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Aesthetic braces have come a long way. The centrepieces of adult orthodontics now come in varieties that are truly and absolutely invisible, and many of them are fairly affordable, too. Besides fixed braces that have aesthetic brackets, there are two very good ways to straighten your teeth, correct your bite and improve your appearance through orthodontics: the ever so popular clear aligner and the tried and true lingual braces. But which one is best for you? Which one should you choose? In this article, we will be comparing them and seeing when it is worth it to get one of them.
Lingual braces
Lingual braces are fixed orthodontic braces, but they go on the lingual side of your teeth, so the opposite side of where they usually are. These braces face the tongue, and are thus invisible, because your teeth are in front of them.
Clear aligners
Clear aligners look similar to tooth guards, and are removable. They simply make your teeth look a little bigger, but are otherwise completely invisible, and can be taken out, so when you really need to not be wearing braces, you can just pop them out and then pop them back in. They do need to be worn for 22 hours a day to be really effective though, so not too much popping out.
Pros and cons
Pros of lingual braces
Lingual braces can fix any orthodontic problem that regular, traditional fixed orthodontics can. This is a huge advantage over clear aligners, which can only fix certain problems, and usually only minor ones. The limitation of treatment is one factor that may completely exclude aligners as an option, depending on what kind of dental treatment you are in need of. Clear aligners are frequently lost, displaced, or worn for less time than needed, and typically thus take more time than lingual braces.
Pros of clear aligners
Clear aligners can be taken out and are much more comfortable than lingual braces, which can sometimes hurt the tongue at the beginning of the treatment. This ease is a great plus for many people. Clear aligners are also more hygienic, as they can be taken out and cleaned, and the area underneath it can also be cleaned with ease. Pricewise they are roughly the same, so that should not be a deterring factor for either kind of adult orthodontic treatment.
