Who Treats You
Clear ceramic braces at Limestone Hills Orthodontics are planned and placed by a board-certified orthodontist. Ceramic brackets are more technique-sensitive than metal during placement and removal. You want an orthodontist who has bonded thousands of them.
Dr. Rodrigo Viecilli, DDS, PhD
Dr. Viecilli directs every adjustment visit and adjusts the braces precisely before they are cured. 5,000+ completed orthodontic cases.
How Clear Ceramic Braces Work
Clear ceramic braces move teeth the same way as metal braces. Brackets bonded to each tooth are connected by an archwire that applies light, continuous pressure over many months. The difference is the bracket material. Instead of stainless steel, the brackets are made from transparent ceramic that lets the natural tooth color show through and sits roughly as low-profile as a metal bracket once bonded.
Why Self-Ligating Changes the Ceramic Experience
Most orthodontic offices still use traditional ceramic brackets with tiny elastic ties (clear or tooth-colored rubber bands) to hold the archwire in the bracket slot. Those ties are the number one cause of the “yellowing ceramic braces” complaint.
They absorb pigments from coffee, red wine, tea, curry, and berry smoothies within the first few weeks. Limestone Hills Orthodontics avoids that entire problem by using self-ligating ceramic brackets with a built-in metal door. No elastic ties. No pigment absorption. The ceramic stays transparent from bonding day to removal day.
How Dr. Viecilli Chose the Bracket System
The Limestone Hills ceramic brackets come from GC Orthodontics in Japan, the same supplier the practice uses for its rhodium-coated metal system. Both bracket lines are precision-machined to a tighter manufacturing tolerance than commodity brackets, which translates to less slop in the slot, more predictable wire engagement, and finer finishing control as the case closes. The built-in metal door on the ceramic system (what self-ligating means in plain language) and the manufacturer’s tolerance discipline were the two factors that made the difference for Dr. Viecilli.
No Elastic Ties, No Staining
Less Friction, Smoother Movement
6–8 Week Visit Cycle
A 5-minute at-home smartphone scan reviewed personally by Dr. Viecilli. So some routine progress checks happen without driving to the office at all.
Same Precision as Metal
Why Limestone Hills Uses Self-Ligating for Ceramic Specifically
Limestone Hills uses self-ligating brackets only on the ceramic system. The clear ceramic brackets have a built-in metal gate that holds the wire without elastic ties, which keeps the brackets transparent from bonding day to removal day. The metal brackets still use traditional elastic ties because metal-braces patients, especially teens, ask for the colored bands at every adjustment. Self-ligating gates are not magically faster than elastic ties. Treatment time depends far more on case complexity, root anatomy, and wire selection than on bracket-ligation type.
The Esthetic Details Most Patients Ask About
Adults and teens who choose clear ceramic braces almost always have a specific esthetic concern driving the decision. Wedding photography, high-school senior portraits, client-facing work, on-camera job responsibilities. The following are the questions Dr. Viecilli answers most often during the free consultation at Limestone Hills Orthodontics.
How Visible Are Ceramic Brackets Up Close?
The brackets are far less noticeable than metal. Patients typically describe them as “noticeable but not distracting.”
Will They Yellow Over Treatment?
The archwire is also tooth-colored on some stages of treatment, though the finishing wires are usually standard stainless steel (thin enough to read as a shadow rather than a visible line).
Wedding or Senior-Photo Timing
Bracket Size and Lip Comfort
Clear Braces Treatment Process
Free Consultation
i-CAT FLX V7 3D scan + digital impressions. Bite exam, options discussion, cost estimate.
Ceramic Bracket Placement
Ceramic brackets bonded with precision-positioning. First archwire placed. 60-90 minutes.
Adjustment Visits
Every 6-8 weeks. Wire changes, progress checks, staining assessment (rare with ceramic).
Removal + Retainers
Ceramic brackets removed, enamel polished, custom retainers fabricated. Careful removal preserves enamel surface.
Treatment timeline: 12-18 months standard. 18-24 months complex.
Clear Ceramic vs Metal Braces at Limestone Hills Orthodontics
Both bracket systems deliver excellent clinical results. The choice comes down to esthetic priority, visit cadence, and whether the patient wants to wear colored bands. Here is how the two options compare side-by-side at Limestone Hills Orthodontics.
| Factor | Clear Ceramic Braces | Metal Braces |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Tooth-colored brackets blend with enamel | Polished metal brackets are clearly visible |
| Starting Price | From $4,600 | From $4,000 |
| Ligation | Self-ligating. Built-in metal door, no elastic ties | Traditional. Colored elastic ties at every visit |
| Color Customization | No. Designed to be discreet | Yes. Dozens of band colors changed every visit |
| Visit Cadence | Every 6–8 weeks | Every 4–6 weeks |
| Staining Risk | Minimal. No elastic ties to absorb pigment | N/A. Metal does not stain |
| Durability | Slightly more brittle than steel. Avoid hard foods | Highly durable. Best for heavy chewers and kids |
| Best For | Adults, teens, and brides wanting a low-profile look | Kids and teens who want color expression, or budget-focused families |
| Treatment Duration | 12–18 months standard | 12–18 months standard |
If the patient wants colored bands or is highly likely to impact the brackets (contact sports, hard-food eaters, very young children), metal is the safer choice. Both options are planned, placed, and finished by the same two orthodontists at Limestone Hills Orthodontics. See metal braces details →
Clear Ceramic Braces vs Clear Aligners
Both options straighten teeth more discreetly than metal braces, but they work through very different mechanics. Clear ceramic braces are fixed appliances working 24 hours a day. Clear aligners (Angel Aligners or Invisalign) are removable trays that depend on the patient wearing them consistently. Here is how the two tools compare for the bite problems most often seen at Limestone Hills Orthodontics.
When Dr. Viecilli Recommends Ceramic Braces Over Clear Aligners
Some difficult cases can be treated with aligners, but aligners are not always the most predictable tool. Dr. Viecilli replaces aligners with braces when the case involves severe tooth rotation (more than 20 degrees), significant vertical movement (intrusion or extrusion of individual teeth), complex anchorage requirements where each tooth needs an independent force vector, growing patients who will not reliably wear trays 22 hours a day, or skeletal discrepancies that need expanders, functional appliances, or surgical coordination. The deciding factor is not aligner marketing or patient preference. It is whether the trays can actually deliver the force pattern the bite requires.
| Factor | Clear Ceramic Braces | Clear Aligners (Angel / Invisalign) |
|---|---|---|
| How It Works | Fixed brackets + wire, always working | Removable trays, must be worn 20–22 hrs/day |
| Visibility | Tooth-colored brackets, low profile | Clear trays, nearly invisible |
| Compliance Burden | None. Always on, always moving teeth | High. Depends on consistent daily wear |
| Complex Cases | Handles severe crowding, major rotation, deep bite, and extraction mechanics | Best fit for mild-to-moderate cases. Some surgical and extraction cases still need braces |
| Eating | Soft-diet first week, then most foods. Avoid chips and very hard foods | No restrictions. Trays come out to eat |
| Oral Hygiene | Careful brushing around brackets; Waterpik recommended | Remove trays to brush and floss normally |
| Starting Price | From $4,600 | Angel from $4,000 · Invisalign from $4,700 |
| Duration | 12–24 months | 12–24 months |
Patients who want orthodontic progress that does not depend on remembering to wear a tray 22 hours a day, or who have severe crowding, major rotation, a deep impinging bite, or an extraction case, are usually happier in clear ceramic braces. Dr. Viecilli lays out the pros, cons, and estimated duration for each option at the free consultation and lets the patient or parent make the final call.
Clear Ceramic Braces Cost in Austin
Clear ceramic braces at Limestone Hills Orthodontics start at $4,600 comprehensive, with monthly payments from $149.99/month through OrthoSync (no credit check, no interest).
The $ difference between clear ceramic and metal reflects the cost of the ceramic brackets themselves and the additional bonding and removal precision ceramic requires. Most patients with PPO dental insurance see their out-of-pocket cost reduced by roughly $1,000–$2,000 once orthodontic benefits are applied.
Comprehensive
(Ages 12+)
Phase 1
(Ages 7–11)
Monthly
Payment
$600
$189.99
3% Off
Available Discounts: Military $500 · Teacher / First Responder / Healthcare $300 · Family $300 per additional member. Non-combinable. The patient receives whichever single discount is highest. All discounts →
Insurance for Clear Ceramic Braces
Limestone Hills Orthodontics accepts all major PPO dental insurance: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Delta Dental, Guardian, MetLife, United Healthcare, Humana, Principal, Ameritas, Sun Life, and more. Most PPO plans cover clear ceramic braces at the same rate as metal braces. Which typically reduces out-of-pocket cost by $1,000 to $2,000.
The front-office team at Limestone Hills Orthodontics verifies orthodontic benefits before the financial agreement is written and files the claim directly with the insurer on the patient’s behalf. Insurance details →
Who Chooses Clear Ceramic Braces at Limestone Hills Orthodontics?
Clear ceramic braces are the right bracket system for patients who need the reliability of fixed appliances but want the orthodontic work to be as unobtrusive as possible. The patient mix at Limestone Hills Orthodontics leans heavily toward adults and older teens for this option. And the following groups are the ones who benefit most.
Austin-Area Working Professionals
Teens Who Want a Low-Profile Look
Brides, Grooms, and Special Events
Complex Cases Needing Fixed Appliances
Living with Clear Ceramic Braces Day-to-Day
Clear ceramic braces are easier to live with than most patients expect, but the first week is an adjustment and the overall care routine takes slightly more attention than metal. Below is what Dr. Viecilli and the Limestone Hills clinical team walk every new ceramic patient through at the bonding appointment.
Limestone Hills’s Approach to Food Rules
Dr. Viecilli keeps the food list simple. Hard foods can snap a bracket off the tooth: ice, hard candy, popcorn kernels, nuts, raw carrots (cut into small pieces instead), and corn on the cob (cut it off the cob). Sticky foods can pull a bracket loose as you chew: taffy, caramels, gummy candy. Everything else is fine. Meat, pasta, bread, cooked vegetables, soft fruits, even pizza and burgers are not a problem with normal cutting and chewing. Food restrictions are a minor lifestyle adjustment, not a major sacrifice.
Foods to Avoid (and Foods to Be Careful With)
Food restrictions for ceramic braces are similar to metal, with one extra consideration on pigmented foods. The short list of “avoid” foods is anything that could fracture a bracket or pop the door open on the self-ligating clip:
What About Coffee, Curry, and Red Wine?
Because Limestone Hills uses self-ligating ceramic brackets, there are no elastic ties on the brackets to absorb pigment. Which removes the single biggest staining concern with traditional ceramic systems. Coffee, tea, red wine, curry, and berry smoothies do not stain the ceramic itself.
Patients who drink a lot of pigmented beverages are still encouraged to rinse with water afterward for general enamel health, but there is no need to avoid those drinks for the sake of the braces.
Brushing, Flossing, and Waterpik
Ceramic brackets require the same hygiene routine as metal: brush thoroughly after every meal (carry a travel toothbrush), angle the brush at the gumline above and below the bracket, and floss daily with a floss threader or orthodontic floss. Limestone Hills strongly recommends adding a Waterpik (water flosser) to the daily routine in clear-brace cases specifically.
A short 30-second Waterpik pass cleans out debris trapped between the archwire and the gum margin far faster than string floss, and it keeps the tissue around the brackets from inflaming. The practice sells clinic-grade interdental brushes at the front desk.
Pain Management the First Week
The first three to five days after ceramic braces are bonded feel sore. The teeth are registering force they have never felt before, and the cheeks and lips are learning to sit over the new bracket profile.
Most patients stabilize within a week. Dr. Viecilli recommends acetaminophen (Tylenol) rather than ibuprofen for soreness, because NSAIDs have been shown in the orthodontic literature to slow the cellular response that allows teeth to move.
Orthodontic wax is provided at bonding for any bracket that rubs against the cheek while the lips callus.
Sports and Mouthguards
Ceramic brackets are slightly more brittle than metal, so mouthguards during contact sports (soccer, basketball, lacrosse, martial arts) are strongly recommended. Limestone Hills custom-fits orthodontic mouthguards at no extra cost for patients in active team sports. The mouthguard is printed in-house off the same digital scan used for treatment planning.
Why Austin Patients Choose Limestone Hills Orthodontics for Clear Braces
Many Austin and Beaches-area orthodontists list clear ceramic braces as an option. The differences between one practice and another show up in four places: which bracket the practice has chosen and why, how carefully the brackets are placed on day one, how each visit is handled, and who actually does the clinical work.
Here is what makes the clear-braces experience at Limestone Hills Orthodontics different.
Self-Ligating Ceramic as the Default
Most practices still default to the cheaper traditional ceramic system. Dr. Viecilli evaluated every major bracket system over two full days at the 2022 AAO Miami meeting before committing to a self-ligating platform for the ceramic line.
Grin Scope Remote Monitoring Included
Routine progress checks happen without a drive to Austin, and broken brackets are assessed first by scan before the patient is asked to come in.