Which brace is better?

On Saturday I attended the British Lingual Orthodontic Society (BLOS) spring meeting. (For those who don't know lingual orthodontics is the treatment of misplaced teeth using braces that are attached to the back of the teeth, rather than the front.) I am a committee member for BLOS and having helped with organising the meeting I'm pleased to say it was a really great day.

The meeting was fully subscribed showing a growing interest in lingual orthodontics in the UK (plus there were some European delegates). The venue was the Four Seasons Hotel at Canary Wharf, who were incredibly helpful and provided some amazing food during the breaks, especially the chocolate themed afternoon coffee break (yes dentists eat just as much chocolate as anyone else!).

This meeting brought together some of the best lingual orthodontists in the world, with practices in Paris, Berlin, Italy and Tel Aviv. Many of these ONLY use lingual braces! Each spoke about the lingual system of their choice with reasons why they preferred it over another. There were lots of clinical cases showing some fantastic treatment results and many happy patients. Each system has its own advantages and disadvantages, but there were a few things that really came over as a whole.

• Lingual orthodontics is in demand. The number of people wanting treatment that is rising and as orthodontists we need to be able to select braces that will get the result the patient wants as aesthetically as possible.
• If we, as orthodontists, do not get interested in lingual treatment we risk getting left behind. The UK may be behind other countries but we do follow the same trends eventually.
• Technology is becoming increasingly important. Most of the systems demonstrated used advanced Cad-Cam technology to plan and manufacture the braces. This makes it easier for the orthodontist to plan treatment, the patient to see the potential result, and gives greater accuracy of the braces and the final result.

But the thing that really came over, and was stressed by Dr Silvia Geron, is something that probably applies to all orthodontic treatment. It is not the 'system' that gives a really good result. It doesn't matter whether you choose Harmony, Incognito, eBrace or any of the other lingual systems, as the final result is in the hands of the orthodontist. It's down to how we assess, plan and use the braces that is important, rather than a specific brand. The skill and experience of the person doing the treatment is what really makes the difference between a good result and a fantastic result.