Lingual Braces and Its Many Advantages 

What Are Lingual Braces?

One kind of invisible brace is lingual or metal braces. Clear aligners, plastic or ceramic braces, or other invisible orthodontic products are available on the market. 

However, “lingual” braces are attached to the lingual side, or rear, of your teeth, which is closer to your tongue.

The Benefits of Lingual Braces

Invisibility. 

The brackets, wires, and elastic bands that makeup braces are all attached to the back of your teeth. They aren’t visible to others unless you open your mouth widely.

‌

Possibly less discomfort. 

Studies have mixed results on this, but they seem to favour lingual braces.

In a study of 130 adults using various orthodontic appliances, it was discovered that those wearing lingual braces experienced the least amount of pain throughout the first month of therapy.

Other researchers discovered that users of conventional or labial braces experienced more discomfort in their lips and cheeks, whereas those wearing lingual braces tended to have more pain in their tongues. 

However, there were no discernible variations in pain assessments among the 60 users of labial and lingual braces in the trial, and the pain subsided over time.

According to the second study of 68 people, those with lingual braces experienced more acute discomfort and required longer to recover than those with labial braces and clear aligners. 

After two weeks, many people who were wearing lingual braces still experienced eating issues.

Any sort of braces will initially hurt your mouth. About 90% of patients wearing braces believe that pain and discomfort are their main issues.

But gradually, your discomfort will pass. Your orthodontist could advise applying orthodontic wax, taking over-the-counter pain relievers, and consuming cold foods in the interim. 

Fewer modifications in lifestyle.

Any sort of brace will initially require some adjustments. 

It could be necessary for you to start with soft foods and learn how to care for your braces. 

However, lingual braces typically require fewer lifestyle adjustments than traditional labial braces.

For instance, you might need to modify your playing style or clean your instrument more frequently if you play the flute or saxophone and have labial braces. 

It frequently takes longer for those who wear labial braces to resume playing the trumpet and French horn.

When playing the woodwind or brass instruments, you don’t need to adjust your mouth or lip positions because lingual braces are placed at the back of your teeth.

If you have lingual braces, you may find it easier to kiss. 

On the teeth’s front, there are no brackets to deal with. 

If you have discomfort, using orthodontic wax on the brackets’ bumpier surfaces may be helpful.

A personalized design.

Using CAD/CAM software, orthodontists may create lingual braces that are uniquely tailored to each patient, just like how teeth crowning is. 

Researchers looked at 42 people who were wearing lingual braces and discovered that those who had custom-made lingual brackets experienced fewer speech and chewing issues than those who wore ready-made brackets. 

Additionally, tongue soreness and pressure sores were more common among those who used prefabricated brackets.