Ceramic braces — often called clear braces — straighten teeth exactly the way metal braces do, using tooth-colored brackets and clear or frosted elastic ties instead of stainless steel. From a normal conversational distance, most people never notice them. At Beverly Hills Orthodontics, our doctors plan every ceramic case in-house across our Beverly Hills, Downtown Los Angeles, Studio City, and South Pasadena/Alhambra offices, so adults and older teens who want a discreet fixed appliance do not have to choose between appearance and a predictable result. Call or text (310) 785-0770 or request a free consultation to see whether clear braces fit your bite.
What Are Ceramic Braces?
A ceramic bracket is made from a polycrystalline or monocrystalline ceramic that is color-matched to enamel. It bonds to the front of each tooth and holds an archwire, and the orthodontist adjusts that wire through treatment to move teeth into position. The mechanics are identical to metal braces: same bracket placement, same wire sequence, same control over rotations, deep bites, and crowding. Only the visible hardware changes. That is why ceramic braces remain the discreet option of choice for patients whose case is too complex for aligners, or who simply prefer an appliance they cannot take out and lose.
Clear Braces vs. Metal Braces vs. Clear Aligners
Metal braces are the most durable and usually the most economical, and they handle every case type. Ceramic braces trade a small amount of that durability for a far less noticeable look; brackets are slightly larger and the ties can pick up stain from coffee, red wine, curry, or tobacco between visits, which is why we change them at every appointment. Invisalign clear aligners are removable and nearly invisible, but they only work while they are in your mouth — 20 to 22 hours a day — and some rotations and vertical corrections are still handled better with brackets. If you want the discretion of aligners with none of the compliance, InSmile hides the appliance behind your teeth. We walk through all four at your consultation with your own scans on screen.
Are Ceramic Braces Right for You?
Clear braces are a strong fit for adults in professional and on-camera roles, college students, and teens who want brackets that blend in. They work for crowding, spacing, overbites, underbites, crossbites, and relapse after previous orthodontic treatment. Two practical notes: because ceramic is harder than enamel, we are selective about placing brackets on lower teeth in certain deep-bite cases, and patients who grind heavily are sometimes better served with metal or a hybrid setup — ceramic on the upper arch where it shows, metal on the lower where it does not. Your orthodontist will tell you plainly which combination gives the best result for your bite rather than selling you the most expensive bracket.
Caring for Transparent Braces
Brush after meals, floss with a threader or a water flosser, and keep the same food rules as metal braces: nothing hard, sticky, or chewy that can pop a bracket. To keep clear ties looking clear, rinse after dark drinks, use a straw for iced coffee and tea, and skip whitening toothpastes with heavy abrasives. Ceramic brackets themselves do not stain; the elastic ties do, and those are replaced at every adjustment. If a bracket loosens, we see you promptly — see emergency orthodontics for what to do in the meantime.
Treatment Time and Cost of Clear Braces in Los Angeles
Most ceramic cases run 12 to 30 months depending on how far teeth have to travel, and appointments fall every 6 to 10 weeks. Ceramic typically costs modestly more than metal because the brackets themselves cost more. We quote a single all-in fee that covers records, visits, and retainers rather than a low headline number with add-ons, and we offer in-house monthly payment plans with no interest — run your own numbers with our payment calculator, and see financial information and insurance for how benefits apply. Accelerated orthodontics can shorten treatment for some patients, and every case finishes with retainers to hold the result.
Ceramic Braces at Four Los Angeles-Area Offices
Beverly Hills Orthodontics treats ceramic cases at Beverly Hills, Downtown Los Angeles, Studio City, and South Pasadena/Alhambra, so you can schedule adjustments near work or near home. Start with a free consultation — digital records, a look at your options side by side, and the exact fee before you commit to anything. Prefer to start from your phone? Use our virtual consult, or contact us with questions. You can also compare every bracket system on our braces in Los Angeles page.