We offer three braces options for full treatment at our Burnaby office: Empower self-ligating metal braces, Empower self-ligating clear braces, and LightForce brackets. Each one can correct crowding, spacing, and bite concerns. The differences come down to how the brackets look, how they’re made, and the investment, and we work through which one fits your teeth, your bite, and your goals at your consultation.

Empower metal braces hold the wire with a small clip built into each bracket instead of the elastic ties used on traditional braces. With no elastic ties, there’s one less place for food to collect, and wire changes at your appointments are quicker. The brackets have a low profile and rounded edges, so they sit smoothly against your cheeks and lips.

Empower metal braces are our standard choice. Our team finds them the most predictable braces to work with, and they’re what we recommend when patients don’t have a particular preference. They’re also the sturdiest of the three options and carry the most budget-friendly investment.

Empower clear braces use the same clip system as Empower metal, with ceramic brackets that blend in with your teeth. We most often recommend clear brackets on the upper teeth and metal on the lower teeth, since your upper teeth show the most when you smile and talk. That choice is yours, and you can have clear brackets on both your upper and lower teeth if you prefer.

Ceramic brackets can stain when brushing and cleaning around them slips. Strongly coloured foods and drinks are the usual cause, including coffee, tea, red wine, curry, soy sauce, and turmeric. None of these are off limits as long as you keep up with good oral hygiene.

Ceramic brackets are also more fragile than metal brackets, so they need a little more care day to day to avoid breaking them.

LightForce brackets are ceramic and 3D printed to match the shape of each of your teeth, based on a digital scan. Traditional brackets come in standard shapes made to fit most teeth, while a custom bracket fits your tooth’s own surface and lets our team plan your tooth movement digitally from the first day.

LightForce brackets go on both your upper and lower teeth and come in clear or white, with clear the recommended choice. Elastic ties hold the arch wire in the brackets, and they come in a variety of colours if you want to add a little fun to your braces. Because they’re ceramic, the same staining and care advice for Empower clear applies.

We place both Empower and LightForce braces with our digital indirect bonding method. We design a custom tray from your digital scan and 3D print it in our office, and the tray lets us place all of your brackets together instead of one at a time. Our How Braces Are Put On page walks through each step.

We still use traditional twin metal braces, which hold the wire with elastic ties, mainly for Phase I (early) treatment in young patients. Our Two Phase Treatment page explains how early treatment works and when it’s recommended.

Patients often come in asking for a specific option by name, and that’s a good place to start the conversation. The decision usually comes down to how much you want your braces to show, whether a custom-fit bracket makes a difference for your case, and the investment you’re comfortable with. If your bite points toward one option over another, we’ll tell you why, and the final choice stays with you.

Braces stay on your teeth, so they keep working without depending on how many hours a day you wear them, and some tooth movements are more predictable with braces. Aligners suit patients who want removable treatment and can wear them most of the day. Our Clear Aligner Options page covers Angel Aligner, Spark Clear Aligners, and FI Align, and we’re happy to compare braces and aligners for your case at the same consultation.

Your first appointment is a free 60-minute consultation with photos, X-rays, and a 3D Conebeam scan when it’s needed. We go through each realistic option for your case, what each one would involve, and the investment for each. Your fee is set before treatment begins and doesn’t change if treatment takes longer than estimated.

You can start with $500 and spread the rest over up to 36 months, interest-free, or save 5% when you pay in full by e-transfer, cheque, or debit. Our Financial Information page has a calculator for exploring payment plans.