Lingual braces - what is it?

Lingual braces are almost invisible to others, which allows patients not to experience discomfort during treatment. This design helps to effectively correct the bite and give a beautiful smile, which, as you know, is an attribute of a successful and self-confident person. Consider what these braces are, how they are installed, what advantages and disadvantages the system has.

Correction of bite

There is a misconception that bite correction can only be done in children. This is absolutely wrong - modern technologies make it possible to correct the unevenness of the dentition in people of any age, absolutely painlessly and taking into account aesthetic requirements.

Curved or uneven teeth, according to statistics, have about 90% of people. Moreover, this disadvantage cannot be called only an aesthetic defect. With crooked teeth, a person cannot chew food efficiently, which leads to the development of stomach diseases. In addition, when crooked teeth come into contact, their enamel begins to wear off, which increases the sensitivity of the teeth and leads to the development of various diseases of the teeth and tissues of the oral cavity. For example, the joint of the lower jaw may be deformed, pain and crunching may occur when chewing. We must not forget about the psychological problem.

Correction of the bite is possible due to the use of a special medical structure called a bracket system. There are vestibular and lingual braces that differ in the method of attachment, appearance, price and speed of correction. It is worth noting that even the best vestibular systems are visible to others. Lingual systems are chosen by people who want to keep the fact of bite treatment a secret from others.

Features of lingual braces

Despite the fact that lingual braces have been used for over forty years, many dental patients have little idea what it is. Nevertheless, it is these constructions that in some cases allow achieving the desired result when the use of vestibular systems is not able to solve the problem.

Treatment of the oral cavity in order to correct the bite and get rid of irregularities in the dentition is widespread. After scientists came to the conclusion that bite can be treated not only on the outside, but also on the inside of the teeth, the corresponding treatment has become even more popular. Everyone wants to have a beautiful smile, while the use of lingual braces allows you to hide the fact of the presence of an orthodontic structure.

These braces are placed on the inside of the teeth, close to the tongue, "lingua" and meaning "tongue". The whole system consists of braces in the form of small plates. In each of them there is a groove into which an arc is inserted, aligning the teeth with pressure on them, and returning the dentition to its original shape. During the use of the system, the archwire is replaced to change the load on the teeth.

We can say that the lingual bracket system is a revolutionary technology that allows you to minimize the discomfort of treatment that embarrasses the patient.

Advantages

The undoubted advantages of these systems contribute to giving preference to lingual braces:

• invisibility to others is the main advantage of braces;
• the system practically does not damage the tooth enamel, because on the back of the teeth, where the braces are attached, the enamel is more durable;
• there is no possibility of injury to the gums, teeth and cheeks - the braces do not touch their surface;
• the possibility of using in contact sports, for musicians playing wind instruments;
• when using lingual braces, inflammation of the gums occurs much less often, in contrast to the use of vestibular systems;
• only the use of this type of braces helps to solve the problem of deep bite, which is not able to correct the vestibular systems;
• the solution of another aesthetic issue - no food remains are visible in lingual braces;
• individual selection allows you to take into account all the anatomical features of the jaw and teeth;
• absence of oxidative processes and allergic reactions;
• miniature size and ergonomic shape of the braces provide comfort during treatment.

Cons of lingual braces

These systems also have some disadvantages:

• diction is the main disadvantage of using these systems. However, the problem is completely solvable - training is needed to eliminate the defect, diction will recover over time;
• inconvenience during the adaptation period, which manifests itself in increased salivation, the sensation of a foreign object in the mouth, injury to the tongue or mucous membrane due to accidental biting. Do not despair - the maximum time for getting used to does not exceed a month;
• treatment takes longer than with external systems;
• cost and installation are also relative disadvantages of using lingual systems. The cost of custom-made braces is quite high, and installation is a rather complicated process that requires special training;
• preparation for installation takes a long period of time;
• the presence of more contraindications than with the use of vestibular braces.

Contraindications

The prohibitions on wearing lingual braces are:

• age up to 12 years, that is, the age period when the dentition is not completely formed;
• the presence of severe periodontal disease;
• narrow jaw, which makes adaptation to structural elements impossible;
• low crowns and short teeth;
• abnormal arrangement of teeth;
• allergy to the elements of the system;
• diseases of the temporomandibular joint;
• mental illness.

System installation

Braces are made specifically for each patient, taking into account the individual characteristics of the teeth and jaws. In difficult cases, it is necessary to make a structure for each tooth, which is a laborious process that takes a lot of time.

Before installing the system, preparation is required, which includes:

• treatment of caries/inflammatory processes;
• panoramic x-ray;
• making a cast of the jaw, according to which a plaster model of the corrected jaw is made;
• production of a bracket system, taking into account the individual anatomical features of the teeth and jaws on a plaster model.

Directly installing lingual braces is as follows:

1. special overlays connected by a bridge are applied directly to the inner side of the teeth;
2. this is followed by the installation of ready-made braces on the lining;
3. at the very end, the braces are connected by arcs.

During the entire treatment, correction and replacement of weak archwires is required.

The duration of treatment depends on the characteristics of the bite and the number of defects that need to be eliminated. On average, treatment takes up to one and a half years, in some cases it can last more than two years.

After removing the braces, the doctor installs a retention device in the form of a ring, plate or retainer for the patient to keep the tooth in the correct position and fix the result of the treatment.

Care

The use of braces without fail requires more complex oral care, which includes the following rules:

• the patient needs to learn how to use dental floss, as well as an irrigator and a special brush for cleaning teeth, in order to minimize the possibility of food / food particles getting into the construction details on a daily basis and prevent the development of caries at the points of contact of the bracket with the tooth and interdental spaces;
• doctors recommend minimizing the use of solid and viscous foods, try to eat in small pieces;
• observe basic hygiene rules, which involve brushing your teeth several times a day, namely after each meal and rinsing your mouth after taking any drinks.

Cost of treatment

As we have already noted, the installation of lingual braces is a rather complicated technological process that not every dentist can handle. The work requires high qualifications and extensive experience in this field, which affects the cost of these orthodontic systems. Summing up, it can be noted that the following factors influence the cost of this type of braces:

• manufacturing nuances that take into account the individual anatomical features of the jaws and teeth of each patient;
• the complexity of the installation, requiring the passage of special training by the doctor;
• further maintenance of the system;
• solution of the aesthetic issue, comfortable sensations, high result of treatment.

Price

The range of prices is very large, the average price, including the entire range of work on the manufacture, installation, fixation and removal of braces for two jaws, starts from 190 thousand rubles.

However, despite such a high cost, in the end, the price is incomparable with the comfort during use and the excellent result, which is far from always possible to achieve when using external bracket systems.