Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are frequently used to provide patients a nice smile with good alignment while being seen as nearly invisible. They are mostly used to straighten teeth and close gaps in between your teeth. These orthodontic devices can also correct underbites, overbites, and crossbites of teeth in both upper jaw and lower jaw. They are available for adults and teens. If your case is serious your pediatric dentist may recommend the use of headgear, which is used for severe orthodontic problems with young kids.

Many patients choose them for their aesthetic. They are not as noticeable as other types. They are similar to wire braces for being worn on the outside, the difference is that the arch wire, ligatures, and brackets are on the other side of your teeth and not as visible to others as a result.

Custom-made brackets are created by using CAD and CAM the patterns of both upper and lower teeth have been taken, being digitized, giving the information to CAD and CAM equipment. It can be worn by adults and teenagers alike.

The following are the steps your orthodontist will follow for your dental treatment.

• Clinical Evaluation – CDH will perform an evaluation of your teeth while looking at misalignment and the severity of your teeth. To make a customized treatment, we will also be looking at your teeth study models and radiographic images.

• Making Impressions of your Teeth – We thoroughly clean your teeth before making impressions.After the cleaning, we use a scanner to record 3-D impressions of both your lower and upper jaw.

• Cast and set-up – From the impressions, the lab technician creates a cast, and modifies it to your dentist’s instructions to create  a ‘set-up’, which is a physical rendering of your in perfect alignment.

• Fabrication of Treatment Plan – The dimensions of the rendering are digitized in 3-D, and fed to the computer. Special CAD (computer aided design) software designs custom made brackets for you.

• Production- A computer aided manufacturing (CAM) software uses the data to produce the brackets with milling machines numerically controlled (NC). Under the computer’s control the archwire is prepared for you with the use of robotic bending.

• The applicator tray – Brackets are then embedded into an applicator tray, a stent that is to fit over your teeth keep the brackets in alignment letting the dentist to perform the bonding procedure. Having the brackets affixed to your teeth is the next step which is completed in the next visit.
  • Teeth preparation-  The teeth are thoroughly cleaned and roughened to permit better bonding.
  • Cement application- A cement is applied over brackets in the applicator tray.
  • Bonding- The applicator tray is pressed precisely against the teeth and all the brackets of the jaw (either upper jaw or the lower jaw) are bonded simultaneously.
  • Removal of the tray- Once the cement has cured, the dentist will break away the tray leaving the brackets firmly attached to the teeth. Excess bonding can be scraped away.
  • The archwire- The archwire can then be placed. Ligatures are not needed.

Duration of treatment varies from patient to patient. It is common to wear the, for one to three years. After your teeth have straightened out they will be removed. After they are removed, Dr. Kaufman will give you a removable or fixed retainer to keep the alignment that has been achieved so far. The retainers may have to be worn for another six months.

These braces, need special care as they are not visible to others and are behind the teeth. During your treatment we recommend the following:

• Good Oral hygiene- Oral hygiene must be maintained. If poor dental health is persistent tooth decay and gum disease may occur. To achieve good oral hygiene brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes and evenly all over every tooth. It would be best to use a soft toothbrush with rounded bristles to clean your gum line and teeth and use an inter-dental brush to clean the gaps. You can also use an oral irrigation device as a supplement to your brushing. Along with brushing you must also floss daily, preferably after every meal will also go a long way in ensuring excellent oral health.
• Protecting Oral Soft Tissues –  If it’s irritating your tongue we ask you use wax that was provided to you at the start of the treatment, and paste anywhere you feel pain.
• See us regularly –  Adolescents, children, and youngsters who are having dental work done must not only keep their weekly or monthly appointments but also see us every six months for teeth cleaning and prophylaxis.
• Watch what you eat – We ask you avoid sticky, hard, and chewy foods, including raw vegetables like carrots and apples. Sticky and hard foods can dislodge your brackets.
• Also wear a mouthguard if you are in combative sports to reduce any possible trauma to your smile.

Lingual braces have advantages over other types of teeth alignment equipment. There also a few limitations they have. Here is a quick rundown of both advantages and disadvantages, which we hope aids you in your choice in picking the most affordable and convenient treatment option for you.

• Advantages
  • Aesthetics –  A large advantage is they are not visible to the casual observer.
  • Comparison with Invisalign®
    • Not as visible as clear plastic aligners, because they don’t have a sheen.
    • They let dentists have better control over teeth alignment

• Disadvantages
  • Potential for Tongue irritation – Your tongue may be irritated as it may come into contact with the braces which can lead to pain while swallowing or speaking
  • Speech Problems –  As your tongue needs to be in contact with your teeth to produce certain sounds and as the brackets are placed where your the tongue is to touch your teeth, there is a chance you may not be able to produce certain sounds properly, at least initially.

Prices are subject to where you get the braces, but it’s usual for the cost to lie between $8000 to $10000.

Normally health insurance plans don’t include braces for adults, but supplementary plans may be available. It would be best to check this matter before purchasing. Be sure to ask about the percentage they cover and the lifetime maximum for all plans.

We also recommended that you keep the same insurance plan during your entire orthodontic treatment. Most orthodontic coverage will not cover braces if they have been applied to the teeth prior to the effective date of the policy. This would be considered a pre-existing condition and becomes an out-of-pocket expense.

Medicaid may cover braces,if you qualify for Medicaid and braces are deemed medically necessary. Be sure to ask about the percentage of coverage and the lifetime maximum. To learn more, visit http://www.medicaid.gov/

At CDH dentistry,  we offer high quality and affordable orthodontic treatment services to the residents of Brooklyn. We have two locations! One is on Ocean Avenue, nearby the Kings Highway stop on the B and Q Lines. The other is close by Classon Avenue stop on the G Line. Don’t waste time and let us give you the best advice and treatment options for straightening your child’s teeth.