Everything You Should Know About Lingual Braces
The desire for a perfect smile has motivated millions of people across the world to seek dental treatments. Today, cosmetic dentistry continues to gain traction as the specialty that caters to many of the aesthetic-related oral needs of patients. When it comes to having a beautiful smile, you cannot overlook the alignment thereof. Improperly aligned teeth are easy to spot when you smile. The oral of orthodontic dentistry is to provide solutions to such problems, usually through the use of dental braces.
When it comes to choosing the kind of braces you want to wear during your treatment, you have to be intentional about the picking process. Ideally, orthodontic treatment can last for longer than a year before you can attain your desired results. In that case, accounting for your cosmetic concerns throughout your treatment is not a misplaced desire. This is why there are oral appliances like lingual braces in dentistry.
What Are Lingual Braces?
They are types of dental aligners used in orthodontic dentistry for straightening and realigning malpositioned teeth. Technically, lingual braces near you have similar components as conventional braces. They feature metal brackets and connective wires that are attached to teeth to move, shift and rotate them. However, instead of being placed on the front side of your teeth, lingual braces in Houston are placed on the back of your teeth, which is the lingual side of your teeth. This means that when you smile, no one will know that you have braces.
Lingual braces are the twist in orthodontic dentistry that caters to the aesthetics thereof. Ideally, patients who want to wear braces inconspicuously benefit the most from lingual braces in Houston, TX. These braces are much better than Invisalign® clear aligners when it comes to cosmetic advantages to image-conscious patients.
How Do Lingual Braces Work?
These dental braces work the same way as traditional braces. They rely on applying controlled pressure on teeth over a certain period to move them. However, lingual braces work from the inner or lingual side of your teeth, while the traditional braces move your teeth from the outside.
The lingual braces are adjusted periodically, as is the case with conventional braces. Every couple of weeks, your dentist will adjust the wires between your braces, to tighten them and direct teeth on how they should move and rotate. Since lingual braces are installed differently from conventional braces, be sure to mention them to your orthodontists before treatment. The reason for this is that not all dental experts are skilled in installing lingual braces as they require a meticulous technique throughout your treatment.
Are You a Good Candidate for Lingual Braces?
Although they are very effective for straightening teeth, lingual braces may not be as effective for all orthodontic problems. This, however, is for your orthodontist to determine. He/she will analyze your teeth to determine whether or not lingual braces would work for your treatment. Many of the patients with severe overbites, for example, do not qualify for these types of braces because they may keep popping off frequently.
Still, as your teeth continue to shift, your orthodontist can have you get lingual braces if you still want them. This is because your teeth have moved enough so that the lingual braces will be effective. However, you must talk to your dentist about your treatment. He/she will create a suitable treatment plan that will help you achieve
What Is the Cost of Lingual Braces?
Like with other teeth aligners in orthodontic dentistry, the costs differ from one patient to another. Some of the factors that will affect the cost of these braces are:
- The severity of your malocclusion – depending on the type of orthodontic issue you have and how severe it is, the prices will differ.
- Duration of your treatment – the longer it takes to complete your treatment, the more expensive it will be
- Your insurance coverage – does your dental insurance cover the cost of getting braces? Does the company cover lingual braces, or do they consider it an elective procedure?
Once you have determined those factors, understand that the cost of lingual braces will be a little higher than that of conventional metal braces. The reason is that it is a little cumbersome and delicate to install and adjust throughout the treatment. Besides, the process is more time-consuming than is the case with regular dental braces.