| Type of bracket |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
| Stainless steel brackets |
Affordable, durable, most widely used. |
Not aesthetic, demands soldering, high modulus of elasticity, more frequent number of activations, low spring-back than NiTi, decreased corrosion resistance. |
| Ceramic brackets |
Translucent appearance, more strength, increased durability, improved stability in case of color and efficient aesthetic quality. |
Lack of ductility, expensive, fragile, stain easily, bulky and a complicated and expensive manufacturing process. |
| Plastic brackets |
Comfortable, cosmetically appealing, less torque deformation. |
Not that strong, absence of stiffness, tie wing fracture, irreversible warping, odor, discoloration. |
| Self-ligating brackets |
Various materials available, patients have the option of choosing a metallic as well as ceramic one, regular adhesive or elastic bands are not required, unique shape simultaneously provides the necessary mobility and tension, require fewer force to move teeth, reduced chair-side assistance and appointments, superior overall ergonomics, enhanced control of infection, reduced distress to patients, optimised oral hygiene. |
Sophisticated mechanical design, there may be greater occlusal discrepancies and lip pain. More expense, a chance that a clip or slide will break, a larger profile, and difficulties completing as a result of the arch wires' partial expression. |
| Lingual brackets |
Aesthetically appealing, protect teeth from over-calcification. |
Speech disruption, occlusal interferences, more bond breakdowns, indirect vision makes it challenging to set brackets accurately, tongue laceration from sharp edges, gingival irritation from plaque build-up and longer chair side time due to the difficulty of inserting and ligating the arch wire. |
| Butterfly system |
More adaptable vertical slots, brackets do not require hooks, convenient and attractive. |
Not that accurate hence further enhancements required. |
| Gold brackets |
Eye-catching feature of their appearance, anti-inflammatory and less prone to trigger allergic reactions. |
Very expensive, not provided by all orthodontists. |
| Silver platinum coated brackets |
Effective antibacterial activity and tolerance to bio film development. |
Expensive, aesthetically not pleasing. |
| Titanium brackets |
Good physical strength and ease of shaping into diverse form. Superior biocompatibility and lower friction. |
Plaque build up and discoloration. |
