Getting behind Incognito in Weybridge

Unseen wonder

Many of us long for a straighter looking smile. However, numerous would-be patients are often dissuaded from seeking the necessary treatment out of fear that they will have to sacrifice their outward appearance for up to twelve months, for the sake of a straighter smile. Contrary to any misconceptions about modern orthodontics – which are often construed with dated imagery of large, uncomfortable headgear and braces – there are in fact numerous forms of discreet dental realignment appliances available, such as Incognito in Weybridge, which are so discreet that they are practically invisible to the untrained eye. Braces of this nature can be massively beneficial in boosting the self-esteem of those who seek them. This is particularly true within the demographics of teenagers and young adults – as these braces afford them the ability to undertake essential dental realignment, without attracting any unwanted attention or scrutiny from their peers or colleagues. 

Hidden history

Often referred to as ‘lingual braces’, the Incognito method of dental realignment acts in a similar way to conventional, fused braces – in that both systems utilise a series of brackets which are connected via a wire. However, what separates lingual braces from their conventional counterparts is that they are fused to the backs of a patient’s teeth, and are thus completely obscured from the front. This method was first developed in 1975, by an American orthodontist named Craven Kurz, who first successfully installed his lingual braces in 1976. The first patient to undergo the treatment was – strangely enough – a Playboy bunny model in Beverly Hills, who was concerned with how having braces may affect her career. After successfully installing lingual braces, and receiving a lot of praise from his happy customer, a stream of celebrities, actors and other famous patrons flocked to Kurz’s practice to achieve a straighter smile without affecting their outward appearance.  

Aligned with the times

While revolutionary for its time, Kurz’s lingual braces were far from perfect and often lead to patients suffering from irritation of the tongue, and high numbers of brackets failing. However, throughout the years the design of lingual braces continued to develop and refine, with each generation making use of the emerging materials and methodologies available at that time. Today, with the technological advances which we take for granted, the design has never been more sophisticated. Those seeking to undergo lingual braces first have to have a consultation period with their dental practitioner. This consultation period is implemented to inform the patient about the basis of the procedure and why it is best suited to the needs of the patient. Thereafter, a digital 3D rendering of the contours of the insides of the patient’s mouth will then be created, to allow for the bespoke brackets and brace to be constructed so that it fits perfectly. Once the braces have been constructed they are then installed around the patient’s teeth and treatment will begin. Typically, it will take around two weeks before patients fully adjust to wearing their lingual braces, after they do so however – they can often find that these braces have a massively positive effect on their self-esteem as they can tackle life head-on without everyone else being aware of their treatment.