Incognito braces

Incognito – braces that are attached from the inside and do not spoil your smile

Incognito braces (“Incognito”) are a lingual-type orthodontic corrective system that involves fixing plates on the back of the teeth, making them completely invisible to prying eyes.
These braces are made from an alloy containing gold. Naturally, this significantly increases the cost of the system, but at the same time eliminates the risk of allergies. On a note! This brand belongs to the American company 3M Unitek, but currently braces are made in Germany individually for each individual patient. This approach to orthodontic treatment makes it possible to achieve literally jeweler-like precision in placing plates on the teeth, and also allows you to achieve the maximum effect of treatment.

Braces Incognito Lite

Incognito Lite braces are designed for orthodontic treatment in the jaw area. In particular, Incognito Lite braces are used for crowded teeth in the central region, despite the fact that there are no particular problems with the bite. Incognito Lite braces are a great opportunity to restore the aesthetics of your teeth without spending a lot of money.

What features are typical for this model?

Incognito is the first lingual brace system on the market. The development company has clinically proven data on the high quality of its products and the undeniable effectiveness of its use. Among the distinctive characteristics of Incognito braces are the following:

European quality: in a dental clinic in Russia only preparation for orthodontic treatment, installation of the device and its activation can be carried out. The staples themselves are manufactured in Germany using advanced high-tech equipment,
individual approach to manufacturing: plates are created taking into account the individual characteristics of each individual patient, thanks to which it is possible to achieve their optimal location and repetition of the anatomical shape of each tooth,
hypoallergenic alloy: the material from which the system is created contains gold. It also contains no nickel, which minimizes the risk of developing allergies.
predicted result: 3D visualization gives the patient the opportunity to see the final effect of treatment even before fixing the system in the oral cavity,
High efficiency: it is an all metal system that minimizes friction between the brackets and the archwire. It is able to provide the necessary force on the teeth for quick and guaranteed correction of their position in the dentition. An individual approach to the creation of each bracket allows the system to be used to solve complex cases. It is successfully used to eliminate excessive crowding of teeth, and is also suitable for fixation on teeth with small crowns1,
impeccable aesthetics: the lingual system is installed on the inside of the teeth, therefore it remains completely invisible to others,
comfort during treatment: compact braces do not cause serious discomfort, but their close proximity to the tongue may cause some difficulties with diction.

3D visualization gives the patient the opportunity to see the final effect.
Patients whose field of activity involves constant communication with people are recommended to take a short break from work for three to four days. Such a pause will give you some time to get used to the established system and practice your diction.

How the device works and how it “works”

Incognito lingual braces are fundamentally different in their design not only from vestibular devices, but also from similar “invisible” braces from other brands. Systems are created using advanced high-tech equipment, which allows each step of treatment to be carefully calculated and planned. The manufacturer produces small thin plates adapted to each curve of an individual tooth. The mesh surface of the brackets allows you to use the optimal amount of dental glue for reliable adhesion of the product to the enamel. The arc is attached to the plates using small locks with latches.

Unlike other systems, in which the arc initially has a straight shape, in the case of the model under consideration, this part is immediately formed for problem areas, and specialized software is used for this. This feature is the main difference between the Incognito lingual brace system and other “hidden” braces. In our case, the correction of existing defects is not due to compensation of platform pressure, but to a constant targeted impact on problem areas.

Scheme of the structure of braces

How is Incognito braces installed?

The installation of Incognito braces differs from the installation of other lingual braces. First, as usual, the oral cavity is prepared, including the removal of plaque, treatment of caries and gums. The doctor then takes 3D photographs of the teeth and photographs of the face. This data is sent to the German clinic TOP-Service für Lingualtechnik GmbH. There, using a three-dimensional model, Incognito braces are produced, which take into account absolutely all the individual characteristics of the patient. Later, the doctor receives a unique system and installs it. This entire process takes about two weeks.

Pros and cons of the lingual correction system

The lingual systems of the brand in question are characterized by both pros and cons. Let's start with its advantages:

high aesthetic characteristics: lingual braces are fixed on the back side of the teeth and remain invisible to the interlocutor,
high treatment speed,
minimizing the risk of developing an allergic reaction due to the lack of nickel in the alloy,
individual approach to the manufacture of each individual design,
effectiveness in correcting complex defects,
the ability to predict the result,
absence of psychological discomfort,
the ability to keep the enamel intact and unharmed.

The system is completely invisible when worn.
As for the shortcomings, here we can highlight some diction disorders during the period of getting used to the device. In addition, due to the placement of the plates from the inside of the dentition, the process of adaptation to them usually takes a little longer than in the case of traditional vestibular models. There is a certain risk of injury to the mucous membrane. It should be noted that such braces are installed exclusively on adult patients. Also, to work with such corrective devices, the orthodontist requires a fairly high level of qualifications and relevant experience. A significant disadvantage of Incognito is the high cost of treatment.

Design Features

The decision to use braces is not easy for many people. The main factor that makes one refuse them is embarrassment. Not everyone is ready to wear a structure on their teeth that attracts attention for a long time (a year or more). To solve this problem, specialists developed the incognito lingual brace system. It is installed on the inner surface of the jaw and remains invisible when a person smiles or talks. The invisible method of fastening does not affect the effectiveness of treatment in any way.

Regular on the left, incognito on the right

Modern computer programs used in the process of creating such a device minimize the risk of any errors or inaccuracies. By creating 3D models, it is possible to achieve a perfect fit of each part in the structure.

Incognito lingual braces were first produced in 1997 in Germany. To this day, their main manufacturer is considered to be the German company TOP Service fur Lingualtechnik GmbH, which cooperates with some Russian companies.

In our country, such braces appeared relatively recently, but due to their invisibility they have already gained wide popularity. In addition to invisibility to others, they have several more features:

How Incognito is created and installed

The process of installing any orthodontic structures can be divided into two independent stages: creating a system based on impressions of the patient’s jaws and its direct installation at the next appointment. Let's look at these steps in more detail.

How does the system creation process work?

To begin with, the patient must undergo preparation for the installation of the device - a procedure for removing plaque and stone, eliminating carious lesions. Then the specialist takes impressions of the jaws or scans the oral cavity. The obtained data, along with photographs of the patient’s face, are sent to a dental laboratory in Germany, where the orthodontic structure is created. The manufacturing process can take up to one and a half to two months.

Before manufacturing the system, it is necessary to take impressions of the jaw.

Rogozhin Dmitry Sergeevich Dentist-orthodontist with more than 15 years of experience “One of the main features of Incognito lingual systems is an individual approach to their creation. First, the plates are attached to a model of the dentofacial system made of plaster. During placement, the plates are carefully transferred to the teeth, secured using dental adhesive, and the archwire is attached and activated.”

Braces are created strictly individually for each client

How do braces fit in your mouth?

To begin with, the specialist tries on and adjusts the device on a model created from casts of the jaws. Only after this is the final fixation of the system carried out - at the next appointment, the doctor attaches the brackets to the back side of the crowns using dental glue. Arch locks are attached to 6, 7 or 8 teeth. In some situations, in order to save money, invisible lingual braces are placed on the top row, and standard vestibular braces, for example, made of ceramics, are placed on the bottom row, so as not to significantly reduce the level of aesthetics.

Device principle

The design and principle of operation of incognito lingual braces differ from similar orthodontic systems. The device is manufactured taking into account the control of computer technology; literally every millimeter of all details is calculated. The Incognito bracket platform accurately follows all the curves of the patient’s dental crowns, and abrasives and mesh are used to increase the quality of adhesion to the enamel. Using an abrasive reduces the amount of dental adhesive that holds the brackets in place.

To secure the arc, locks with latches are used. The design also uses a vertical groove, which significantly reduces friction between the arc itself and the structural parts. This feature greatly increases efficiency. If in other devices the arch is made in a straight form, then in Incognito it is immediately formed taking into account the anatomical characteristics of the patient. Therefore, incognito braces differ from other lingual devices and stand apart.

The principle of operation of the incognito device is based on a targeted force effect on problem areas, which is what distinguishes them from other lingual structures.

Fixing clasps are installed only on those crowns that are subject to correction. There is no pressure on the remaining teeth.

To make an individual design, a thorough diagnosis of the oral cavity is carried out. They take pictures - x-rays, 3D diagnostics, jaw impressions. Based on the collected data, a lingual structure is made, the quality of which is controlled by a computer modeling program. Each bracket is cast individually.

After modeling the design, a fitting is arranged. If the product is completely suitable for the patient, it is installed. The installation procedure takes at least 1.5 hours, sometimes two.

Approximate course duration

The duration of wearing Incognito braces directly depends on the initial clinical picture. On average, the period for correcting the position of teeth is six to eight months, but in some cases, treatment can last for two to three years. The average duration of orthodontic treatment in general is one and a half years. Here it should be taken into account that after removal of the corrective device, a retention period begins, the duration of which corresponds to at least one period of the main treatment. This period is extremely important, as it allows you to record the achieved result, because otherwise, after a few months, the teeth may return to their usual position.

Read more about the timing of orthodontic treatment in our special article >>>

What difficulties will you encounter during the adaptation period?

Lingual braces require slightly more adaptation time than vestibular braces. It is worth noting that in the case of Incognito, this period will take less time than when installing “invisible” devices of other brands. Among the most common difficulties during addiction, patients note the following points:

problems with speaking function and the pronunciation of individual sounds - such manifestations disappear on their own within a maximum of a week,
damage to the mucous membrane by protruding structural elements - quite often such systems scratch the tongue. To avoid discomfort, orthodontic experts recommend using a special protective wax.

Lingual braces require slightly more adaptation time than vestibular braces.
Read more about how to properly use orthodontic wax in our article >>>

The Incognito system is characterized by reduced plate size and thickness. This feature of this particular model allows us to minimize the risk of damage to the mucous membrane at first, while the patient gets used to the device.

Lingual braces Incognito: features

Incognito lingual braces are distinguished not only by the fact that they are invisible to others. An important feature of this technology is that all elements are made according to individual casts

and using computer modeling.
Due to this, they accurately follow the shape of the tooth
, fit tightly to its surface and use it optimally, which ensures efficiency, compactness and convenience for the patient.

Adjustment period

usually takes 1-2 weeks. In the first days, diction may change significantly, but after a few days, or at most a week, this goes away. As with traditional braces, the length of time you wear them depends on your specific situation. Typically, correcting a malocclusion using Incognito takes the same or slightly less time compared to conventional systems.

Inner-mounted braces can be more difficult to clean, but with practice, patients can handle the task without any problems. For care, special brushes and brushes, irrigators are used. As in the case of traditional systems, it is recommended to exclude hard, viscous foods, etc. from the diet, so as not to complicate cleaning or create additional stress on the enamel, teeth in general, arches, etc.

How to properly care for the structure

Lingual braces require special care and increased attention, since placing the brackets from inside the dentition makes it somewhat more difficult to clean them from food debris and bacteria. You will need to purchase special brushes and an orthodontic brush. Every time after eating you will need to rinse your mouth thoroughly, and you will also have to reconsider your diet. It is necessary to avoid products that are too hard and viscous, small particles of which can get stuck in the elements of the braces.

For daily double hygiene, experts recommend purchasing an electric brush. An excellent purchase would be an irrigator - this is a small portable device that delivers a powerful stream of air and water under high pressure. The use of such a device will allow you to maintain an acceptable level of hygiene throughout the entire course of treatment.

A good tool for caring for the structure is an irrigator.