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Why Are There So Many Types of Braces?

Braces come in more versions than most people expect, and the choice can feel confusing. This guide explains why, and which differences actually matter.

Key points

  • All fixed braces have three parts: brackets bonded to the teeth, a wire that applies the force and a way of holding the wire in the bracket.
  • Types differ in bracket material, the way the wire is held and where the braces are placed.
  • The British Orthodontic Society notes that manufacturers' claims of better results are often not backed by scientific evidence.1
  • Most claimed differences between bracket types are small in practice, and the plan, your cleaning and keeping appointments matter more.
  • Ask your orthodontist which types suit your teeth, then choose according to your priorities.

If you have researched braces, you will have met a long list: metal, ceramic, ceramic with metal slots, self-ligating, lingual, aligners, and countless brand names. It can seem that each one promises something different. In practice, there is a simple structure underneath, and most of the differences are about looks and comfort.

The basic parts of every fixed brace

All fixed braces have the same three parts.

  1. Brackets, small attachments bonded to the teeth.
  2. A wire, which runs through the brackets and applies the force.
  3. A way to hold the wire in the bracket, which is either a small elastic ring (a module) or a built-in clip.1

Brands and types differ in the material of the brackets, the way the wire is held, and where the braces are placed. They all move teeth by the same basic principle.

Why there are so many versions

  • Appearance. Adults, in particular, want braces that are less visible, which led to ceramic and lingual designs.
  • Convenience. Clip systems were designed to shorten visits and avoid elastic rings that can discolour.1
  • Marketing. Manufacturers compete, and they often claim better or faster results.
  • Different needs. Children, adults, and people with particular problems have different priorities.

The British Orthodontic Society notes that manufacturers' claims of better results are often not backed by scientific evidence.1

What really differs

Bracket material. Stainless steel brackets are the most robust and the most visible. Ceramic brackets are tooth-coloured and less obvious, and they are slightly harder to remove at the end.1 Some ceramic designs use a metal slot or insert where the wire sits, to reduce friction and wear, and are sometimes called ceramic with metal inserts. The material around the slot is ceramic, so the look is still discreet.

The way the wire is held. Elastic rings are simple and available in colours, but they can discolour between visits. Clips, in self-ligating brackets, avoid elastic rings and make wire changes quicker.1

The position. Brackets on the front of the teeth are the usual position. Lingual braces sit behind the teeth, and they involve laboratory work, longer adjustment appointments and an effect on speech.1

What research says about the differences

For self-ligating brackets, a meta-analysis found that pain, the number of appointments and the total treatment time did not differ significantly from conventional brackets,3 and an earlier review of 17 studies found insufficient high-quality evidence either way.4 In one network meta-analysis, alignment was about 10 days faster with active clips, but total treatment time was no different.5

For ceramic braces, the British Orthodontic Society says ceramic fixed appliances can be as effective as conventional ones at moving teeth.1

The takeaway is that most of the claimed differences between bracket types are small in practice. The choice therefore comes down to what you want from the braces' look and feel.

What matters more than the type

  • The orthodontist's plan, which decides how and where each tooth will move.
  • Your cleaning, because food and plaque collect around any brackets, whichever type you have.2
  • Keeping appointments, which are every six to eight weeks.2
  • Avoiding breakages. Brackets coming off is common enough in studies that it is worth repairing early.6
  • Wearing your retainer afterwards.

A simple way to choose

  1. Ask your orthodontist which types suit your teeth.
  2. Rank what matters to you: looks, speech, comfort, speed, cleaning.
  3. Pick the option that suits your priorities most among those that suit your teeth.
  4. Ask about the visit schedule, the likely duration and the effort involved, such as cleaning and food limits.

Our guide what kind of braces are right for me sets out the main types in a table, and our comparison of Invisalign and ceramic braces looks at two popular discreet options.

Questions to ask about any brand

  • What is the evidence that this brand performs better than others?
  • What are the drawbacks I should know about?
  • Will it change how long treatment takes?
  • How do I clean it?
  • What happens if a part breaks?

What about the term "invisible braces"?

You may see braces described as invisible. No fixed brace is completely invisible, and the word usually refers to aligners or to lingual braces. Ask to see what the braces look like on a model or on a patient, so that your expectations are realistic.

Pages for each type

You can read more about each on our pages for metal braces, ceramic braces, self-ligating braces, lingual braces and braces treatment in general. For an overview, see dental braces: types and how to choose.

A short glossary of brace words

  • Bracket: the small attachment bonded to a tooth.
  • Archwire: the wire that runs through the brackets and moves the teeth.
  • Ligature or module: the elastic ring that holds the wire in a bracket.
  • Self-ligating bracket: a bracket with a built-in clip instead of an elastic ring.
  • Lingual braces: braces fitted on the back of the teeth.
  • Band: a metal ring cemented around a back tooth.
  • Elastics: rubber bands worn between the teeth to move the bite.
  • Retainer: an appliance worn after braces to hold the result.

Knowing these words helps you follow what your orthodontist describes, and makes marketing claims easier to judge.

Which types are common at different ages

Metal braces are the type most often used in children, because they are robust and easy to manage.1 Teenagers often choose between metal and tooth-coloured brackets. Adults commonly ask about ceramic braces, lingual braces or clear aligners because they want a less visible appliance. These are tendencies, not rules. The right type depends on your teeth, your bite and your priorities, and any of the fixed types can be used at most ages.

Matching a brace to your life

Think through how the appliance will fit your routine.

  • If you play contact sport, ask about mouthguards that fit over braces.
  • If you perform or speak in public, think about speech and appearance, and ask how others have found the first weeks.
  • If you travel often, choose something you can manage with a small kit and clear instructions for breakages.
  • If you dislike food restrictions, ask which foods are limited with each type.
  • If you find cleaning hard, talk through which types are easier to clean and what help is available.

Share these points with your orthodontist. A plan that fits your life is easier to follow, and treatment usually goes better when it does.

Myths and facts

Myth: a newer bracket always works better. Reviews of self-ligating brackets found that most comparisons showed no important difference.34

Myth: ceramic braces break teeth. Ceramic brackets are slightly harder to remove, but the British Orthodontic Society says they are unlikely to damage healthy teeth in most cases.1

Myth: coloured elastics are just for children. They are a matter of taste, and adults can choose silver or clear ones.

Fact: any brace works only as well as it is looked after. Cleaning, appointments and careful eating matter more than the label on the box.

Reading the marketing

When you see a claim for a brace, look for four things: who made the claim, whether there is independent research, how large the difference is and whether it matters to you. A claim that a brace is two months faster, for instance, may be true on average yet matter little over a treatment of nearly two years. Your orthodontist can help you read these claims.

Frequently asked questions

Are some brands better than others?

Evidence for claims of better results is often lacking, so choose on suitability, appearance and comfort.1

Do clips make treatment faster?

Wire changes can be quicker, but total treatment time did not differ significantly in a meta-analysis.3

Are ceramic braces as strong as metal?

They can be as effective at moving teeth, but they are slightly harder to remove and are sometimes not advised on lower teeth in a deep bite.1

Which type is the most comfortable?

Experiences vary, and the difference is usually small. Soreness after fitting and adjustments is common with all fixed braces.2

What is the difference between ceramic braces and ceramic braces with metal inserts?

Some ceramic brackets have a metal slot where the wire sits, which reduces wear and friction, while the rest of the bracket stays tooth-coloured. Ask your orthodontist which design they use.

Do I have to choose a type at the first visit?

No. Ask for time, and for the options to be explained.

Are clear brackets more fragile?

Ceramic brackets are slightly harder to remove than metal ones, but the British Orthodontic Society says they are used widely. Ask your orthodontist about any limits that apply to your bite.1

Do colourful elastics change how braces work?

No. The colour is a matter of taste. The elastic ring holds the wire in the bracket, and it is changed at each visit.

About the author

Portrait of Dr Anupam Sinha

Dr Anupam Sinha, BDS, MDS – Orthodontics. BDS (2002), KLE Vishwanath Katti Institute of Dental Sciences, Belgaum. MDS in Orthodontics (2006), SDM College of Dental Sciences, Dharwad. His thesis work won a national research award in 2005, and he holds a certification in aesthetic dentistry. He sees patients at Orion Dental Clinic in Greater Kailash 1, South Delhi. Read the full profile of Dr Anupam Sinha.

Sources

  1. British Orthodontic Society. Conventional fixed braces (patient information). https://bos.org.uk/conventional/
  2. NHS website. Braces and orthodontics (patient information). Page review date 29 June 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/orthodontics/
  3. Čelar A, Schedlberger M, Dörfler P, Bertl M. Systematic review on self-ligating vs. conventional brackets: initial pain, number of visits, treatment time. Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics, 2013;74(1):40-51. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23299650/
  4. Fleming PS, Johal A. Self-ligating brackets in orthodontics. A systematic review. The Angle Orthodontist, 2010;80(3):575-584. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20050755/
  5. Maizeray R, Wagner D, Lefebvre F, Lévy-Bénichou H, Bolender Y. Is there any difference between conventional, passive and active self-ligating brackets? A systematic review and network meta-analysis. International Orthodontics, 2021;19(4):523-538. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34629309/
  6. Almosa N, Zafar H. Incidence of orthodontic brackets detachment during orthodontic treatment: a systematic review. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 2018;34(3):744-750. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30034451/

Medically reviewed by Dr Anupam Sinha, BDS, MDS – Orthodontics, on . General information for patients from Orion Dental Clinic, last updated 23 October 2026. It is not advice for one person, so ask a dentist what suits you. To report an error, contact us.