Lingual Braces

Are you looking to straighten crooked, misaligned or spaced teeth in a highly discreet and comfortable way? Perhaps you are keen to align your teeth- but concerned a fixed metal brace may affect you in a personal or professional capacity- for example if you are a musician or you regularly play contact sports?
If so, a lingual brace could offer you a truly modern alternative to conventional braces helping you to gain a beautifully straight smile in a comfortable, attractive and convenient way.

This relatively new and highly advanced type of brace sits on the inside surfaces of the teeth- making it virtually invisible yet still allowing the patient to benefit from all the strengths of a fixed metal brace.

Lingual braces can be tailored precisely often giving much quicker results than standard braces. They can also be used to target specific teeth- rather than moving them all- helping to keep treatment shorter and more cost-effective.

They are ideal for older children, teenagers and adult patients who seek a discreet, comfortable and fast working orthodontic treatment.

What types of Lingual brace are there?

There are a number of different types of lingual braces available on the market today. Whether you’d like a mild to moderate correction- such as aligning a couple of crooked front teeth- or you’d like to address a more complex issue such as overcrowding or misalignment- it’s highly likely that there is a system suitable for you.

One very popular type of lingual brace is Incognito™. This system uses gold alloy brackets and wires which are ideal for those with nickel allergies. With their smaller size and lower profile your speech and ability to play musical instruments is less affected. Incognito makes use of innovative computer technology allowing for the custom made parts to be designed and produced in advance- offering highly precise results.

Harmony Lingual braces are another type of lingual brace which combines fully customised bonding pads, brackets and wires with advanced digital orthodontics. Patented computer software is used to calculate the optimum position for brackets to be placed on the teeth, while four types of highly efficient arch wire are used throughout the duration of treatment.

The benefits of lingual braces:

• Obviously the aesthetics speak for themselves! Lingual braces sit on the inside surfaces on teeth- meaning that they are virtually invisible. They are ideal for anyone who wants to keep their tooth straightening a secret
• Treatment with lingual braces is highly precise and can offer shorter treatment times than some other systems
• Lingual braces are generally more comfortable and have a minimal effect on speech
• They are suitable for a range of corrections in many different types of patients
• Because they sit on the inside of the teeth there is no risk of decalcification to the front surfaces

Are there any disadvantages to lingual braces?

• If you are looking for a highly discreet and efficient way to straighten your teeth then lingual braces are ideal for the majority of patients. However there are a few alternative points to note:
• You may not be surprised to learn that lingual braces can be more expensive than traditional braces. This is due to the higher cost of materials used and the fact they can be slightly more complex to fit and adjust.
• Lingual braces are less commonly placed and therefore it can be more difficult to find an orthodontist who has specialist training in the treatment of lingual braces.

Do lingual braces hurt?

As with any brace system a lingual brace can be uncomfortable at times. Normally you will notice some discomfort when the brace has just been fitted or tightened and your teeth start moving.

Standard painkillers should help to relieve any pain. If you find that the metal brackets rub your tongue we can supply you with dental wax to help.

Looking after your teeth with lingual braces:

When you are wearing any type of brace it’s really important to look after your teeth well to help keep them healthy and strong. Taking just a little more time each day to keep them clean will really pay off in the long-run.

• Brush your teeth well at least twice a day (or after every meal if you can).
• Use disclosing solutions to highlight any missed plaque.
• Interdental brushes can be used to clean around and in-between brackets and wires.
• Rinse with a mouthwash to help remove any loose food or hidden bacteria.

Be aware of your diet:

• Avoid eating too many sugary food items like sweets, fizzy drinks, fruit juice and other sweet snacks. These can cause decay and marks on the teeth when your braces are removed.
• Be careful when eating hard foods as they could knock the brackets loose.

Other things to remember:

• If your brace breaks call us straight away so that we fix it- otherwise this could delay your treatment.
• Remember to visit your dentist for your regular check-ups
• Visit the hygienist regularly so they can deep clean your teeth.

When your lingual braces are removed:
Following any type of orthodontic treatment it is always advised you wear a retainer to help keep teeth in their new position.

This would normally be a removable device to be worn at night, however if you would prefer a lingual retainer this is possible. We can discuss your options with you.