic on top and metal on bottom, or just ceramic have said that had they done it over again, they’d go full metal.
I don’t care so much about the aesthetics of ceramic vs. metal, I only care about what will be more comfortable for the two years I’m going to be in braces. Does anyone have any experience with these brackets that can set my mind at ease? I really love this orthodontist and don’t want to switch, but I’m having trouble calming myself about the ceramic brackets.
Of course, there is also the likelihood that my current anxiety over the ceramic vs. metal bracket is really all about the extractions and the braces themselves, but right now it feels like it’s all about the brackets.
HELP!