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Lingual braces vs Ceramic braces

Oldham Orthodontics has been running for many years, which means we’ve seen and heard it all. Including some patients turning down treatment simply because they don’t like the look of braces. Luckily for them though, we offer some of the top appliances in the industry that can give them that discreet look. 

In this blog in particular we want to discuss the differences between lingual and ceramic braces. Both are great options for our patients but with quite a few dissimilar characteristics. 


Do you care how noticeable your braces are?

Now this is the biggie. The main reason people don’t like traditional metal braces is because they don’t like the look of them. Both lingual and ceramic braces combat this issue but in two very different ways. For starters, ceramic braces are the exact same as metal braces except we use white or tooth colour brackets. This acts as camouflage, making them less noticeable from a certain distance. Lingual braces again are similar to metal braces, however because they are applied to the backs of your teeth they are technically not visible at all when speaking to someone.

Out of the two, lingual braces are probably the least noticeable simply because you’d have to tilt your head all the way back and open your mouth for people to see. Which we doubt you’ll be doing often!


Can you deal with some temporary speech impediments?

Although braces can cause slight speech issues, you tend to grow out of it after a couple of days. After getting lingual braces, you may experience speech issues such as a slight lisp, slurring of certain words, or small mispronunciations as your tongue learns to work around your new braces. It’s a similar issue with ceramic braces apart from the fact that they do not regularly make contact with the tongue meaning any noticeable effects tend to go away much more quickly.

So with that being said, ceramic braces are the better option if you don’t want to experience difficulty speaking. But don’t be worried by the effects as they happen very rarely to our patients, and even for the ones who do struggle they tend to find their speech goes back to normal quite quickly.


What is your budget like?

The price of both appliances vary for different reasons. Lingual braces are specifically molded to your teeth and need to be placed with skill and care. Whereas ceramic braces are slightly easier to attach. For an accurate estimation of the cost of treatment, you’ll have to book a consultation with one of our orthodontists. Price will also vary depending on the severity of your case and the patient’s specific needs.


We hope this has shed some light on which brace might be the best option for you. If you have any more questions, do not hesitate to get in touch on 0161 7680931. Our team will be happy to help.