Advantages and Disadvantages of Lingual Orthodontics
In a treatment with lingual orthodontics we use an appliance that can effectively treat all types of cases, even the complex ones that cannot be corrected using aligners, with the advantage of being really invisible.
HISTORY OF LINGUAL ORTHODONTICS
The lingual orthodontics technique was born in the 70s, under the impetus of Dr FUJITA in Japan and Dr KURTZ in the USA.
Lingual orthodontics takes its name from the positioning of the orthodontic braces on the internal face of the teeth, that is to say on the side of the tongue. It's about a treatment technique which uses the same principles as conventional techniques where the bracesare positioned on the external face of the teeth (vestibular or buccal).
The lingual approach makes the positioning of the braces very delicate, which motivated an active and fruitful clinical research. By combining technological advances and information technology, the positioning or even the design of the braces becomes completely individualized, with much higher precision than direct manual positioning of the vestibular braces.
ARE THERE CONTRAINDICATIONS TO LINGUAL ORTHODONTICS?
Yes and no: contraindications are those related to orthodontics in general. Those specific to positioning lingual are limited: certain morphologies of dental crowns make it delicate.
Lingual braces can cause slight changes in speech, especially at the very beginning of treatment. The progress made on the shape and design of the fasteners makes thesetreatments a lot easier to bear.
If patients with visible braces often have the desire to remove their applainces earlier than warranted, sometimes at the expense of a good finishing, patients treated with hidden braces have a higher level of commitment and prefer to keep the braces for a few months more to ensure the best result.
Towards the end of treatment, the lingual apparatus is well integrated and much less annoying than at the start of treatment.
Can we treat expect as good treatment results with lingual braces?
Without hesitation yes, some situations are easier to treat in lingual and others in vestibular, but lingual orthodontics is a tool that offers the same potential for controlling dental movements as vestibular orthodontics. This technique therefore makes it possible to treat small dental alignments, complex cases requiring the extraction of the final tooth as well as complex cases combining surgery and orthodontics.
Ultra discreet braces (hidden braces)
THE DIFFERENCE OF FEES BETWEEN LINGUAL AND EXTERNAL TECHNOLOGY?
Yes, the difference in fees is significant and due to two specific facts: a lingual apparatus is between 3 and 4 times more expensive than an external one; and the appointment time is at least twice as long for a lingual treatment.
These two points alone justify different fees.
To this we can add that additional training is necessary before an orthodontist is certified to offer lingual treatments to his practice.
Dr Benguira is certified in lingual orthodontics with the Incognito technique (www.hiddenbraces.com) and eHarmony® (www.myharmonysmile.com)
Lingual orthodontics is a technique for the future. It is aimed at both adolescents and adults. It allows you to better live your orthodontic treatment.
The multidisciplinary collaboration between the different dental specialties (periodontology, implantology, prosthodontics, etc.) is making increasing use of orthodontics.
Lingual orthodontics offers patients a different choice than the visible braces, which allows them to engage in orthodontic treatment ,without forgetting the constraints, but keeping their smile !!!