What are lingual braces?

Lingual braces are custom made fixed braces bonded to the back of the teeth making them invisible to other people. Don't confuse them with so-called "invisible" braces, which are merely semi-transparent ceramic or plastic attached to the front of the teeth.

Who are ideal candidates for lingual braces?

Lingual braces are a great option for both adult professionals and teens that would feel more confident with invisibility—all while managing great dental health. Lingual braces can also be extremely convenient for those who play wind instruments or contact sports.

What are the advantages of lingual braces?

Lingual braces are invisible, the brackets are placed on the backside of the teeth, and they are not visible from the front.  Lingual braces can significantly enhance an individual’s appearance – without the self-confidence shakers of metal braces.

They work just like traditional braces, lingual braces eventually straighten a patient’s teeth within the same amount of time metal braces would. Of course, each patient’s timeline depends upon the specific case of lingual braces aligning.

Like the standard braces, the lingual braces help to correct:

• Bad bite occurring as a result of misaligned teeth
• Gaps, crowding, rotated teeth, hence improving the cosmetic appearance of the teeth

They ensure a higher comfort level, in contrast to conventional metal braces, lingual braces are custom-fit to the patient.

Lingual braces can be worn for both the upper and lower teeth. However, since the lower teeth are less visible, one can go for a combination of lingual braces on the upper teeth and standard braces for the lower teeth.

Extractions are avoided in more than two-thirds the patients.

Courtesy Dr. Nicolas Jallad

How do lingual braces work?

For lingual braces, your teeth will be utilized to make an impression because the backside of each tooth has its own unique shape - unlike the front   of each tooth, which is fairly uniform among all people. Standard brackets are mass-produced, but each lingual bracket must be custom-formed to the unique shape of each individual tooth.

Afterwards, a laboratory will then use computer technology to design the metal brackets customized for the back of each tooth. The brackets are then transferred to your teeth and cemented.

In terms of maintenance, you will have regularly scheduled appointments with your orthodontist, who monitors your dental progress and provides you with updates for new aligners.

What can be expected after the lingual braces are fitted in?

The patient may experience some temporary discomfort:

• Soreness of tongue and speech impairment such as lisping initially. The braces have been designed such that the tongue gets easily adapted to them.
• Mild discomfort in the form of a mild ache or tenderness of teeth during chewing may be experienced.
• Tongue thrusting for swallowing would not be possible initially and you may have to learn some new swallowing techniques.
• You may require 1 to 4 weeks to get comfortably adjusted to the lingual braces.

What are the aftercare instructions for lingual braces?

• Rinse the mouth using salt water to help avoid initial discomfort.
• Learn to swallow without tongue thrusting by adopting new swallowing techniques.
• Speak more and over enunciate to aid in speaking more clearly.
• Eat soft and soothing foods for the first few days.

And finally always remember to:

• Maintain good oral hygiene – Brush after every meal.  Use a water pick or electronic toothbrush.
• Have Regular dental check ups – to monitor the health of your teeth and development of plaque.

Who cannot use lingual braces?

• It is not suitable for people with very small teeth or with certain bites.
• Smaller children who still retain some of their milk teeth.