For many years, when a patient underwent orthodontic treatment there was no hiding the fact. Why? Because every time the wearer laughed and/or smiled they greeted onlookers with a mouthful of metal. While metal style braces are still worn there is now a need for orthodontic treatments that are more discreet. This is where brace systems such as Invisalign Manchester and lingual braces Manchester come in. So how does this ‘new breed’ of orthodontic treatments work?
Firstly although Invisalign braces Manchester and lingual braces do the same job of straightening and correcting teeth in a discreet fashion, they are completely different systems. Invisalign braces for example are an aligner-style system that are designed to be fully and easily removable. Whereas, lingual braces are a more conventional bracket and wiring style treatment that is fixed permanently in place for the duration of your treatment. Let’s take a closer look at each type in detail.
Lingual braces
Lingual braces are the most closely related to the conventional style braces that we all know. They use brackets and wiring, just like traditional brace systems do, and straighten teeth by the use of an arch of tension wire that applies continued gentle pressure, forcing teeth back into their correct position. However perhaps the most significant difference is that the brackets are fastened to the inside of the teeth along with any wiring. This means that when a lingual brace wearer smiles, speaks, or eats, a person looking at them wouldn’t be able to tell they’re wearing them. In fact from an aesthetics point of view, they’re completely invisible.
What about pros and cons?
The good thing about lingual braces is that they’re classed as a long-term treatment. This means that they have the ability fix a whole host of dental problems and issues such as over/under bite, twisted, crooked, and flared teeth, tooth overcrowding, and tooth root alignment. Treatment takes anything from 9 months to 24 months depending upon the severity of the problem and they are seen as very successful solutions.
On the downside, to fit lingual braces in Manchester patients will need to seek the services of a fully trained orthodontist who has experience in this field, as they aren’t normally fitted by a regular dentist. The other problem is that because they’re attached to the back of teeth, they can take some getting used to. Speech and pronunciation can be affected for a short while until people get used to wearing them. That said, this adjustment period normally only lasts for a few weeks.
Invisalign braces
An adult looking for a modern, discreet way of wearing braces might want to consider Invisalign. Manchester dental clinics are very excited to offer this type of orthodontic treatment and not without good reason. Like lingual braces, Manchester residents will be pleased to know that Invisalign aligners can fix a whole gamut of dental problems. However unlike lingual braces which attach to the back of the teeth, the aligners are worn like a gum shield sitting OVER the teeth.
Rather than wearing a single brace throughout the duration of your treatment, Invisalign braces Manchester are designed to be disposable and changed every 2 weeks. Because there are no brackets and wiring involved, Invisalign braces are fully removable. As such, they’re designed to be taken out every time a patient eats and cleans their teeth. Each aligner is made of clear plastic, so when worn it’s incredibly discreet. It’s also designed to be one of a series with each one a different fit. The idea is that that each aligner gradually forces the teeth into a pre-planned position. When this position is reached it’s replaced with the next aligner in the series, and so on and so forth, until the teeth are straight.
So what about the cons?
If you’re considering undergoing Invisalign, Manchester orthodontists will probably warn you that treatment isn’t cheap, especially when compared to other orthodontic systems, and this could be a sticking point for some people. However others might consider the cost a small price to pay for the sense of freedom and discretion they get from wearing them.
So there you have it, 2 types of new breed discreet braces that you might want to opt for. If you’re still undecided between lingual braces Manchester and Invisalign braces Manchester then come and talk to our experienced orthodontic team at Church Road Dental and Cosmetics. Contact us on 0121 660 1218 to book a no-obligation consultation right now and start the ball rolling towards an attractive and healthy smile.
