Straight Talk Blog

Whenever I say to someone that they can have straight teeth in six months, they always ask “how is that possible?”   When I tell them that no one ever needs to know they’re having orthodontic treatment to straighten their teeth, they’re even more intrigued.  With lingual or hidden braces, the orthodontic wires and posts are placed behind the teeth so no one sees it.    To achieve the impossible in six months using lingual or hidden braces, there are a few steps a dentist must take.

Digital Images

For patients who desire straighter teeth, or who have a profession where their looks are paramount, hidden or lingual braces offer that quality straight smile with an additional dose of confidence.  First the dentist must take x-rays of your mouth and teeth using a white light scanner or a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).  This revolutionary equipment takes 3D images allowing the dentist to see the teeth, roots and gums from all angles.  With this software technology, the dentist can virtually align each tooth individually into its proper position.  Once the design of the virtual smile and bite is completed, the software technology outlines the quickest and most efficient route to moving crooked teeth into perfectly-placed straight teeth.  The data is then correlated and sent to a robot that shapes the wires, customizing the fit to precision for each specific patient.  This robotic orthodontic treatment planning is able to accurately reproduce the wires positioning and precision to 1/10^th of a millimeter which is nearly impossible to do by hand.

Quicker Treatment Times to Straight Teeth

With lingual or hidden braces, treatment times are faster.  With this new system, teeth can move to their target positions faster.  Unlike conventional braces where patients must come in every 4 to 6 weeks for wire changes, a patient with lingual or hidden braces may only have 1 to 2 wire adjustments.  A dentist no longer has to physically bend or shape straight wires with pliers since all the wires are made with nickel titanium “shape-memory” wire.  Once placed in the patient’s mouth, their natural body temperature activates the permanent wires to move teeth into their intended position.

Anyone Can Now Have Straight Teeth

According to the American Association of Orthodontics, 1 in 5 adults are having orthodontic treatment a 60 percent increase from10 years ago.  Anyone, at any age, can have straight teeth and a perfect smile, certainly one they can be proud to show.  Patients no longer have to endure pain and discomfort of conventional braces, and can now transform their smile and their lives with little to no sacrifice.  With 37 years of experience, Dr. Lagstein understands the power of a beautiful smile and the impact it can have in someone’s life both professionally and personally.  As a result of straighter teeth, you’ll begin to embrace social and business interactions with confidence and finally enjoy what life has waiting for you.

There is a rumor going around, and I’m not sure how it started, or where it began.   The rumor goes that braces are typically for teenagers and the young.  When you reach a certain age, you’re no longer a viable candidate for the benefits, and there are many, to having braces or orthodontic treatment.  Besides being a ludicrous notion, many people are under the illusion that braces are for those who have money or for those who care just a little too much about their looks, or perhaps, they just plain think it’s too late…

So here’s the straight talk……..

It’s never, ever too late!  In a nutshell, braces, whether they’re hidden (lingual) or not, can provide many benefits besides a prettier smile.  Here’s just a few in case you’re wondering:

Lingual Braces as a Confidence Booster

If you’re a sales or business professional, someone who is around people all day, nothing will give you more confidence than a straighter smile.  Often people with misaligned teeth, bad overbites or gaps are self-conscious about how they look when they smile.  They may unconsciously hide their smile or cover their mouths, and anyone who knows about sales or projecting a solid business image knows that exuding confidence extends to the product or service they sell.  It’s important that those who trust and work with you know that you believe in yourself, and nothing says that more than a smile you’re proud to reveal.  In life, just as in business, first impressions matter.

Lingual Braces Can Balance Your Bite

An unbalanced bite can place undue pressure on the surrounding joints.  Where there’s pressure there’s tension.  It is not unusual for dental patients with an improper bite (malocclusion) to experience neck aches, shoulder pain, or headaches.  An unbalanced bite may start with headaches, aching jaw joint or pain around the ears radiating downward to the neck or shoulder.  Correcting a bite using hidden or lingual braces will allow your upper and lower teeth to fit together properly.  The correct occlusion or fit will allow the surrounding muscles and joints to relax, causing less erosion to the teeth, especially when chewing or biting.

Lingual Braces Equal Improved Oral Health

Crooked teeth, by their very nature, can be difficult to brush and to keep certain areas clean.  Even flossing between those hard-to-reach nooks and crannies can be difficult making it easier for gingivitis or cavities to develop.  Untreated, bacteria can quickly grow into plaque, which can irritate gums causing them to become inflamed leading to tooth loss or an oral infection.

Lingual Braces are perfect for active adults who want to transform their smiles without the bulky, heavy wires of years gone by. Lingual or hidden braces are placed on the inside of your lower and upper rows of teeth, so no one will ever know.

Dr. Lagstein has helped many adults with their smiles and has seen self-confidence improve and careers bloom.  With offices in both New Jersey and Manhattan, Dr. Lagstein can offer you not only the perfect smile but a whole new life.  See what you’ve been missing, and make an appointment for a consult today.

Braces can actually do wonders for your smile.  While you might not think there is a fix for your teeth, times have definitely changed, and new treatment options have emerged.  Braces aren’t just for the youth and teenagers any longer.  The fact is, now even adults can get their dental problems taken care of through braces, if it is deemed necessary.  Furthermore, the ugliness of how braces used to look is not unattractive at all today.  You can get different colors, and you might not even be one of those who have to have rubber bands in their mouth either.  Adults who want to try and obtain more precise tooth alignment now have something to look forward to as the practice of orthodontics does in fact have options for everyone.

Crooked Teeth can be History

It doesn’t matter if your misaligned teeth have just started occurring, or if they have been a concurrent problem for a while now.  Even if your teeth are shifting because of a receding gum line, there are many options available to you to improve your smile.  For those who never smile because they are so self-conscious about their teeth, there is the possibility of having that perfect smile now.

Perhaps you might have even had a tooth knocked out, and because of that one small thing the rest of your teeth have begun pulling away from one another, leaving noticeable gaps that are unattractive and even uncomfortable when you attempt to eat certain foods.  A visit to the orthodontist might just be the answer for you!  There is absolutely no reason an adult should feel any embarrassment for requiring braces, after all they are attempting to fix the problem not just let it worsen.  So, let’s take a look at some of these options for Adults.

Braces for Adults

First and foremost, as an adult you want to seek out a highly trained and well informed professional to work in your mouth.  You don’t have time for errors, and of course, you only want to have to go through this one time, not several.  One of your best options is Dr. Lagstein’s Hidden Braces.  They aren’t detectable unless someone looks directly into your mouth.  These braces are applied behind the teeth for painless invisible straightening into a normal positioning.  Furthermore, these types of braces don’t require any form of extraction so the individual shouldn’t be preoccupied with worry over the pain involved.

Time Required for Straight Teeth

The entire process does take some time, so you can’t expect to see a difference in just a couple of weeks.  While these braces are favored among adults, it is still very clear that they can’t perform miracles.  Adult patients can opt for invisible braces, or if they want they can go the traditional route.  With traditional braces the maximum amount of time required to achieve the ideal placement of the teeth is approximately 1 to 2 years. With Dr. Lagstein’s invisible braces it can be as little as 6 months.