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Lingual Braces For Orthodontic Treatment: Is It Right For You?

  • November 4, 2022
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Lingual Braces For Orthodontic Treatment: Is It Right For You?

Lingual Braces For Orthodontic Treatment: Is It Right For You?

More than ever, the present dentistry provides patients with different approaches to attaining their objectives with smiles. Many people who desire to alter the look of their smiles are aware of the two ways that are likely the most well-known. People might opt for traditional braces and clear aligner systems like Invisalign.  

Yet, if you’ve thought there’s another way to straighten your teeth and maintain your smile, you’re not alone. Braces technology has progressed over the years, and you can choose one from many types of braces. Likewise, one type of brace that has become one of the more recent orthodontic developments is lingual braces. It’s becoming more well-known to individuals who are wary about the appearance of their braces.

What Are Lingual Braces?

When tackling an area in the mouth, the term ‘lingual’ means a location on the side toward the tongue. So as the name suggests, lingual braces are generally metal braces put on the teeth’s back, contrary to traditional braces placed at the teeth’s front. Being set this way enables them to be invisible to others’ eyes. It also makes them ideal for those who use an instrument, play sports, or are wary about how they will appear using braces.  

Traditional brackets are often square-shaped and possibly rough because of the openings needed for the wire’s adjustment. Orthodontists use dental rubber bands to hide these openings of conventional braces.

Yet, lingual braces don’t utilize this open-front format. Instead, the brackets are more extended, which might look rectangular or tooth-shaped, with a clip placed at the midpoint. This clip enables the orthodontist to place the wire properly and retain it in its location without the need for rubber bands.

If you’re considering lingual braces, you can visit altasmiles.com or other orthodontic websites to learn more about them. That said, you can continue reading if you want to know if lingual braces are right for you.  

Is It Right For You?

Your orthodontist will take note of your smile characteristics and your oral and medical histories before suggesting placing lingual braces on your teeth. This is to know if you’re an ideal candidate for this type of dental treatment. If you believe dental crowns will solve your problem, then talking to a dental crown specialist should be your next step. That said, to also assist you in knowing if lingual braces are right for you here are some pros and cons.

  • Pros Of Lingual Braces

The most apparent advantage of having lingual braces is that they can become invisible when you smile. They’re placed at your teeth’s back with no metal wires or brackets that can be seen. 

Another advantage of this brace for orthodontic treatment is that it continuously straightens your teeth. It’s because lingual braces are typically fixed, meaning they maintain their position across your treatment. As such, they’re constantly at work, and it will not cause you to get anxious about having them for a long duration of time daily.

The third advantage is that they’re customizable. Orthodontists can use computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) software to customize such braces. Because of this, the orthodontist will obtain a digital imprint of your teeth. This will become the basis of your braces’ design, brackets, and archwires.

  • Cons Of Lingual Braces

The first disadvantage of choosing this kind of orthodontic treatment is the cost. It’s probably because there’s a more notable amount of lab fees for its fabrication and the time required for adjusting and placing this kind of braces. On top of that, the cost of the brace itself can also be expensive. It can cost you more if you opt for custom-made lingual braces or if its brackets are made of gold.

The second disadvantage is that it can affect your speech temporarily. Using braces, regardless of whether it’s labial or lingual, will initially impact the way you speak. When you talk, the tongue touches the back of your teeth to create certain sounds. Yet, when there is a lingual brace on your teeth, they can affect your typical speech sounds, therefore generating a lisp. As such, it’s advisable to talk more to resolve such an issue sooner.

The last disadvantage is that its brackets may lead to considerable discomfort in the area where it’s placed. During the initial period of wearing this brace, you may get temporary soreness. Your tongue might also get irritated because of some parts of the brace.

Wrapping Up

Braces help to straighten your teeth and maintain your smile. Moreover, there are different types of braces, and one of those is lingual braces. This type of brace has pros and cons, as discussed above. It’s best to weigh them to determine if it’s right for you. Still, consider visiting an orthodontist to help you with this matter.

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