What is lingual orthodontic treatment?
Lingual orthodontics is a fixed orthodontic treatment with the difference that the brackets, instead of being placed on the outside of the teeth, are placed on the back, so they are not visible. It has the great advantage that with this technique, first there is an aesthetic advantage, since the patient undergoes the treatment and the people around them do not appreciate it, but also the technology behind it is so precise and modern that the treatments are usually finished in less time.
When a patient comes for treatment the first thing we do are a series of photos of X-rays if you already have some freshly made, no need to make new ones and measures in a very precise silicone product or can also be done with an optical scanner. These records are put together and the orthodontist makes a treatment approach that we want to achieve and this has been previously discussed with the patient, of course.
The most important thing is that the treatment gives the patient what he/she is looking for. Once this has been sent to the laboratory in Germany, they begin to manufacture the brackets and archwires completely customized for this patient and for the predetermined objectives. When the fabrication is finished, it usually takes about three or four weeks, the patient arrives at the office and we make an appointment for a first visit to fit the braces, which lasts about an hour. We usually start with the lower arch and only one arch at a time, this way the patient can get used to his new brackets and since they are on the inside of the teeth, the tongue has to get used to them.
After a month we will schedule you again for the second part of the placement and it is usually the upper arch. This can vary depending on each case but that is kind of the standard protocol. Then the visits are done as for any fixed orthodontic treatment, the patient is seen every four to six weeks. What we have seen and what has been proven by many studies is that this precision appliance makes that, compared to a classic treatment with brackets on the outside, the treatments end about three to four months faster.
How does it differ from other types of invisible orthodontics?
There are two types of invisible orthodontics, there are some treatments with Invisalign type clear braces, which can be removed and put on, and there is lingual orthodontics, which are brackets that are cemented to the inside of the teeth so that they are not visible on the outside. Both treatments are custom-made treatments, which are very individualized and use high-level technology.
The removable veneers require a lot of collaboration and responsibility on the part of the patient, they have to be worn twenty-two hours a day and are only removed to eat and to brush the teeth. Therefore, there are patients who do not want to be aware of “now I put it on, now I take it off”, and then from my point of view they are a little bit visible, because they still cover a part, there is a plastic layer that covers part of the teeth.
However, they are very good for people who travel a lot, for example, who have an allergy to metals or who have enamel that is difficult to cement. Personally, I prefer lingual orthodontics because it is fixed to the tooth, so it transmits more precision when moving the teeth from one place to another and since it does not affect any aspect of the visible part of the teeth, it is for me the truly invisible appliance.
Can it cause discomfort or injury in the mouth?
Lingual orthodontics by definition is next to the tongue, so the tongue needs some time to get used to this appliance, which is now taking up some of its space. But it is the same as with an external appliance, it is then the lips and cheeks that have to get used to it.
Any appliance that you put in your mouth, any new object that you incorporate into your life, takes some getting used to. The average with lingual orthodontics is that within two weeks patients are already comfortable with their new appliance, meanwhile there is discomfort related to the tongue that can be improved with wax and then the discomfort that occurs with any type of treatment and with any orthodontic appliance that is due to tooth movement and that with an Ibuprofen or Paracetamol is perfectly controlled and that usually lasts two three days and that’s it.
For more information, consult with a specialist in orthodontics and dentistry.