Orthodontics Today – all about braces and orthodontic devices

Most patients dislike the idea of the “metal mouth” look they have while in the orthodontic treatment so they try to find alternatives to the classic bracing system. In this case a good idea for many of them is to use the LINGUAL braces.

As their names said it, these braces are not placed on the visible side of the teeth, but “behind” them, in the tongue side. The fact they reside on the lingual side of the mouth gives them this name. We have 2 main providers: IBraces and Inconito (created by Dirk Wiechmann).

The lingual braces are an excellent solution for people who work in the business or PR system and can’t appear in front of their clients with metal braces or anything visible. In some cases the braces could ruin the career or at least a deal (since people are still not that at ease with seeing others braced, especially mature business partners). For them the 2 systems provide a working brace system that doesn’t show.

The advantages are mainly about aspect: the teeth show nothing on the front so it’s hard, virtually impossible, to spot them (unless the patient opens his/her mouth too much to make them visible. I assume no business person would do this though

The disadvantages are small:

• they cost more than the “normal” metal braces. The brackets are made for each patient (they are not “default” for all of them), it’s an individualized treatment (like Invisalign).
• not all orthodontists can work with them (as in other cases: Damon, Invisalign etc.) these braces require accreditation;
• the sores are a problem for the first days. The tongue is also there and for few days it’s hard to eat and speak. Some patients claim the time to recovery was very short, while others adjusted almost instantly. Do expect some sores as in the case of any braces system. In the end it’s a foreign object in your mouth, but you will adjust and have no more problems.
• the talking is affected for few days. Some patients require few days to be able to get rid of the lisp, others have a better time.

All bracing systems in the end have similar issues: small sores, lisp etc. This would be the toll we have to pay for having nice teeth. Together with the tooth ache once they start moving. Sure, nothing impossible to solve though. Lingual orthodontics is another excellent way to straighten your teeth and have them move to the right position. And your braces, even if there and working full force, are hard to spot.

For the people who need a good aspect and nothing to show their treatment, Lingual braces are a great idea.