BASIC CONCEPTS OF INVISIBLE ORTHODONTICS: LINGUAL ORTHODONTICS

Abstract

Adult patients desiring orthodontic treatment, special esthetic demands of these patients pose a great challenge to the orthodontic community. These patients have professional and social commitments and cannot accept ‘visible braces’ even for a short period of time. To be able to serve such patients, the orthodontic community came out with the ultimate aesthetic solution- lingual orthodontics. The addition of lingual appliances to the world of aesthetic orthodontic appliances has provided the ultimate in aesthetics because they are not visible. Patients with high aesthetic demands seem more interested in this approach and enjoy having confidence in their smile before their braces are removed. There was a period of initial euphoria as the technique made its clinical debut; this was followed by a period of frustration, disappointment, and rejection. Thanks to the effort of several dedicated clinicians, we are now in a period of resurgence, the technique has become more sophisticated, the clinical results achieved can stand on an equal footing with the best of conventional labial techniques. During the last decade, the percentage of patients treated with lingual orthodontics has increased, appliance systems have renewed, and the technique has developed to such an extent that in some cases, it is easier, quicker, and more accurate than traditional buccal orthodontics.