So your teeth aren’t quite right. You look in the mirror and see misaligned or crooked teeth, you have gaps or some teeth that protrude out and others hidden or bent out of shape. There are brace options to fix every dental condition but one type in particular has been growing in popularity for some time now – invisible lingual braces.
What are Lingual Braces?
Lingual braces are similar to traditional fixed clear braces but are placed on the back of the teeth rather than the front. This means you, the patient, can use your tongue to feel the braces running along the back of your teeth but they are almost entirely invisible to the outside world. This ‘invisibility’ makes lingual braces the most discreet orthodontic option available and is why this brace option is now so popular with children and adults alike.
Fitting Lingual Braces
The brackets of lingual braces are customized to fit an individual’s mouth perfectly. Highly precise, accurate Impressions are used to determine the fit of the braces.
Since the backs of the teeth are harder to reach, your orthodontist doesn’t have much room to work. This makes the fitting process more complicated which is why you need a specialist orthodontic practice, like Park lane Orthodontics in Reading, to fit your lingual braces.
Are you a Good Candidate for Lingual Braces?
- Bite Problem
Lingual braces can be used to fix most bite problems, but they’re not recommended for patients with deep overbite. Using lingual braces for a deep overbite can put too much pressure on the brackets. In some cases this causes the brackets to loosen and, occasionally, fall off. Your Reading orthodontist will make an evaluation and determine whether lingual braces will be a good fit for you, or not, based on your bite. You can book a consultation at the practice or arrange for a free lingual brace video consultation from the comfort of home.
- Maintain a Good Oral Hygiene Regime
Your lingual braces are fitted to the back of your teeth so not the easiest place to reach when you’re brushing and flossing. It can be tricky to clean the food particles and plaque stuck between the teeth and braces. Your Park Lane Orthodontist will demonstrate the best way to clean your teeth while wearing lingual braces and we have further instructions on cleaning lingual braces from the comfort of home.
- No Problem with Mild Speech Difficulties in Early Stages of Treatment.
With all braces and orthodontic treatment there’s an early adjustment period when every patient has to get used to wearing braces. Because lingual braces are fitted between the tongue and the teeth there’s a particular issue with some mild speech difficulties initially. The tongue gets slightly restricted by the brackets and produces some new sounds against the back of your teeth but usually over a short time, the tongue naturally adjusts and your speech returns to normal.
- No Problem Following Healthy Diet
Lingual braces, like traditional braces, means some patients will have to cut some foods while in treatment. For instance, we advise avoiding sticky and hard foods as they can get stuck between the braces or even break them. If you’re not willing to make dietary changes, lingual braces may not be the right choice for you.
- The Right Investment
Lingual braces are a bit more expensive than other brace options because of the materials used and expertise required to fit them. Most patients choosing lingual braces find the idea of such a discreet orthodontic option very appealing and consider the extra investment worth it. At Park Lane Orthodontics in Reading we also have some great finance options to help you spread the cost of braces.
Experience Counts
Lingual braces must be fitted by an experienced expert in Orthodontics and not every orthodontist has the required experience for fitting lingual braces. You’re in very safe hands at Park Lane Orthodontics and we’d encourage you to see our Why Choose an Orthodontist page and also hear from our lovely happy patients.