Traditional metal braces are brackets that are attached to front of teeth with an adhesive and connected by a wire. When you come in for follow up appointments during treatment, the wire is tightened to help the progression of improving the alignment of your teeth. Crystal or ceramic braces work in a very similar way to traditional braces. A bracket is placed on your tooth and the brackets are connected by a wire that is tightened at follow up appointments. The difference between ceramic braces and metal braces is the color. Ceramic braces are also called “clear braces” because the color is meant to mimic tooth color, so the braces are less visible. These braces are typically chosen for cosmetic reasons.