Invisible braces
Lingual braces are braces that are positioned on the inner surface of the teeth. Lingual braces are suitable for nearly all patients and offer a truly invisible way to straighten teeth. As with any brace good oral hygiene is essential to ensure there are no problems with tooth decay. Very often adults present with relapsed orthodontic alignment requiring quite minor repositioning but are not prepared to wear regular braces again. – for a simple re-alignment the cost can be very competitive compared to other ‘invisible techniques’ and the results are impressive.
What’s great about Invisible braces?
The lingual brace is truly invisible and once the speech has adapted (usually 2-3 weeks) the appliance is secret to the outside world. Lingual braces can achieve the same quality of results that regular braces achieve but are technically demanding. It is possible to use lingual invisible braces to upper teeth, lower teeth or both. You can use hidden braces with other appliances such as regular braces or removable appliances. This can make it much cheaper while maintaining a high standard of treatment outcome.
How do invisible braces work?
Similar to regular braces – lingual (invisible) braces are glued to the teeth and a wire is attached to the brackets that provides the force and direction for the tooth movements. At North Sydney Orthodontics we have experience using several different types of lingual braces. A simple alignment illustrated below can be tackled with a simple appliance which can make treatment a little cheaper compared to full prescription lingual braces. But full prescription lingual braces can take on even the most challenging cases and get similar results to regular braces placed to the outside of the teeth in similar time scales. We undertake extraction treatments and 
even jaw surgery cases using full prescription lingual braces. Another advantage of using a full prescription appliance is the way treatment is set up using a computer simulation. This process makes treatment results very precise and speedy. These advantages often outweigh the cost savings of a cheaper appliance. Adjustment appointments are required similar to regular braces but usually the duration of appointments is slightly longer because manipulation of lingual braces is more tricky than regular braces. A sequence of custom wires is prescribed to position the teeth. You’ll visit Dr. Daniels about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned. Total treatment time averages 14-24 months.
The case shown here was a simple ‘social 6’ type treatment and took 9 months.
Getting started : treatment planning for efficiency, effectiveness and cost
Lingual braces come in a variety of sophistication and costs, so choosing the appropriate appliance is crucial to ensure you get the result you’re after without spending on technology you don’t need. Following your initial consultation, Dr Daniels will advise which invisible braces can work for you. A full treatment plan with all the alternative methods available will be provided. Once you are happy to proceed the working impression of your teeth is obtained and working models made to set up your treatment.
Creating the appliance
In most cases a custom set up is required, and you will have the opportunity to see and discuss this before the treatment plan is finalized. Previously we set up our custom set up by cutting up the plaster model of the teeth and ‘waxing’ the teeth straight as shown. Now the process has been taken over using a process that we prefer to keep a trade secret but involves the most advanced computer models and industrial production methods.
Placement of appliances
Usually lingual braces are placed one arch at a time to aid adaptation but it is possible to place both upper and lower sets at a single appointment. The bracket set up is transferred to the teeth in the mouth using a custom jig or transfer tray .This picture shows the brackets mounted on rigid blue transfer jigs. In this method the brackets are placed one at a time and glued to the teeth before the transfer jigs are removed. The wire is then added and the teeth start to move in the same way as a regular brace.
What are the benefits of invisible braces compared to braces ?
invisible braces are invisible – you can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing. Using the set up models (full prescription cases only) it is possible to see the treatment plan before you start
What is the cost of a consultation for invisible braces?
Invisible braces treatment is suitable for most patients. We offer a Free invisible braces Suitability Check. The suitability check is a short consultation limited to discussion of invisible braces suitability only. No other treatment method will be discussed.
If you wish to discuss all of the available methods for getting your teeth straight our usual consultation fee of $140.00 will apply ( Excludes documentation records) . A percentage of this fee is claimable through almost all health insurance companies.
What is the cost of invisible braces ?
Suitability check for invisible braces $free
The cost for invisible braces starts from approximately $7500 subject to suitability
The cost of retainers to ensure your teeth remain straight is $included
Can a dentist offer invisible braces cheaper?
Few dentists have the experience or expertise to offer lingual braces.
Will insurance cover any of the cost of my invisible braces treatment ?
Yes, providing you have orthodontic coverage , invisible braces should be covered to the same extent as conventional braces.
Do I need to have teeth removed for invisible braces treatment?
It depends on the problem, but invisible braces are flexible enough to deal with any orthodontic problem
What if I am planning to travel or move away for an indefinite period?
Invisible braces require a high level of skill and experience to succeed and few orthodontists offer this service. If you are planning a prolonged or indefinite move away to another State or Country you may have difficulty finding an orthodontist who will continue your lingual brace treatment, however we will do whatever we can to assist your treatment transfer. We will advise you of a realistic timeframe to expect your treatment to last.
What if I am planning to get married?
If your case is suitable for invisible braces then you won’t need to worry about visible braces on your big day but try to start your treatment as far ahead as possible so that your smile can be ready for the wedding
Is invisible braces treatment painful ?
Most people experience temporary, discomfort for a few weeks at the beginning of treatment. This is a normal part of all orthodontic treatments and invisible braces is no different to braces in this regard
Will invisible braces affect my speech?
More than other appliances lingual braces can temporarily affect speech. However adaptation can be quite quick and non of our patients so far have reported it to be a major problem. The improvement in bracket designs over the years has improved the precision and reduced the size of the brackets. The latest designs are less irritating for the tongue and easier to speak normally.
Will my teeth remain straight after invisible braces treatment ?
Like all orthodontic treatment relapse of alignment is a possibility so a retention strategy is required to keep teeth straight once active treatment is completed. The type of available retainers will be discussed with you
Will invisible braces affect the types of food I can eat?
Yes you should avoid hard and sticky foods sugary foods and fizzy drinks – just like regular braces.
Why should I get North Sydney Orthodontics to do my invisible braces?
We offer the fastest and most precise lingual orthodontic system in the world. We are currently the largest provider this type of orthodontic treatment in New South Wales, and we can offer a range of invisible brace options to meet differing demands budgets and problems subject to suitability. Each case is custom made to deliver a big improvement in your smile.
