Are lingual braces just as good?

Some dentists seem to be opposed to lingual braces, but is this just a sign of their being slow to catch on to a new field of orthodontry, or are there some legitimate concerns? Are there pros and cons to lingual braces?

Pros

- Lingual braces are truly invisible. Even when you laugh and people look directly into your mouth, unless they can see through teeth, they will not be able to detect the presence of the orthodontic device.

- Lingual braces tend to take less time, and thus may be a faster solution.

- Lingual braces tend to accumulate less food detritus, as you do not bite down with the lingual side of your teeth, and thus the braces come into contact with food less often.

- Lingual braces cause fewer white spot lesions, but when they do the white splotches on your teeth are not visible

 

Cons

- The adhesive used to bind brackets to teeth works best when it is completely dry, something that is very rare on the lingual side of teeth. Thus brackets are more likely to come off, as the adhesive is subject to more moisture.

- Your tongue can get caught in the lingual brace.

- Lingual braces cause speech impediments more often, but almost all of them go away once the braces are removed.

- Out of sight is out of mind, and because of this patients are frequently less rigorous about caring for their teeth and orthodontic device when it is not visible.

Conclusions

If you are not a public speaker but have the need for truly invisible orthodontics, and are mindful of the fact that you need to clean your teeth and braces even though you can’t see them, lingual braces may be a better choice than buccal ones for you.