When you are looking into having braces fitted as an adult, you will be happy to learn that you may be a bit spoiled for choice!
With advances in modern orthodontic care allowing more people to wear discreet braces, there is no longer the need to worry about how your smile will look in photos. As cosmetic aligners and orthodontic ones have merged, many people are now suited to wearing clear or invisible braces. From Invisalign to Lingual braces, more complex alignment issues can now be corrected without the need for traditional metal alternatives.
And at Harley Street Dental, our dentist in Harley Street can choose the perfect brace for you and your unique clinical requirements. With our precision application and our knowledge of all things brace-related, you can have that straighter, healthier-looking smile you have always wanted in 6 months or less! Perfect!
In this article, we will explore one of our more popular braces, that combines aesthetics with some more traditional aspects of orthodontics; lingual braces. Enjoy!
What are lingual braces?
Picture regular metal braces, and then place them on the back of the teeth as opposed to the front and you have lingual braces!
Once fitted, our dentist in Harley Street will need to see you every few weeks to adjust and tighten the aligners, in order for that straighter smile to come to fruition sooner.
Discreet and highly effective, you can even brag to your friends that you are wearing the same brace type that was once worn by Prince William!
Are they uncomfortable?
Whether you are undertaking lingual braces or Invisalign, the realignment process is likely to cause some minimal discomfort.
Remember, you are moving teeth that are set in their place into new positions using applied force, so some twinges are to be expected. However, if you feel that the discomfort is too much to bear, contact our dentist in Harley Street for a check-up and assessment of your lingual brace.
Will I have a lisp while wearing them?
When it comes to all kinds of brace and aligners, it is likely that for those first few days you will have some alterations in your speech.
Once your tongue has adjusted to having them in your mouth, your normal speech patterns should return.
How long will I need the incognito brace for?
This depends entirely on the severity of your orthodontic issue and as lingual braces are designed to treat more complex cases of misalignment, you can expect to wear them for at least 18 months. In more complex cases, you may be required to wear this brace for up to 36 months, but our team can provide a more accurate estimate.
Do they really work?
Yes, they do.
In fact, lingual braces have a similar long-term success rate as regular braces. Up to 96% of all patients who have undertaken lingual braces report a straighter smile 5 years following treatment. Remember, to ensure your teeth don’t relapse, you will need to wear a custom-fitted retainer afterwards.