In part one of this post, we looked at some of the more common types of dental brace, as well as some of the benefits and drawbacks associated with each. Part two of this post will expand on the available treatment options, looking at lingual braces and the latest trend in orthodontics, Invisalign. Lingual Braces One of the less common type of dental brace is the lingual brace. Although not commonly adopted, it does have a few really useful benefits. They are essentially standard braces, but inverted to fit inside the teeth. Benefits The biggest benefit of using a lingual brace is that they are fit to face inward. As a result, the braces are much less visible when compared to a standard brace. This, in turn, can help with any self-esteem issues associated with a patient wearing braces. Lingual braces are completely out of view for the most …show more content…
Also known as teeth aligners, Invisalign works by fitting anywhere up to 30 plastic, bespoke aligners that are not dissimilar to a mouth guard. Through fortnightly follow ups, the aligners are replaced to accommodate the new alignment. Benefits From an aesthetic standpoint, Invisalign is - as the name suggests - invisible. The tiny plastic aligners are hard to spot with the naked eye, which is a huge bonus for anyone that has trepidations about how they will look with braces. They are also much less intrusive in everyday life, and make eating much more enjoyable when compared to other forms of dental brace. Disadvantages Unfortunately, Invisalign does not work for all orthodontic cases, so availability is patient dependant. Similarly, children are not suited for this type of procedure, making it only viable for young adults and older. Due to the recent surge in popularity, the price for Invisalign is still relatively high, although in the next few years it should be expected to drop. ENDS (Word Count: