Discreet teeth straightening in Southampton
If you want to straighten your teeth without anyone else knowing about it, lingual braces offer the ultimate ‘invisible’ solution. Attached to the back of the teeth – on the lingual, or tongue, side – lingual braces are completely hidden from view.
Because the fitting of lingual braces requires the skill and dexterity of a specially trained dentist, the system is only available at a limited number of practices nationwide. Octagon Dental Centre is proud to be one of them – so consult your dentist today to find out if lingual braces will work for you.
Lingual braces work in the same way as traditional fixed braces, using brackets and arch wires. They apply a continuous pressure that slowly and gently moves your teeth into the desired position.
Lingual braces place less pressure on the teeth than conventional braces, so the discomfort you might expect is usually much reduced.
Lingual braces are a high-tech, customised system created using your dental impressions. Once engineered, the brackets are then cemented into place by your orthodontist. The procedure itself only requires two trips to the dentist, and can be carried out very quickly.
Lingual braces cause a similar level of discomfort to traditional fixed braces – so you can expect a sore mouth for a few days after your braces have been fitted, treatable with over-the-counter painkillers. In addition, the position of lingual braces on the back of the teeth means you’re more likely to catch your tongue on the metalwork, or get food stuck in it – so it does take a little longer to get used to your invisible braces. But for most patients the aesthetic advantages of completely hidden braces outweigh the discomfort involved.