Evaluating The Pros And Cons Of Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are worn on the inside of the teeth and not at the front of the teeth like other braces. The following are the pros and cons of lingual braces:

The Advantages

They Are Hidden From View

The premier advantage of lingual braces is that they are hidden from view. This is a great benefit to those who don't want others to see their orthodontic work. In fact, most people will only realize that you are wearing braces if you decide to show it to them. Therefore, if you have been postponing your orthodontic treatment for a long time because you don't want it to interfere with your smile or job (for example if you are in a people-oriented job), then lingual braces are for you.

You Can Still Play Wind Instruments

One of the chief complaints about conventional braces, at least among musicians who play wind instruments, is that it disrupts their techniques. This is because the players find it difficult to form their mouths into the desired shapes required for playing if the braces are in front of their teeth. You don't have to worry about that if you are wearing lingual braces.

Unnoticeable Discoloration

A common side effect of dental braces is that they stain the teeth. Well, it's not exactly the braces, but the fact that it's difficult to clean the space between the braces and the teeth. This allows bits of food to get trapped there, which attracts bacteria and leads to plaque formation (it's the acid plaque that stains the teeth). Such stains will not be visible if they are formed by lingual braces because they will be inside of your mouth.

The Disadvantages

Lengthy Dental Visits

Lingual braces are more complicated to install than braces that sit on the outside of the teeth. This means your orthodontist will take a longer time to install the lingual braces than they would with conventional braces.

Lengthy Period of Adjustment

Wearing braces is not too difficult in the short-term, but you have to prepare for some level of discomfort in the short-term. You will need an adjustment period to eat or speak as well as you used to do without the braces. This adjustment period is longer for lingual braces than it is for normal braces.

Relatively High Cost

Lastly, lingual braces are likely to cost more than braces that sit on the outside of the teeth, two reasons for this is that they require a high level of expertise to install and they are also difficult to manufacture; they are custom made.

Contact local dentists for more information and assistance with choosing braces. 


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