If you’re looking for a discreet way to straighten your teeth, braces behind teeth might be the perfect solution. These hidden braces offer a subtle alternative to traditional orthodontics, allowing you to enhance your smile without the noticeable metal brackets.

Imagine enjoying your daily activities without the self-consciousness that often comes with visible braces. With advancements in dental technology, you can achieve the smile you’ve always wanted while maintaining your confidence.

In this article, you’ll discover how these hidden braces work, their benefits, and what to expect during your treatment. Get ready to transform your smile in a way that fits seamlessly into your lifestyle.

What Are Braces Behind Teeth?

Braces behind the teeth, also referred to as lingual braces or Incognito braces, offer a discreet method for straightening your teeth. These braces attach to the lingual side of your teeth, the side facing your tongue, rendering them virtually invisible when you smile or speak.

Lingual braces share a similar structure with traditional metal braces, featuring metal brackets and arch wires. Each set of braces is custom-made to fit your specific dental structure, often using CAD-CAM technology.

This precise fitting ensures optimal effectiveness and comfort throughout your treatment.

The orthodontic process starts with taking impressions of your teeth that require alignment. These impressions are sent to a dental laboratory, where skilled technicians create your personalized brackets.

Your orthodontist then cements these brackets to the back surfaces of your affected teeth, initiating your journey to a straighter smile.

How Do Braces Behind Teeth Work?

Braces behind teeth, or lingual braces, function similarly to traditional braces but with distinct advantages due to their placement. Here’s a detailed look at the process:

1. Impressions: You begin with your orthodontist taking precise impressions of your teeth. These impressions capture the exact morphology necessary for accurate realignment.
2. Customized Brackets: The impressions are sent to a specialized dental laboratory. Here, technicians utilize advanced CAD-CAM technology to create customized metal brackets tailored to the back surfaces of your teeth. This ensures a perfect fit and enhances comfort during treatment.
3. Placement of Brackets: Once the customized brackets are prepared, your orthodontist will securely bond them to the back of your teeth using dental adhesive.
4. Arch Wire Application: After the brackets are in place, a specially designed arch wire gets threaded through the brackets. This wire applies gentle pressure on the teeth to initiate movement into the desired positions.
5. Adjustments: Regular follow-up appointments are necessary to monitor progress and make adjustments. Your orthodontist will periodically tighten the arch wire to maintain consistent pressure, facilitating gradual tooth movement towards alignment.
6. Retention: After reaching the desired alignment, your orthodontist may recommend a retainer to maintain your smile’s new position. Retainers help ensure your teeth remain straight and secure after brace removal.

Lingual braces allow for discreet orthodontic treatment while providing effective alignment capabilities.

Advantages of Lingual Braces

Lingual braces offer distinct benefits, particularly in aesthetics and treatment precision. These advantages make them an appealing option for those seeking effective orthodontic solutions without sacrificing appearance.

• Invisibility: Lingual braces attach to the back (lingual side) of your teeth. This positioning renders them virtually invisible from the front, making them an ideal choice for individuals who are conscious about their appearance during treatment.
• Discreet Orthodontic Treatment: Lingual braces ensure that your smile remains unaffected by visible hardware, allowing you to maintain a professional or polished look in social and educational settings where aesthetics matter.

• Custom-Made: Each set of lingual braces is custom-designed for your teeth using advanced computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology. This customization improves both the effectiveness and comfort of your orthodontic treatment.
• Accurate Alignment: The precise fitting of lingual braces enables targeted tooth movement, contributing to more efficient and accurate treatment outcomes. Adjustments throughout the process ensure continual progress toward your desired smile.

Disadvantages of Lingual Braces

Lingual braces offer aesthetic advantages, but they come with disadvantages that impact comfort, speech, and maintenance.

Comfort and Speech Impact

Lingual braces can cause discomfort, especially for your tongue. The brackets sit close to your tongue, often leading to tongue irritation, ulcers, and pain. Many individuals experience a dull ache during the initial adjustment period as teeth begin to shift.

Over-the-counter medications and a diet of soft foods can ease this discomfort. Speech difficulties also arise with lingual braces.

You may notice a temporary lisp or other pronunciation issues shortly after getting them. These speech problems can persist for several weeks or even months, though they typically lessen as you adapt to the braces.

Maintenance Challenges

Maintaining lingual braces requires extra effort. The positioning on the back of your teeth makes them harder to clean than traditional braces. Frequent brushing and flossing are essential to avoid plaque buildup and gum issues.

Specialized cleaning tools, such as interdental brushes, may simplify the process. Regular dental visits become crucial for ensuring hygiene and addressing any maintenance concerns.

Braces Behind Teeth Vs. Other Orthodontic Options

Braces behind the teeth offer a discreet alternative to both traditional braces and clear aligners. Understanding how they compare helps you make an informed choice for your orthodontic treatment.

Comparison with Traditional Braces

• Visibility: Traditional braces consist of metal brackets and wires mounted on the front of the teeth. In contrast, braces behind teeth, or lingual braces, attach to the back surfaces, making them nearly invisible during regular use.
• Aesthetics: If aesthetics are a priority for you, lingual braces provide a significant advantage, allowing for a polished appearance without the bulk of visible hardware during treatment.
• Discomfort: Traditional braces may cause discomfort during adjustments, while lingual braces can initially irritate the tongue. However, the discomfort from lingual braces generally subsides as you adapt.
• Cleaning: Maintaining oral hygiene can be more complex with lingual braces, as their placement makes them harder to clean compared to traditional braces. Effective cleaning requires specialized tools and additional time.

Comparison with Clear Aligners

• Invisibility: Clear aligners, like Invisalign, are renowned for their discretion, as they are made from transparent materials. Though lingual braces are also hidden, some may find the aligners more comfortable to wear and remove as needed.
• Treatment Length: Treatment times can vary. Lingual braces typically require 18 to 36 months, depending on the complexity of your case. Clear aligners often provide similar timeframes but may be shorter for mild to moderate cases.
• Adjustment Frequency: Lingual braces necessitate regular adjustments every 6 to 8 weeks, while you must change clear aligners approximately every two weeks. This factor can impact your overall treatment schedule and dentist visits.
• Engagement in Treatment: Clear aligners require active participation; you must wear them for 20 to 22 hours daily for optimal results. Lingual braces involve less personal responsibility, as they remain fixed until your treatment concludes.

By evaluating these comparisons, you can determine the best orthodontic option that aligns with your needs and lifestyle.

Cost of Braces Behind Teeth

The cost of braces behind teeth, commonly known as lingual braces, typically ranges from $8,000 to $13,000. This price is generally higher than that of other orthodontic treatments due to several influencing factors.

Factors influencing the cost include treatment length, geographic location, and the complexity of your dental needs. Lingual braces often require additional time and expertise for application, contributing to a higher overall expense.

Customization plays a significant role in cost as well. Lingual braces can be tailored to fit your mouth precisely, which often incurs additional charges.

Some brands utilize robotic technology to bend the wires to match the unique contours of your mouth, further increasing the price.

Conclusion

Choosing braces behind your teeth can be a game-changer for your orthodontic journey. They offer a discreet way to achieve the smile you’ve always wanted without drawing attention to your treatment.

While the initial adjustment may come with some discomfort and speech challenges, most people find these issues improve over time.

It’s crucial to maintain proper hygiene and attend regular dental visits to ensure your braces stay in top shape. If you’re considering this option, weigh the benefits against the costs and challenges to determine if it’s the right fit for you.

Embrace the opportunity to enhance your smile while keeping your confidence intact.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are hidden braces?

Hidden braces, or lingual braces, are orthodontic devices that attach to the back of the teeth, making them nearly invisible. They offer a discreet way to straighten teeth without the visibility of traditional metal braces.

How do lingual braces work?

Lingual braces work by taking precise impressions of your teeth to create customized brackets, which are bonded to the back surfaces. An arch wire is then attached to initiate tooth movement, with regular adjustments made throughout the treatment.

Are lingual braces comfortable?

Initially, patients may experience discomfort or irritation to the tongue due to the braces’ positioning. However, this typically improves with time as you adjust to wearing them.

How long does treatment with lingual braces take?

The duration of treatment with lingual braces varies depending on individual cases but typically lasts between 20 to 24 months, similar to traditional braces.

How do lingual braces compare to traditional braces?

Lingual braces are less visible than traditional braces, providing a discreet appearance. However, they can be more complex to clean and may cause initial discomfort to the tongue.

What is the cost of lingual braces?

Lingual braces typically range from $8,000 to $13,000, depending on factors like treatment complexity, location, and duration. They are generally more expensive than traditional braces or clear aligners due to their custom design.

Do lingual braces affect speech?

Some patients may experience temporary speech difficulties, such as a lisp, after getting lingual braces. This usually improves over time as the mouth becomes accustomed to the braces.

How do I maintain oral hygiene with lingual braces?

Maintaining hygiene with lingual braces requires extra effort due to their hidden placement. Regular dental visits and using specialized cleaning tools are essential to keep your teeth and braces clean.

Texas Orthodontic Specialists: Discover the Benefits of Lingual Braces

At Texas Orthodontic Specialists, we offer lingual braces for patients who want a discreet, effective orthodontic solution. Our expert team will guide you through the process and help you decide if this innovative treatment is right for you.

Schedule a consultation today and find out how lingual braces can transform your smile. Limited availability—book now to secure your spot!