How does the Invisalign®️ process work at LCCD?

Once you’ve given the plan your seal of approval, your aligners will be created by our experts, ready for fitting. It’s then as simple as wearing the aligners for a large portion of the day and letting them do all the work. You’ll change your aligners every one to two weeks in order to move your teeth into a slightly new position. Not sure if Invisalign®️ braces are right for you? We also offer CFast cosmetic braces at The London Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry. Find out more

It is likely to be sore for about 3-5 days each time the brace is adjusted. You can take over the counter painkillers if necessary. Try not to stop wearing the brace as this will mean you will have to go through the 3-5 days of discomfort all over again when you have it re-fitted. If you have any problems, contact the studio for an appointment.

How might the brace affect me?

A removable brace can affect your speech however it should return to normal within a couple of days once you are used to the brace. You may also find yourself swallowing a lot to begin with. This is normal and will quickly pass.

How do I take care of my Invisalign brace?

It is important that you take good care of your teeth and brace for your orthodontic treatment to be effective. We recommend avoiding the following: Fizzy drinks including diet drinks, excessive amounts of fruit juice Hard foods which might damage the brace such as crunchy apples, crusty bread rolls, etc. Very chewy and/or sugary foods like toffees, boiled sweets, sugared chewing gum, chocolate bars, etc.

How do I brush my teeth with Invisalign braces?

It is important that you brush your teeth thoroughly, three times per day and use fluoride toothpaste. We also recommend a daily fluoride mouth rinse last thing at night, after tooth brushing. Take the brace out to clean your teeth. Gently brush the brace, but don’t use toothpaste on it, as this will cause damage. Special cleaning tablets are available to soak your brace in.

Can I remove the Invisalign brace?

Yes but you should only remove your brace for cleaning. Do not play with the brace with your tongue as this can cause damage to the brace.

How long will my Invisalign treatment take?

Depending on your teeth, it will take between 6 to 24 months. If you keep removing your brace your treatment will take longer.

How often do I need to come in during Invisalign treatment?

You will need regular appointments for the brace to be reviewed every 2- 4 weeks.

Do I still need to see my regular dentist?

Yes. Keep attending checkups with your regular dentist throughout orthodontic treatment so that your oral health can be monitored.

What if I please contact sports?

You should wear a gum shield instead of your removable brace when you play contact sports or take part in any other physical activities. Your brace should be kept in a protective box when not in your mouth.

London Lingual Braces | The London Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry

Lingual Braces London

The hidden brace system is designed to straighten teeth and remove gaps.

What are lingual braces?

If you are looking for a discreet cosmetic straightening option that still utilises highly effective traditional brace components, like brackets and archwires, consider lingual braces.

Sometimes called hidden braces because of their discretion, lingual braces are fitted to the inside of the teeth rather than the front surface, hiding the apparatus as it straightens and corrects unaesthetic smiles.

Although they are not visible when you speak, smile, or eat, lingual braces use archwires and very small metal brackets to apply continuous pressure to the teeth – much like traditional fixed braces do on the fronts of teeth.

Over time, this corrects common issues, including:

Gaps
Overcrowding
Overlapping teeth
Rotated teeth
Problems with the bite, including underbites

Treatment with lingual braces can be completed in around 12-18 months, depending on the starting position of your teeth and the desired results.

Have a question about lingual braces for one of our dentists? Feel free to contact us today to see how lingual fixed braces could help you.

Benefits of lingual braces

Invisible braces

As lingual braces are fitted to the back of your teeth, they are much more discreet than traditional metal braces and are ideal for patients who need to maintain their normal appearance during orthodontic treatment.

Suitable for complex cases

Even severe crowding, rotations, bite issues, and spacing can be corrected with virtually invisible braces.

More effective than aligners

While they may be completely clear, aligner-based systems might not be able to offer the same control versus lingual fixed braces.

No visible decalcification marks

A common side effect of fixed braces, the decalcification spots that occur under lingual brackets are hidden on the back of your teeth rather than the front if you choose lingual braces – meaning the visible appearance of your teeth is only ever improved.

Types of lingual braces

There are two types of lingual braces at London Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry, which are suitable for different orthodontic cases.

Your expert dentist will help you choose which variety of lingual brace is right for you at your orthodontic consultation, depending on your needs, lifestyle, and how you want your teeth to look at the culmination of treatment.

Social lingual braces

Social lingual braces are designed for mild overcrowding and small gaps in the front six to eight teeth – sometimes referred to as the social six.

This treatment is likely to be completed in a series of months rather than years and offers the same invisible or hidden braces as the longer treatment, despite its shorter duration.

Standard lingual braces

Standard lingual braces are also made up of fixed brackets and archwires but are designed to straighten the upper, lower, or both jaws.

For this reason, this treatment is longer, taking a few years – but this makes it suitable for more serious orthodontic cases, including overcrowding, gapped or crooked teeth, and underbites.

To find out which London lingual brace is best for you, you will need to book a consultation with our dentists, who can fully explain your options to you in more detail.

London Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry - Dr Druian shaking hands and smiling with patient in reception

The lingual braces treatment process at LCCD

Whether you feel social or standard lingual braces are best for you, your orthodontic journey will begin with an orthodontic consultation at the practice.

This will allow one of our expert dentists to examine your teeth, find out more about you and your hopes for treatment, and put together a bespoke treatment plan with a final decision.

The next step is to fit your lingual braces.

At this session, you will be talked through each part of the process, and you can ask any lingering questions. You will also be given aftercare instructions, especially relating to your dental hygiene, to keep your straightening teeth white and shining.

You will continue to visit the practice around every 4-8 weeks, just like with traditional braces, until your teeth have aligned into the proper position, but the frequency of visits will depend on your individual treatment plan.

Once you are ready to have your fixed brace removed, you will then need to be fitted for the long-term apparatus needed to keep your teeth in their new correct position, such as a fixed or removable retainer. It is essential you wear these retainers, as they help keep your teeth in their new correct position, otherwise shifting can occur and the results of your treatment can be undone.

Lingual Braces FAQs

As they generally move improperly positioned teeth with pressure, there is always likely to be some slight discomfort associated with orthodontic treatment like lingual braces.

Some patients experience this as an ache which is easily controlled with over-the-counter pain relief like paracetamol and ibuprofen. You can expect this ache to occur once your braces are fitted for the first time and whenever they are tightened.

Similarly, you can also experience soreness on the tongue as it comes into contact with the braces and brackets on the backs of your teeth. To counteract this, you can add dental or orthodontic wax to the appliance to protect your mouth’s soft tissues.

This sharpness will fade as your tongue learns the new layout of your mouth and unlike pain medications which should only be used for a short time, dental wax can be used for as long as is needed without side effects.

To book a consultation for lingual braces in London or for more advice about how to keep comfortable during this invisible treatment, why not fill out our contact form or speak to our staff on the live chat at the bottom right-hand side of your screen?

As your teeth move throughout your orthodontic treatment, the wires connected to the brackets need to be tightened regularly.

This ensures the pressure is maintained on the teeth, keeping them moving and speeding up your treatment timeline.

Tightening of the archwire will be completed around every 4-8 weeks but this can change depending on your individual treatment solution.

To ask questions about your lingual braces or check when your next appointment is, you can speak to our reception team on 0207 722 1235.

Patients considering lingual braces often do so because they are looking for a more discreet orthodontic option than conventional braces. As such, they may be concerned about these braces affecting their speech – particularly if they have a public-facing career or have to work with clients and outside agencies.

Lingual braces can affect speech in the short term, leading to difficulty with the letter ‘S’, causing a slight lisp.

The good news is, however, that this should fade quickly, lasting just a few days, as your tongue adapts to the new layout of your mouth.

To speed up this process, we recommend finding a friend to have a good chat with, as it will force you to speak and mean that your tongue will get used to your braces faster. Keeping quiet is the worst thing you can do – as it will prolong the lisp phase.

For more information about lingual braces in London call us on 0207 722 1235, our team would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Like with traditional braces, how long you wear lingual braces depends on the severity of your malocclusion and how well your teeth react to treatment.

For the most part, however, most cases can be treated in around 12-18 months, with very mild crowding being corrected in as little as 6 months.

To find out how long you will need to wear your lingual braces, contact The London Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry to arrange for a consultation with one of our experienced experts. You can complete our contact form or call us on 0207 722 1235.

Wondering what lingual braces cost compared to traditional braces?

Comparatively, thanks to their wide range of benefits, lingual braces cost slightly more. However, as with all orthodontics, the final price can only be generated once a professional has examined your teeth and considered the best treatment for you.

To book your consultation and find out what a beautiful new smile might come to, call us on 0207 722 1235 or fill in our contact form today!

Start your journey to a new smile today, book your consultation

The consultation gives you a chance to meet our dentists and ask any questions you may have. They will assess your smile and go through your treatment options, the process and costs.

What are lingual braces?

Benefits of lingual braces

Types of lingual braces

Social lingual braces

Standard lingual braces

The lingual braces treatment process at LCCD

Lingual Braces FAQs

How painful are lingual braces?

How often do lingual braces need tightening?

Is it hard to speak with lingual braces?

How long do you have to wear lingual braces?

What do lingual braces cost?

Start your journey to a new smile today, book your consultation