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Last Updated on August 12, 2026 by Dr. Adam Veit

Types of Braces at Bright Orthodontics

Bright Orthodontics offers four ways to straighten teeth: traditional silver metal braces, clear ceramic braces, LightForce® 3D printed custom braces, and Invisalign® clear aligners. Dr. Adam Veit reviews your bite, age, and daily routine, then recommends the option that best fits you. All four are available at every one of our offices.

Choosing how your braces will look is usually the first real decision in treatment, and it is the one families ask about first. Will they show in pictures? Can I still play trumpet? What colors can I get? Those are good questions, and we like them. Braces are more than straight teeth. They are a journey, and our goal is to make that journey a fun one.

The honest truth is that there is rarely a single right answer. Several of these options would correct most bites. What changes is how visible they are, how much they ask of you day to day, and how well they suit the exact movements your teeth need. Here is a plain look at each and how we help you pick.

Metal Braces

Metal braces are the most traditional and widely used orthodontic option due to being smaller, comfortable and effective. They are a great choice for patients of all ages and are especially effective for correcting more complex orthodontic issues.

Clear and Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces work similarly to metal braces but use tooth-colored or clear brackets for a more subtle appearance. They are a popular option for patients who want the effectiveness of braces while maintaining a more natural look during treatment.

Invisalign Aligners

Invisalign is a modern alternative to braces that uses a series of clear, removable aligners to gradually straighten teeth. This option is ideal for patients who want flexibility, comfort, and a more discreet treatment experience while still achieving effective results.
Explore Invisalign Aligners

LightForce Braces

LightForce® brackets are printed one patient at a time, from a digital scan of that patient's teeth. Rather than a stock bracket shaped to an average tooth, each bracket base is printed to match the exact tooth surface it will sit on. Planning is fully digital, so there are no impression trays, and the brackets are a translucent material that sits low against the tooth.
Explore LightForce Braces

How We Help You Choose

Four things shape the recommendation, and we walk through all of them with you at the first visit.

  • What your bite actually needs. Some corrections are straightforward in any appliance. Others move faster and finish better in fixed braces.
  • How visible you want treatment to be. This matters more to some patients than others, and it is a legitimate reason to prefer one option.
  • Your daily life. Sports, instruments, a job with a lot of face time, or a teenager’s memory for putting trays back in.
  • Age and growth. For younger patients, timing and growth can change which option makes sense. See early orthodontic treatment.

Teenagers and adults often want different things from the same appliance, so we have written separately about teen treatment and adult orthodontics. For fees, insurance and payment plans, everything is explained on our orthodontic financing page.

Not sure which of these fits? That is what a first appointment is for. Request an appointment at our Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Ripon or Berlin office and we will show you the options on your own teeth.

See the Options in Person

Pictures on a website only get you so far. In one appointment you can hold each bracket, see how they look on your own teeth, and hear which ones actually suit your case.

Request an appointment at Bright Orthodontics in Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Ripon or Berlin. For the wider picture of how braces work from start to finish, start with our guide to about braces.

Reviewed by Dr. Adam J. Veit, DDS, MS, a board-certified orthodontist and the treating doctor at all four Bright Orthodontics offices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have more questions about the types of braces we offer? These answers can help you better understand your options and feel confident in your decision.

The best type is the one that corrects your bite and that you will live with well. Fixed braces handle the widest range of cases because they work every hour of the day. Aligners can be the better answer for a patient who will wear them faithfully and who wants treatment to stay discreet.

All braces work by applying gentle pressure, so all of them cause some tenderness for a few days after they are placed or adjusted. No type is completely free of that, and any site promising otherwise is overselling. Most patients find it settles quickly and manage it with a salt water rinse or an over the counter pain reliever.

Whatever you will enjoy looking at. Deep colors like ruby, navy and forest green tend to make teeth look brighter, while yellow and clear can do the opposite as they pick up stain. You choose again at every adjustment, so treat the first pick as an experiment.

Fees are set by what your case needs and how long it takes, not by which appliance is on your teeth, so there is no single cheapest option. We quote the whole fee before treatment begins and explain the payment plans and insurance on our orthodontic financing page.