Are you an adult and want to find out about the different treatment options available to get the smile of your dreams? Do you hear a lot of things but would like to have concrete feedback on the issue? We will start by clearing the ground and briefly present this type of orthodontic treatment.
What are lingual rings?
Lingual rings – commonly known as “inside rings” – are used during a tooth straightening treatment which has become very popular with adults because it is practically invisible. In order to maintain a truly invisible treatment, the lingual rings are placed inside the teeth. So, when you smile, you can’t see the rings or the wire.
Lingual rings are tailor–made for your teeth and require a great deal of expertise from the orthodontist:
- Your orthodontist takes an accurate impression or digital scan of your teeth
- He then uses it used to create wires and personalized supports that adapt perfectly to your teeth
They make it possible to gradually move the teeth to the desired position.
1– Will lingual rings affect my lifestyle?
Lingual rings have many advantages over external rings, but they require great dental hygiene. As with the outer rings, there are restrictions on the foods you can eat, in order to protect not only the rings but also the wire: it is made of metal but it is not indestructible. You should therefore be very careful not to eat too hard or rubbery foods which could bend or break the wire. Likewise, you will need to make sure to gently brush your teeth and gums twice a day and pass the dental floss to remove any buildup of food.
2– How much does a lingual orthodontic appliance cost?
Lingual rings are more expensive than conventional rings because it is a completely personalized solution: it is developed in a laboratory and requires a lot of time before being performed by the orthodontist. Lingual treatment also requires more frequent and longer appointments than with the usual rings. A complete treatment will therefore cost more than traditional orthodontic appliances, but prices can vary widely depending on the expertise of the orthodontist and the specificity of your case. On average, lingual orthodontic treatment can cost up to $13,000 for an 18–month treatment plan, but prices can vary widely depending on the duration of treatment and the complexity of the case.
3– What other treatments are possible?
Orthodontic treatments with rings – lingual or external – are generally recommended in rather complex cases. There are however other possibilities, in particular for simple cases of alignment for example. The invisible gutter treatments are suitable for a very large number of cases: they will be able to attract you, in particular if you are afraid of wearing rings. The transparent aligners provided during the treatment must be changed every 15 days in order to gradually bring the teeth to the desired position. Only a specialist orthodontist will be able to tell you which treatment is best suited to your case: his expertise related to treatments performed on hundreds, even thousands of patients will allow him to guide you as best as possible according to the specifics of your case.
4– How do I know if the lingual rings suit me?
First of all, be aware that lingual rings are part of the orthodontic treatments offered to adults. Then, there may be some restrictions depending on your chewing (for example if the bottom teeth are tapping against the top rings regularly, these may come off), but you should see this directly with the practitioner. Do not trust what you can read here or there about the duration of the treatment: only an orthodontist will be able to answer you precisely after seeing you.
5– How to clean my teeth with lingual rings?
Keeping your teeth clean is important no matter what type of rings you use. Food gets stuck easily between the wires, so you must brush well after each meal: at the gums, above and below the rings. Since the lingual rings are on the back of your teeth, you will have to be very careful not to neglect this part. Your orthodontist can advise you and show you how to brush your teeth properly during and after your treatment.