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Sapphire braces
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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To align teeth and correct the bite, special orthodontic structures are used - plastic, ceramic, sapphire, metal braces. Sapphire braces first appeared in the late 80s of the last century in the USA, they were developed in the division of Johnson & Johnson in the form of the Starfire System brace system, which became a new trend in orthodontics. [ 1 ]
Sapphire vs Ceramic Braces: Difference
Ceramic and sapphire braces are orthodontic structures based on aluminum oxide ceramics, obtained from aluminum oxide (alumina). [ 2 ]
Ceramic braces are made of polycrystalline aluminum oxide; they are matte - opaque whitish in color (very similar to porcelain). The polycrystalline material for them is obtained by the ceramic injection molding method: aluminum oxide particles are mixed with binding components and heated under pressure, the resulting viscous mixture is poured into molds and baked by heating until a homogeneous mass (without melting). [ 3 ]
The so-called sapphire braces are made of monocrystalline aluminum oxide – an artificial sapphire glass that is produced industrially from agglomerated aluminum oxide by high-temperature crystallization. The large rod-shaped monocrystal obtained by this method is milled using ultrasonic cutting or diamond tools.
What do sapphire braces look like? Unlike natural sapphire – jewelry blue corundum, “synthetic sapphire” is colorless, that is also transparent. And sapphire orthodontic structures are completely transparent and do not stand out against the background of the natural color of tooth enamel. [ 4 ]
Advantages and disadvantages of sapphire braces
These are vestibular type braces, i.e. they are attached to the outer side of the teeth. In addition to a more elegant and aesthetic appearance, specialists see the advantages of sapphire braces in the fact that – compared to other designs – they are stronger and are more securely fixed to the teeth, preventing damage to the enamel. At the same time, this design compresses the teeth less than metal braces, and is therefore more comfortable. [ 5 ]
What are the disadvantages of sapphire braces? If the color of the tooth enamel is not perfectly white, then transparent orthodontic structures will contrast against the yellow background. Therefore, experts recommend choosing ceramic or metal braces in such cases.
In addition, sapphire braces will have to be worn longer than metal ones, since due to the insufficient pressure of the arch on the jaw, the process of correcting teeth takes longer.
Doctors do not use sapphire braces in complex cases of crooked teeth and malocclusion. They are mainly used to correct defects of the upper teeth. [ 6 ]
Sapphire braces: ligature and self-ligating
Sapphire braces Inspire ice (Ormco, USA) are sapphire ligature braces. Their orthodontic arch is inserted into the grooves of the braces glued to the surface of the teeth and secured with a special element - a ligature, which is put on the wings of the bracket so that it securely holds the arch. The arches are made of shape memory metal; they can be gray, as well as with a white Teflon coating.
Damon Clear Sapphire Braces are self-ligating braces in which the metal arch retainer is replaced by a compact, cap-shaped clamping device. [ 7 ]