I work as a clerical assistant in a pediatric dental office, and I am commonly surprised by the number of children who are scared of the dentist. Many kids think that cleanings will be painful, and they believe they will be scolded for eating sugary foods. Children are also extremely frightful of the noises made by the water spraying tools and the suction devices. As adults, we know that dental cleanings are easy and free of pain. We need to impart this knowledge to our children so they know not to fear the dentist. I have provided blogs that will help you speak with your child about dental care. Good communication, trips to your own dentist, and online videos can assist you. So will good brushing techniques that will make your child proud to see the dentist. Enjoy my articles so you can help your child build oral care confidence.
Alfred Kelley
Lingual braces are put on the back of teeth, unlike the more common style of braces that are placed on the front of teeth. If you don't want your teeth straightening mechanism to be visible, lingual braces are a good choice. However, lingual braces also have their complications, such as the following.
Longer Dental Appointments
The placement of lingual braces is not easy. The risk of bruising your gums, lining of the mouth, and tongue is rather high. The orthodontist must take care to avoid this but still place the braces for maximum effectiveness. The same care must be taken when adjusting the braces, examining them, or fixing any problem on them. Don't forget that working on the inside of the mouth is also restrictive as compared to working on the outside of the mouth. This means that all appointments related to your lingual braces will take longer than those for conventional braces.
Tongue Soreness
Since lingual braces are found on the backside of the teeth, they sit exactly where the tongue usually rests. The tongue has a certain curiosity for things in the mouth, and it may be difficult for you to keep it away from the braces. This is why many people with lingual braces experienced tongue irritation.
This should get better with time, but you can hasten the period by rinsing your mouth with saline water or using over-the-counter antiseptics. Your orthodontist may also have other techniques for minimizing the effect of the lingual braces on your tongue. For example, the orthodontist may insert silicone pads over the braces to protect the tongue.
Exaggerated Orthodontic Difficulties
Conventional braces also present problems, especially in the beginning of treatment. However, the problems tend to be more intensive when it comes to lingual braces. Here are some of the common orthodontic treatment issues that lingual braces may worsen.
Speech Difficulties
The tongue usually needs to contact with the backside of the teeth to pronounce some words. This will be more difficult with lingual braces because this is where the braces are located.
Oral Hygiene Difficulties
Food particles may be trapped between the braces and the back of the teeth. Cleaning this part of the mouth may be difficult and many people neglect doing so already.
Eating Difficulties
As explained above, some foods may be trapped in this part of your mouth, and certain foods are going to be more prone to this than others, which means you may have to avoid them.
Whenever you are gearing up for orthodontic treatment, take your time to go through all the available options so that you can make an informed decision. Remember that your dentist also has a say on the dental treatment you need and that the nature or extent of your oral issues will affect what can be done.