Comparative Biomechanics of Labial versus Lingual Fixed Appliances-A Review

Lingual orthodontics is a great transition from the conventional labial orthodontics that eliminates the visibility of the fixed appliance by avoiding the orthodontic attachments on the labial surface of the teeth, to meet the esthetic demands of the patients. This lingual technique is quite challenging in terms of treatment approach as compared to labial orthodontics due to working in areas with poor accessibility, variable morphology of lingual surfaces posing difficulty in bracket positioning, different mechanical considerations with respect to the position of orthodontic attachments having different relationship with the centre of resistance, patient irritability due to tongue irritation. It necessitates a lot of patience, efforts, expertise and time from the orthodontist and good cooperation from the patients in understanding the need of extended chairside time, increased expense, prolonged treatment duration as well as the distress associated, the speech and tongue soreness mainly. This article is an attempt to present overview of lingual orthodontics as compared to labial orthodontics.