Types of Braces Explained

Riverdale Orthodontist Dr. Laurence Schimmel, Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, explains the main types of braces available today — metal, ceramic, clear, lingual, and self-ligating — and how to determine which type is right for your bite, your lifestyle, and your goals.

When patients in Riverdale and the Bronx search for braces, one of the first questions they ask is: what type of braces do I need? The answer is not one-size-fits-all. Different types of braces use different materials, mechanisms, and placement strategies. Each has specific clinical advantages. The best type of braces for you depends on how complex your case is, what your bite correction requires, and how much visibility you are comfortable with during treatment.

At Schimmel Orthodontic Associates, we offer multiple types of braces and evaluate every patient individually before recommending a treatment appliance. This article explains each braces type clearly so you can come to your consultation informed.

🦷 What are the main types of braces?

Orthodontic braces are fixed appliances that bond brackets to the teeth and use archwires to apply controlled force. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recognizes several types of braces systems in current clinical use. What separates them is material, bracket placement, and how the wire is held in place.

The main types of braces offered at Schimmel Orthodontic Associates in Riverdale include:

• Metal braces — traditional stainless steel brackets and archwires
• Ceramic braces — tooth-colored or clear ceramic brackets with metal or tooth-colored wires
• Clear braces — a term used interchangeably with ceramic braces, referring to tooth-colored fixed bracket systems
• Lingual braces — brackets bonded to the inner (tongue-side) surface of the teeth
• Self-ligating braces — brackets with a built-in sliding clip mechanism that holds the wire without elastic ties

Clear aligners such as Invisalign and Spark Clear Aligners are a separate treatment category — removable, not fixed — and are covered in dedicated articles on this site.

🦷 Types of braces comparison: visibility, use case, and best fit

🦷 Metal braces: the most versatile type of braces

Metal braces — also called traditional braces — consist of stainless steel brackets bonded to the front surface of each tooth, connected by a metal archwire. Metal braces apply continuous, controlled force and allow precise management of tooth position, rotation, and vertical movement.

Metal braces at Schimmel Orthodontic Associates are used for:

• Moderate to severe crowding requiring detailed tooth control
• Complex bite correction including overbite, underbite, crossbite, and open bite
• Impacted teeth that require guided eruption
• Cases where compliance with removable appliances is uncertain
• Children and teens where growth guidance is part of the treatment plan

Metal braces are the most clinically versatile type of braces available. The AAO recognizes metal braces as a reliable and precise orthodontic treatment across a wide range of case types and patient ages.

Related reading: Braces at Schimmel Orthodontics | How Can I Fix My Crowded Teeth?

🦷 Ceramic braces and clear braces: tooth-colored fixed options

Ceramic braces use tooth-colored or translucent ceramic brackets instead of metal. The archwire may be tooth-colored or metal. Ceramic braces work through the same bracket-and-wire mechanics as metal braces and can treat many of the same conditions — including crowding, spacing, and bite problems — while being significantly less visible.

The terms ceramic braces, clear braces, and tooth-colored braces are often used interchangeably. All refer to fixed bracket systems made from non-metal materials designed to blend with natural tooth color.

Ceramic braces at Schimmel Orthodontic Associates are a strong fit for:

• Adults who want a fixed appliance that is less noticeable at work or in social settings
• Older teens who are self-conscious about the appearance of metal brackets
• Patients whose cases require fixed braces mechanics but who prefer a discreet look

One consideration with ceramic brackets is that the material can be more brittle than metal and the brackets or elastic ties may discolor with certain foods and drinks — coffee, tea, and heavily pigmented foods being the most common culprits. Proper cleaning habits and removing aligners or clear ties when needed can minimize this. All fixed braces share the same hard and sticky food restrictions; the staining concern is specific to ceramic.

Related reading: Clear Ceramic Braces at Schimmel Orthodontics | Clear Ceramic Braces vs Invisalign

🦷 Lingual braces: the fully hidden type of braces

Lingual braces are brackets bonded to the lingual surface — the inside, tongue-facing side — of the teeth. Because lingual braces are positioned behind the teeth, they are completely invisible from the front. Lingual braces are the most discreet fixed orthodontic appliance available.

Lingual braces operate on the same general principle as traditional braces — brackets and wires apply force to move teeth — but the execution is different. Lingual brackets are custom-fabricated for each patient's tooth anatomy and use shorter, individually shaped archwires. This customization is what makes lingual treatment more technique-sensitive and why not all orthodontic practices offer it.

Lingual braces have a longer adjustment period than other types. Because the brackets sit against the tongue, patients typically experience a period of speech adjustment and tongue discomfort in the first weeks of treatment. This is normal and resolves with time.

Candidacy for lingual braces depends on tooth anatomy and case complexity. A full orthodontic evaluation determines whether lingual placement is appropriate for a given patient's bite and arch structure.

🦷 Self-ligating braces: how they differ from traditional braces

Self-ligating braces use a built-in sliding clip or door mechanism to hold the archwire in place, rather than the elastic ties used in traditional braces. The self-ligating clip reduces friction between the wire and bracket, which can allow teeth to move more freely along the wire during certain phases of treatment.

Self-ligating brackets are available in both metal and ceramic versions. Metal self-ligating braces are visible. Ceramic self-ligating braces offer the same low-visibility appearance as standard ceramic brackets.

Common claims about self-ligating braces include shorter treatment time and fewer appointments. These outcomes are case dependent. Self-ligating systems work well for many patients, but they do not produce reliably faster results in all cases. The clinical evidence on treatment time differences remains mixed.

At Schimmel Orthodontic Associates, the choice between self-ligating and traditional bracket systems is made based on each patient's clinical needs — not marketing claims about speed.

🦷 What type of braces do I need?

The right type of braces for any patient depends on several clinical factors that can only be properly evaluated during a full orthodontic consultation with X-rays. Factors that guide the choice include:

• Severity of crowding or spacing. More complex crowding often benefits from metal braces, which offer maximum control over tooth position.
• Bite correction needs. Significant overbite, underbite, crossbite, or open bite correction typically requires the precision and continuous force of fixed braces.
• Tooth rotation. Severely rotated teeth often respond more predictably to fixed bracket systems than to clear aligners.
• Visibility preference. Patients who prioritize aesthetics during treatment may choose ceramic, clear, or lingual braces over metal.
• Age and compliance. Children and younger teens often do well with metal braces. Adults with visibility concerns may prefer ceramic or lingual systems.
• Oral hygiene habits. Ceramic brackets require more careful cleaning to avoid staining. Patients with challenging hygiene habits may do better with metal.

No online article can answer this question for you. Tooth position, bite mechanics, jaw structure, arch width, and patient habits all factor into the recommendation. That is why the first step is always a clinical evaluation — not a preference conversation.

🦷 Types of braces for adults

Adult braces treatment at Schimmel Orthodontic Associates in Riverdale and the Bronx is common and produces excellent results. Adults are strong candidates for all types of braces. The most frequently chosen options for adult patients include:

• Ceramic braces — tooth-colored brackets, also called clear braces or tooth-colored braces; significantly less visible at work and in social settings
• Lingual braces — completely hidden; preferred by adult professionals who cannot have any visible appliance during treatment
• Metal braces — the most reliable choice when bite correction is complex, crowding is severe, or when previous treatment has relapsed

Adults often seek braces because teeth have shifted over time, because prior orthodontic treatment was not retained, or because bite issues have begun to cause discomfort or wear. All of these situations are treatable. Adult orthodontic treatment follows the same principles as treatment for younger patients and can produce stable, long-term results.

Related reading: Adult Braces at Schimmel Orthodontics | Invisalign vs Braces — Dr. Schimmel Explains

🦷 Types of braces for kids and teens

Children and teenagers are candidates for all types of braces. The most common choice for younger patients is metal braces, which are durable, reliable, and cost-effective. Metal brackets also allow for colored elastic ties — a popular feature among kids and teens who enjoy personalizing their treatment.

The AAO recommends that children receive their first orthodontic evaluation by age seven. Early evaluation allows Dr. Schimmel to identify developing crowding, impacted teeth, bite problems, and jaw growth discrepancies — even when active braces treatment is not yet needed.

Ceramic braces are also used for older teens who want a less visible option. Lingual braces are less common in younger patients due to tongue adaptation challenges, but may be appropriate in specific cases.

Related reading: Children's Orthodontics at Schimmel Orthodontics

🦷 What is the best type of braces?

Patients often arrive hoping for a straightforward answer to this question. The honest answer is that it depends — but the following general guidance holds across most cases:

• Metal braces are the best type for complex or severe cases, impacted teeth, and situations requiring maximum clinical control.
• Ceramic or clear braces are the best type for patients who need fixed braces mechanics but want a less visible appliance.
• Lingual braces are the best type for patients who need fixed braces and require complete aesthetic discretion.
• Self-ligating braces may be the best type in cases where reduced friction is clinically advantageous — available in both metal and ceramic.

The appliance that looks most appealing in a search result is not always the one that produces the most stable outcome. That gap between preference and clinical fit is exactly what a consultation resolves.

🦷 Invisible braces: what the term actually means

The term invisible braces is not a clinical category — it is a marketing phrase. Different providers use it to describe different things, which causes real confusion for patients comparing options.

In clinical practice, the two options that come closest to true invisibility are lingual braces — hidden entirely behind the teeth — and clear aligners such as Invisalign or Spark Clear Aligners, which are removable and nearly invisible when worn. Both have trade-offs. Lingual braces require a longer adjustment period. Clear aligners require consistent wear — typically 20 to 22 hours per day — to work properly.

Ceramic and clear braces are sometimes marketed as invisible braces. They are not invisible. They are less visible than metal — but close-up, they are noticeable. If true invisibility matters to you, lingual braces or clear aligners are the options worth discussing at your consultation.

🦷 Related reading

• Braces at Schimmel Orthodontics
• Clear Ceramic Braces vs Invisalign — What's the Difference?
• Invisalign vs Braces — Dr. Schimmel Explains
• How Can I Fix My Crowded Teeth?