Lingual braces are a type of orthodontic treatment that is used to correct misalignments in the mouth. They are a great choice for adults who want to look their best while also improving their smiles.
Lingual braces work to straighten crooked teeth and correct spacing issues such as crowding, gaps and rotations. They can also help improve your bite and provide a better occlusion.
They are a good option for patients who are concerned about the appearance of traditional braces or who don’t want to deal with the compliance that comes with wearing clear aligners.
These braces are designed to fit behind your teeth, so they are hidden from view when you smile or talk. They are made of stainless steel and can be customised to match the colour of your teeth.
Aside from the aesthetic appeal, lingual braces are also effective in treating malocclusions. These include crowded teeth, open bites, overbites and crossbites. They can also help with other problems such as jaw pain and earaches.
The brackets and wires that are used with lingual braces must be custom-made to fit each patient’s teeth. This is why they tend to be more expensive than conventional braces.
They may take a little longer to get used to than conventional braces. This is because they are placed in a harder-to-reach part of your mouth, which can cause some discomfort as you start to adjust to the new shape of your teeth.
If you choose to have lingual braces, it’s important to keep your teeth and gums clean during treatment. It’s also important to avoid sticky foods, as they can easily damage the lingual brackets and wires.
Lingual braces are often recommended for teenagers and adults with normal-sized teeth, who have misaligned teeth that are difficult to move with other types of braces. They are also suitable for people who play wind instruments that would be damaged by traditional braces on the front of their teeth.
Another benefit of lingual braces is that they are safer for athletes, who can often damage the metal parts of traditional braces with hard hits. This is especially true if you participate in contact sports.
These braces can be customised to suit the unique needs of each patient and are fitted using careful impressions and computer-aided design technology. They’re the best way to ensure your smile looks its best throughout the treatment process.
The only downside to lingual braces is that they can cause speech impediments such as a lisp or a tongue tuck (supralingual lisp). These are temporary issues, and you will need to learn how to speak properly again after your lingual braces are removed.
They are often more expensive than conventional braces, but they are worth the extra expense for their benefits. They require specialist clinicians who are trained in the technique and they can take a bit more time to adjust your brace, so it’s always worth discussing your options with our team before deciding on a treatment plan.