Lingual Braces: An Invisible Way To Move Your Teeth
Posted on 4/11/2022 by Bryan Neu |
 Long ago, braces were the standard way of straightening teeth. These orthodontics were and still continue to be effective, especially for young patients. However, braces do have their downsides, one of them being appearance. People who wear braces used to complain that other people can see them. However, some decades ago, this scenario changed with the introduction of the Invisalign system or clear aligners. Invisalign aligners comprise removable plastic trays designed to incrementally move teeth. These orthodontics have quickly become popular with their biggest attraction being that they are barely noticeable. Now, there is a third option for aligning crooked teeth, which is, lingual braces.
Lingual Braces for Bite Alignment
Lingual braces are similar to traditional braces, however, they have one big difference. Often, all of the components, including the brackets are fitted on the rare side of the teeth. They are attached on the side of the tongue, hence their name “lingual braces”. These orthodontics exert the force needed to move teeth by pulling the teeth, which is contrary to the pushing motion applied by labial or lip-side braces. Because of their location, lingual braces are invisible even to the wearer. Additionally, they do not damage the soft tissue of the wearer's cheeks, gums, and lips in the event that a person encounters direct force trauma to their mouth.
Nonetheless, lingual braces have their drawbacks too. For one, they are quite expensive compared to conventional braces. It is also a little more difficult for the wearer to get used to lingual braces. They tend to affect speech and cause discomfort on the tongue. That being said, most patients are able to get accustomed to these orthodontics within a week or so. Additionally, being a new treatment approach, some orthodontists have not started offering them as a treatment choice yet.
Before you opt for lingual braces, it is paramount you know how they work and how it feels to wear them. To find more about these and other orthodontic treatments, contact our dental team today. Call us to set up your next appointment.
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