Reviewed by Dr. Benjamin Wright, board-certified orthodontist
Wright Orthodontics offers metal self-ligating braces, clear self-ligating braces, and Invisalign® clear aligners for children, teens, and adults. Metal and clear braces straighten teeth with brackets and a wire, while Invisalign uses removable clear aligners. Dr. Benjamin Wright is a board-certified orthodontist, and consultations are complimentary.
Braces are still the most predictable way to move teeth, which is why they remain the right answer for most complex cases. The question at your consultation is rarely whether braces will work. It is which option suits your case, your age, and how much you care about how they look. Below is what actually separates them, without the marketing.
Metal Braces
Metal self-ligating braces are the most common type, and they are more comfortable today than they have ever been. The brackets are high-grade stainless steel and they are noticeably smaller than the braces most parents remember from their own teenage years.
Metal handles everything. Rotations, deep bites, extraction cases, and severe crowding are all well within what a metal bracket can do, and there is no case where metal is the compromise choice. They are also a strong option for children and teenagers because they are durable, reliable, and able to handle active stages of growth and correction.
Clear Braces
Clear self-ligating braces use ceramic brackets instead of metal. They blend against the tooth, so they are far less noticeable in conversation and in photographs, and they work the same way metal braces do.
Two honest trade-offs come with them. Ceramic brackets are slightly larger than metal ones and they are more brittle, so they demand a little more care with hard foods. They also need better brushing, since clear brackets can pick up stain from coffee, tea, and tomato sauce. For those reasons we most often use clear brackets on the upper front teeth, where appearance matters most, and metal on the lower ones. Older teenagers and adults are the usual candidates.
Self-Ligating Braces
Both our metal and clear braces use the Norris self-ligating system. The difference is the mechanism. Instead of an elastic tie holding the wire into each bracket, a small built-in clip does the job. That change has practical consequences. There are no elastics to replace, which usually means fewer adjustment appointments over the course of treatment. Friction between the wire and the bracket is lower, so the wire is freer to do its work between visits. There is also nothing rubbery around the bracket to collect stain, which some patients find easier to keep clean.
Self-ligating brackets come in metal and in clear versions, so choosing this system does not force you into a more visible appliance. Whether metal braces, clear braces, or Invisalign® clear aligners are right for you depends on your case, and Dr. Wright will tell you plainly which option would serve you better.
Clear Aligners
Some cases can be treated without brackets at all. Invisalign® clear aligners use a series of removable trays instead of a fixed appliance, and for adults and many teenagers they are a genuine alternative rather than a compromise.
Aligners have their own limits, particularly with severe bite correction and with patients who will not wear them consistently. Our clear aligner page covers how they work and who they suit.
Which Type Is Right for You
Start with what your teeth actually need. A case that requires substantial bite correction narrows the field on its own, and Dr. Wright will say so at the consultation before appearance ever enters the conversation.
After that it is mostly about visibility and habits. A ten-year-old may need the durability of metal braces. A high school senior with a yearbook photo coming often prefers clear brackets on top. An adult who presents in meetings may weigh clear braces against aligners. Someone who plays a wind instrument or a contact sport has a different set of practical questions, and those are worth raising at the consultation rather than after treatment starts.
None of these choices changes the standard of care you get here. The plan, the monitoring, and the doctor are the same whichever appliance you wear.
Life With Braces
Adjustment visits usually fall every four to eight weeks depending on your appliance and your stage of treatment. If a bracket comes off or a wire starts poking, call us rather than wait for the next scheduled visit. Braces emergencies get seen promptly. Our life with braces page covers food, cleaning, and what to expect between visits.
What Braces Cost
Fees depend on the case, so we quote yours after Dr. Wright has examined you. Payment plans are no-interest and arranged in house, starting at $125 a month, and our cost, insurance, and financing page explains how we handle PPO plans, direct billing, and HSA or FSA funds.
Frequently Asked Questions About Braces
What is the difference between self-ligating braces and traditional braces?
The bracket holds the wire with a small built-in clip instead of an elastic tie. That means no elastics to replace, less friction on the wire, and usually fewer adjustment appointments. The brackets are about the same size as metal ones and are available in metal or clear.
Do clear braces work as well as metal braces?
For most cases, yes. Ceramic brackets move teeth the same way metal brackets do. They are more brittle and slightly larger, so they need a bit more care, and we often pair clear brackets on the upper teeth with metal on the lower ones.
How long do braces take?
How far the teeth have to move decides it, and honest answers range from under a year to well over two. Anyone quoting you a duration before examining you is guessing. Dr. Wright gives you an estimated timeline for your own case at the consultation.
Do braces hurt?
Putting them on does not hurt. The teeth feel sore for a few days afterward and for about a day after each adjustment, which most patients handle with soft food and over-the-counter pain relief. Sharp discomfort from a loose bracket or a poking wire is different, and you should call us.
Can adults wear braces?
Yes, and many do. Adult bone has stopped growing, which changes how some cases are planned but not whether they can be treated. Our adult orthodontics page covers what is different about treating grown-up teeth.
Book a Complimentary Consultation
Call 410-544-0072 or request an appointment online. Wright Orthodontics is at 479 Jumpers Hole Road, Suite #203, Severna Park, MD 21146, serving Severna Park, Millersville, Crownsville, Arnold, Severn, Pasadena, and Cape St. Claire.