Invisible Braces – Lingual Orthodontics

Invisible Braces – Lingual Orthodontics

What are the ‘invisible braces’ that we heard much about nowadays?

Could you please tell us more? Nowadays most of the patients care about their appearance during their orthodontic treatment. The proof for this idea is increased number of patients having orthodontic treatment after the first application of clear aligners in 1998. As you guess, the reason for this increase is providing alignment of your teeth without using visible braces.   Unfortunately, orthodontic problems of all patients can not be fixed with only clear aligners. Aligners having the same color wit teeth or clear aligners which are the other esthetic options have been using for decades. However they still seem like braces when  closely looked.

The word ‘lingual’ means tongue. Lingual braces so called invisible braces are attached to the posterior, lingual sides of teeth.  Practically they don’t seem from outside, from a distance or closely. Thus, it is almost impossible for anyone looking from across to notice your braces. Think about it, your teeth is getting better day by day in front of everyones eyes but nobody can notice the mechanism behind them. 

Thanks to 3D imaging and CAD/CAM technologies, application of ‘lingual braces’ which are the third esthetic option becomes easier. It seems that CAD/CAM technology which is frequently used for porcelain crowns and laminated veneers will also become a key factor for modern lingual orthodontics recently.  

What are the advantages or disadvantages of lingual braces? 

The biggest advantage of Lingual braces is invisibility. Of course they have some advantages beside invisibility. They are more successful than clear aligners for providing complicated tooth movements like correction of rotations, changing tooth lengths, closure of extraction spaces. Beside, in case of insufficient oral hygiene, stains and white lesions that may occur on teeth surfaces during orthodontic treatment will be on the invisible sides of teeth like braces.

You may think that some problems may occur due to attachment of braces to inner surfaces of teeth . It takes two weeks to get used to those braces for tongue. At first, you may feel the braces a little rough and they may effect speaking. However, your speech will improve in two weeks. Cleaning lingual braces may be more difficult. I recommend for patients using lingual braces to be extra meticulous about brushing. I also recommend using oral shower for patients having difficulty for cleaning. Lingual braces may worsen the situation for periodontally problematic patients. It may not be a proper treatment option for patients having short teeth length. Your orthodontist will determine if lingual treatment is suitable for you or not. 

Lingual braces are actually difficult for your orthodontist and staff. Forces applied from inner surfaces of teeth work oppositely from the forces applied from the outer surface. The distance between the teeth is shorter in inner side and thus thinner and smaller wires should be used. This may cause prolonging of treatment period. Working from the inner side and oppositely may lead extension of sessions. Cost of the braces which are produced especially for inner sides of teeth is more than the classic braces. Lingual treatments are more expensive than classic metal braces due to working difficulty, prolonged treatment period and increased cost of braces.

Before starting to use lingual treatment, i took plenty of courses and did observations in clinics. I had the opportunity to contact with many patients having Lingual treatment. Also i had the opportunity to follow this procedure closely  by applying this treatment on my own sister. I heard the same thing from almost every patient ‘ i get used to eat and talk with lingual braces in two weeks’. It gets easier after this period. I had patients having friends who are teasing them during the first two weeks of the treatment but later on they start asking questions about this treatment. Those friends who were teasing with patients are taking appointments for lingual treatment one month later for themselves. I did not meet any patient among lingual treatment patients i talked with who is regretful about starting treatment. The patient forgets about his/her braces after a while and no one reminds him/her braces. Patients who have braces know.The question ‘When my braces will be removed?’ is usually asked in every session by patients who are not comfortable with their look with braces.  

Who should prefer lingual treatment? 

 If you have a job that may be effected from classical metal or esthetic braces and you don’t want them to be known by anybody except your orthodontist then, lingual braces can be just for you. If you want to have totally invisible orthodontic treatment then the best choice will be lingual braces.