Clear aligners and ceramic braces are both discreet ways to straighten teeth, and Speaks Orthodontics offers both at our northwest Denver office. Clear aligners are removable plastic trays you wear 20 to 22 hours a day. Ceramic braces are tooth-colored brackets that stay on your teeth until treatment ends. The right choice depends less on which is “better” and more on your bite, your habits and how much responsibility you want to carry day to day. Dr. Clif Speaks, a board-certified orthodontist, will tell you which options suit your case at a complimentary exam.
How Do Clear Aligners and Ceramic Braces Differ?
Ceramic braces work like traditional braces: brackets bonded to the teeth and an archwire that guides them into place. The brackets are made from a clear, porcelain-like ceramic that blends with the natural color of your teeth, and tooth-colored wires can make them even less visible. They are just as functional as metal braces, and because they are fixed, they work around the clock without you having to do anything.
Clear aligners are a series of custom thermoplastic trays made from 3D images of your teeth. Each set is slightly different from the last and gently moves your teeth a little further. You switch to a new set about every two weeks and take them out to eat, brush and floss.
| Ceramic braces | Clear aligners | |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Tooth-colored brackets that blend with your teeth | Nearly invisible trays |
| Removable? | No, fixed until treatment ends | Yes, out for meals and cleaning |
| Daily wear | Automatic, 24 hours a day | 20 to 22 hours a day, by you |
| Food | Avoid hard, sticky and crunchy foods | No food restrictions while trays are out |
| Cleaning | Brush and floss around brackets; ceramic needs extra hygiene attention | Normal brushing and flossing; clean trays with a soft brush and warm water |
| Durability | Ceramic is more brittle than stainless steel | Trays are replaced every couple of weeks |
| Typical length | Often one to two years, case by case | About 9 to 15 months on average, case by case |
Both options straighten teeth. The differences show up in daily life, in how much discipline the treatment asks of you, and in which kinds of tooth movement each one handles best for your particular bite.
When Are Ceramic Braces the Better Choice?
Ceramic braces make sense when you want the reliability of braces without the look of metal. Because they are bonded to the teeth, there are no trays to forget in a backpack and no daily wear-time to track. That matters for patients who know they would struggle to keep aligners in for 20-plus hours.
Ceramic braces are used mainly for older teens and adults with cosmetic concerns. There are trade-offs. Ceramic brackets are larger and more brittle than metal ones, so they need more attention to oral hygiene. They also tend to be used more on the upper front teeth than on the lower teeth. Dr. Speaks offers several types of ceramic brackets and can combine them with tooth-colored wires. Learn more on our types of braces page or see the full braces in Denver overview.
When Do Clear Aligners Make More Sense?
Clear aligners suit people who want a nearly invisible option and are confident they will wear it as directed. Because the trays come out, you can eat what you like, brush and floss normally, and take them out for a short time when needed.
The trade-off is responsibility. Aligners only move teeth while they are in your mouth. Leaving them out for long stretches slows progress and can lengthen treatment. Treatment starts with 3D imaging, and you’ll see a digital preview of your result before the first set is made. You can read more about how they work on our clear aligners in Denver page and in the clear aligner FAQ.
How Do Daily Life and Care Compare?
Eating
With ceramic braces, hard, sticky and crunchy foods can damage brackets, so some favorites go on pause. With aligners you remove the trays to eat, then brush before putting them back in.
Keeping Teeth Clean
Brackets and wires trap food and plaque, so ceramic braces take extra time with a toothbrush and floss. Aligner wearers brush and floss as usual, and rinse and gently brush the trays with a soft toothbrush and warm water before wearing them again. Our life with braces page has more care tips.
Appearance Over Time
Ceramic brackets blend in, but the elastic ties that hold the wire can pick up color from coffee, tea, red sauces and similar foods. Aligner trays are replaced every couple of weeks, so they stay clear for their short life.
Appointments
Both options need regular check-ins with Dr. Speaks, usually about every eight to twelve weeks, and most of those visits are short. Keep seeing your general dentist every six months for cleanings throughout.
Which Option Works Best for Teens and Adults?
Age alone doesn’t decide it. We treat patients from children as young as seven through adults, and clear aligners are available for kids, teens and adults. For teens, the honest question is wear time. A teen who will keep aligners in all day does well with them. One who is likely to leave trays on a lunch tray may be better served by fixed ceramic braces. Adults often weigh appearance at work against the freedom to eat normally. See braces for teens and clear aligners for adults for age-specific details.
What About Cost and Treatment Time?
The cost of braces or clear aligners depends on the complexity of your case, the length of treatment and the appliance you choose. That is why each patient gets a personalized estimate rather than a list price. On average, treatment with braces or clear aligners takes anywhere from 12 to 24 months. We accept most insurance plans and major credit cards, and we’ll build a payment plan that fits your budget. See financial information for details.
If treatment time is a priority, ask about PROPEL® accelerated orthodontics. Dr. Speaks is a PROPEL® provider, and it works alongside either braces or clear aligners to help teeth move faster.
How Will Dr. Speaks Help You Decide?
The decision is easier when you can see it. At your consultation, our team takes 3D digital scans with the iTero scanner (no putty trays) and reviews your X-rays. Digital Treatment Simulation can then show you how your smile could look after different options. Dr. Speaks then explains which approach fits your bite and why. Meet Dr. Speaks or read about our orthodontic technology.
Not sure which one is right for you? Request a complimentary exam at our Denver office and compare both with the orthodontist who would treat you.
Clear Aligners vs. Ceramic Braces FAQs
Does insurance cover ceramic braces or clear aligners?
It depends on your plan’s orthodontic benefit. Our staff will help you understand your coverage and file the claims and paperwork for whichever option you choose.
What happens if I lose an aligner?
Switch to the next aligner in your series, wear it twice as long as you would have worn the lost one, and let our office know so we can keep your plan on track.
Can everyone choose clear aligners?
Not always. The best option depends on your bite and the tooth movements you need, plus your ability to wear aligners 20 to 22 hours a day. Dr. Speaks will tell you at your exam which options suit your case.
Do I still need a retainer after either option?
Yes. Whichever you choose, a retainer keeps your teeth in their new positions. Learn more about retainers in Denver.