The Magic of InBrace Lingual Braces
We all have an idea of what braces typically look like. Shiny metal brackets on the fronts of your teeth, a metal wire running across your whole mouth, elastics holding wires in place. Yes, braces are pretty familiar to most people — after all, they’ve been around for a long time!
But these days, braces don’t always look like what you imagine and they work even better than you could expect. Case in point, the InBrace™ lingual braces we offer at VanderWall Orthodontics. You might have heard about lingual braces — they’re hidden braces affixed to the backs of your teeth instead of the front.
InBrace™ lingual braces take behind-the-teeth braces a few steps further: with an innovative wire system different from standard lingual braces that results in more comfortable wear and more precise tooth movements.
What are Lingual Braces?
Before we get to talking specifically about InBrace™ lingual braces, let’s back up a bit and make sure we first cover some general info about lingual — or tongue side — braces. How are these different from other braces, you ask? Unlike other types of braces, like traditional metal braces and clear ceramic braces, with lingual braces, the first thing you notice is, well, you don’t notice them! Lingual braces are bonded behind the teeth instead of on the front so you can’t see them when you smile. They’re also called “hidden braces” and “invisible braces” because it doesn’t look like you’re wearing any kind of orthodontic appliance!
You’ll be glad to know that lingual braces come with the proven track record that braces are known for. They’re durable, and today’s lingual braces come with smaller brackets and thinner wires. Invisible braces are typically made of stainless steel, although in some certain cases, they can be made of titanium.
What do Lingual Braces Do?
As for what they do, lingual braces correct the same orthodontic issues as front-of-teeth braces. They bring the jaw into alignment and correct bite issues like overbites, underbites, openbites and crossbites. Lingual braces straighten crooked teeth and correct spacing problems like crowding and gapping. Correcting these issues can also alleviate the pain some patients experience from misaligned teeth like pain in their jaw or crossbite pain.
To efficiently target your orthodontic issues, InBrace™ lingual braces are always custom made to suit each patient’s mouth and their alignment needs. Once they’re in, lingual braces require the same maintenance and routine adjustments as braces on the front of your teeth. Our patients with hidden braces typically see Dr. VanderWall every 6-8 weeks on their path towards a new smile.
What are the Benefits of InBrace Lingual Braces?
As you might have now gathered, InBrace™ lingual braces have all the advantages that come with behind the teeth braces, plus a whole lot more. Here, we list 8 amazing benefits of InBrace™ invisible braces vs Invisalign® or conventional braces.
1. No one will know you’re wearing braces with InBrace™ lingual braces
For some, the visibility of traditional braces can be a barrier to getting a straight, beautiful, more functional smile. So a discreet orthodontic option like InBrace™ lingual braces is much preferred over front-of-teeth braces. Whether for professional or career reasons, aesthetic reasons or both, behind-the-teeth braces like InBrace™ straighten teeth without giving away your smile secret.
2. Wearing InBrace™ saves time with its set-it-and-forget-it wire technology
Unlike front-of-teeth braces and other lingual braces, InBrace™ has an innovative Smartwires® system that is designed to move your teeth from start to finish without adjustments or tightening. You’ll spend less time visiting our office and more time living your life while your smile changes. At most, you’ll come to our Raleigh, Cary, or Durham, NC office for a quick check-in only a few times.
The InBrace™ locking loop archwire is customized for your teeth only, based on Dr. VanderWall’s unique prescription for your particular smile needs. Pre-programmed to shift your teeth in a constant, gentle transformation towards their ideal positions, this efficient system can mean your treatment time goes a lot faster than you might expect. Some patients even begin seeing results in as little as two weeks!
3. Receive the best in high-tech orthodontic innovation
At VanderWall Orthodontics, we invest in the most cutting edge technology for more comfortable, efficient care and InBrace is a great example!
What does the process look like? When you choose InBrace™ with us, a member of our experienced, friendly team first does quick and painless hi-tech 3D impressions of your teeth. These images are then used to create a digital 3D model of your mouth on which Dr. VanderWall maps out every tooth movement: from where you’re at to your final smile. With this digital 3D model, he can also anticipate any potential challenges or troubleshoot them right from the get-go.
4. Enjoy a more comfortable orthodontic experience with InBrace™
Right from the start, InBrace™ lingual braces are one of the most comfortable ways to straighten your teeth. When Dr. VanderWall attaches the brackets to your teeth and clips in the Smartwire™, you’ll find that getting them on is painless.
And when you’re wearing them, you barely feel like you have braces — it’s almost like they’re not there when compared to the feeling of conventional braces. For starters, InBrace™ are self-ligating, which means that the brackets have clips that hold the wire in place so you need fewer elastics that can cause discomfort.
Second, you also won’t experience friction from brackets or wires against your lips or the inside of your cheeks, but some patients do report tongue irritation initially, which soon goes away once the tongue gets used to the braces.
And the discomfort that sometimes comes after an adjustment? Not part of the picture with InBrace™ since Smartwire™ provides a light, consistent force from beginning to end that doesn’t require tightening or adjustments.
5. Hands-free maintenance means you’re not transferring bacteria and germs into your mouth
Another convenience with InBrace™ is that it’s easier to avoid transferring bacteria or germs from your hands into your mouth! You’re not touching your appliance, taking them out, and putting them back in everytime you eat like you do with clear aligners like Invisalign® or 3M™ Clarity™ Aligners. Plus braces that are permanently affixed eliminates the worry of losing your orthodontic appliance and prolonging your treatment.
6. Brush and floss easily
One of the first questions patients ask when they’re getting braces is how their oral hygiene routine will change. It goes without saying that practicing good oral hygiene is extra important when you have braces — there are more nooks and crannies for food debris and bacteria to hide. So it’s great news that the smaller brackets and looping wire design with InBrace™ make brushing and flossing surprisingly easy.
Unlike flossing around the straight wires that come with conventional braces, it’s pretty much floss-as-usual with InBrace™ Smartwire™. No need to change how you maneuver your dental floss and you don’t need a floss threader to get around the wires. Brush as usual with a soft-bristled manual or electric toothbrush, or invest in dental supplies like a Waterpik to blast away any bits of food or sticky sugars.
What can be a change at first, however, is the ability to see how well you’ve cleaned. Want to ensure a really thorough clean? Pro tip: use a dental mirror to check you’ve brushed and flossed away all food debris — like pieces of spinach from a braces-friendly smoothie, then finish your oral hygiene session with a swish of fluoride mouthwash.
7. Get great cost value with InBrace™ lingual braces
With all their advantages, it’s fair to wonder, “How much do lingual braces cost?” Typically, InBrace™ lingual braces cost about the same as conventional braces and Invisalign®, though keep in mind that every patient’s cost is unique to their needs, how long their treatment is, and takes into account the severity of their orthodontic issues. But as you now know, InBrace™ lingual braces certainly pack a whole lot into their design.
You’ll be glad to know that at VanderWall Orthodontics, we want to honour our patients’ smile goals by giving them the best braces value in Raleigh, Durham, and Cary — for the highest quality service at an approachable price point. So whether you choose InBrace™ lingual braces, metal or clear ceramic braces, or Invisalign®, you’ll know your cost upfront and we work with you to create a financing plan that works for your budget.
8. Reveal straight, beautiful, pain-free teeth
Last but definitely not least on our list of amazing benefits of InBrace™ hidden braces… a brand new smile! With invisible braces, the reward is a healthy, beautiful smile — achieved discreetly and efficiently. An InBrace™ before and after means no more misaligned teeth or crossbite pain, and you can say goodbye to an overbite or problems chewing. You’re ready to show off a confident, functional smile!
Start Your InBrace™ Journey with VanderWall Orthodontics Today
Now that you’re well-informed about the advantages of InBrace™ lingual braces, board-certified orthodontist, Dr. VanderWall, and his team would be honored to design a smile that’s beautiful, functional, and uniquely you. Contact us today to book a free initial consultation at our family-friendly Raleigh, Cary, or Durham office, whichever is most convenient!
