Metal braces are what most people think of when they think about braces. They are made of high-grade stainless steel and are more comfortable today than ever before. Traditional braces are fun for kids and teens because they can customize them with colored elastics (rubber bands).
Self-Ligating braces are very similar to traditional braces with one very specific distinction: they do not require the use of elastics. Instead, these braces use a specialized clip that is used to attached the brace to the archwire, which helps align your teeth. Self-ligating braces come in both metal and clear.
Clear braces are made of a few different materials, most often ceramic, but they all share a similar characteristic: they are not as obvious as metal braces. Clear braces are more popular with adults that have cosmetic concerns with metal braces. While they are less visually prominent, they happen to be more physically prominent (bulky) and more brittle than their metal counterparts. For these reasons, clear brackets are usually reserved for the upper front teeth, rather than the lower or back teeth.