Orthodontic Treatment in New Baltimore & East China, MI
At Brieden Orthodontics, we believe everyone deserves a healthy, beautiful smile, and we're proud to help patients of all ages in the New Baltimore & East China area achieve one through high-quality orthodontic treatment. Our practice places a focus on convenient, customized treatment to fit into any lifestyle. If you've been considering a new smile but are nervous about having highly visible metal braces, lingual braces may be the perfect option for discrete orthodontic care.
WHAT ARE LINGUAL BRACES?
Lingual braces are a powerful treatment option for almost any orthodontic problem, and they're the only appliance that's truly invisible from the outside. They use the same system of metal brackets and wires as traditional braces, with one key difference: the brackets are mounted to the inside (tongue side) of the teeth. This means that when you smile and go about your day, your braces are completely hidden behind your teeth. You'll never have to worry about your braces in photos, during presentations, or at social events!
HOW LINGUAL BRACES WORK
Lingual braces work using the same basic mechanics as traditional metal braces. First, Dr. Brieden placed a series of metal brackets onto the back side of teeth – these are essentially the same as the brackets in regular braces, but they fit on the inside of the mouth instead of the outside. Dr. Brieden places the brackets in a specific orientation, which lets them apply a carefully calibrated pressure to the teeth that move them into better alignment.
With the brackets placed, your New Baltimore and East China orthodontist will then carefully thread a thin, springy metal archwire through the brackets. The archwire is what does the heavy lifting of moving teeth: it applies a constant, gentle force to the teeth, via the brackets, that causes them to shift positions.
Periodically throughout your treatment, we'll replace your archwire with a slightly thicker one. As time goes on, your teeth will move closer and closer to their final positions until you've achieved a beautiful, healthy new smile. Treatment time varies for every patient, but most patients need braces for somewhere between 6 and 24 months to achieve a great new smile.
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING TREATMENT
Having lingual braces is similar to having traditional braces, but there are a few important differences to keep in mind. Because the brackets are on the inside of the mouth, many patients find that it takes a little longer to adjust to them and may notice a difference in their speech that lasts longer than with traditional braces. However, with time, your mouth will adjust to your lingual braces and eventually, any speech changes should fade.
As with normal braces, you'll need to avoid foods that are crunchy, sticky, gooey, or filled with sugar or carbs. Lingual braces also cost slightly more than traditional braces. Aside from that, you'll have to be careful to maintain strong oral hygiene, just as you would with traditional braces.
Schedule a Consultation with Your East China, MI Orthodontist
For many patients, lingual braces offer a discrete, convenient, and powerful way to achieve a new smile – and if you're interested in learning more about how lingual braces can improve your smile, we'd love to speak with you. Contact us today with any questions on lingual braces or feel free to request an appointment online at our New Baltimore or East China office. We can't wait to hear from you, and we're excited to help you achieve the smile of your dreams!