LightForce braces use ceramic brackets individually designed and 3D printed for each of your teeth from your digital scan, rather than pulled from a tray of standard sizes. The Orthodontic Gallery in Riverview offers them, fitted and planned by Dr. Wakas Abdulrazzaq, a board-certified orthodontist.
Standard brackets have been made the same way for decades. One shape, produced in bulk, bonded onto thousands of different teeth. It works, and it has worked for a long time, but the fit is always an approximation, and the orthodontist spends the rest of treatment compensating for it with wire bends.
What Makes Them Different
Every tooth has its own curvature. A mass-produced bracket sits on that curve as well as it can, which is usually good enough but sometimes not. Where the bracket sits slightly off, the wire has to be bent to correct for it, and those bends take chair time and appointments.
A LightForce bracket starts from your 3D scan. The base is designed to match the actual surface of your tooth, and the slot is positioned where your treatment plan needs it. The bracket is then printed in ceramic and delivered as a full set.
The whole set is bonded in one appointment using a custom transfer tray, so each bracket goes exactly where planned rather than being placed by eye.
What That Means for You
- Fewer adjustment visits. Less compensating means fewer appointments. LightForce reports fewer office visits and shorter treatment times than conventional brackets in its published case data. Individual results depend on the case and the orthodontist, so we will give you an estimate for your case rather than an average.
- Tooth-colored. LightForce brackets are ceramic, so they are considerably less visible than metal. They are not invisible. Nothing bonded to the front of a tooth is.
- A better fit around the gum line. Because the base is contoured to your tooth, there is less of a gap for plaque to sit in.
- Same appliance, same reliability. These are fixed braces. They work whether or not you remember anything, which is the enduring argument for braces over removable aligners.
Who They Suit
LightForce works across the same range of cases as conventional braces, and it is a particularly good choice for:
- Adults and older teens who want fixed appliances without the metal look
- Cases where finishing detail matters, since bracket position is planned rather than estimated
- Patients who need braces but struggle to get to frequent appointments, including families commuting into Tampa
They cost more than metal braces, which is honest and worth saying plainly. Ceramic is also more brittle than steel, so a bracket occasionally chips or debonds and needs replacing. Neither of those is a reason to avoid them, but both belong in the decision.
Very few practices in this part of Hillsborough County offer LightForce. Compare with metal and ceramic braces and clear aligners, or see all four options side by side on our types of braces page.
Frequently Asked Questions About LightForce Orthodontics
Are LightForce braces the same as ceramic braces?
They are ceramic, but they are not standard ceramic brackets. A conventional ceramic bracket is mass produced in a handful of stock shapes. A LightForce bracket is designed for one specific tooth in one specific mouth and 3D printed to order.
Are LightForce braces worth the extra cost?
For patients who value fewer appointments and a less visible appliance, generally yes. For a straightforward case in a patient who does not mind metal and can come in easily, standard braces will get you to the same finish for less. We will tell you which situation you are in.
Do LightForce brackets stain?
The brackets themselves are ceramic and resist staining. The clear elastic ties that hold the wire can pick up color from coffee, tea, red sauce, and curry, and those are replaced at every visit. If staining bothers you, ask for tooth-colored ties or metal ties instead.
How long does LightForce treatment take?
The same range as conventional braces for a comparable case, often somewhat shorter, because less time goes into correcting bracket position. Most comprehensive cases fall between 18 and 30 months, and you will get a case-specific estimate in writing.
See Whether LightForce Suits Your Case
Free consultation, including a 3D scan and a written plan. Call 813-867-0414 or request an appointment. We are at 10061 Beach Verbena Drive in Riverview, serving Riverview, Gibsonton, Progress Village, Ruskin, Wimauma, Brandon, Bloomingdale, FishHawk, Lithia, and Apollo Beach.