The 4 Pillars of Modern Adult Orthodontics
1. Invisalign (Aligners): The Freedom of Transparency
Aligners are removable, transparent plastic trays. They are the first choice for patients seeking maximum flexibility in their daily lives.
- Advantage: Virtually invisible, no dietary restrictions, and perfect oral hygiene possible.
- Scientific Aspect: Thanks to the digital workflow, you can see your final result in a 3D simulation before you even start the treatment.
- Ideal for: Mild to moderate corrections and patients with high aesthetic demands in their professional lives.
2. Lingual Braces (e.g., Incognito): The Invisible Powerhouse
With lingual braces, the fixed appliance is attached to the inner surface of the teeth. They are 100% invisible from the outside.
- Advantage: Since the braces are fixed, they work 24 hours a day, without you having to remember to change trays. They are often more precise for complex tooth movements than aligners.
- Scientific Aspect: Each bracket is individually customized to your inner tooth surfaces using a gold-casting process.
- Ideal for: Complex misalignments where absolute invisibility is required.
3. Ceramic Brackets: The Discreet Classic
Fixed braces (brackets) are unsurpassed in terms of precision. In our modern practice, we use highly aesthetic ceramic brackets that blend in with your natural tooth color. Thanks to thermo-elastic wires, we utilize biologically gentle forces that minimize pressure and shorten treatment time. This is ideal for sensitive patients.
- Advantage: Maximum control over tooth root movement. Ceramic does not discolor and is significantly more discreet than metal.
- Scientific Aspect: We use highly elastic, thermo-active wires that work with gentle, constant forces – this protects the tissue and accelerates the treatment process.
- Ideal for: Comprehensive bite corrections where cost-effectiveness and maximum precision must go hand in hand.
4. TADs (Mini-Implants): The “Turbo” for Complex Cases
Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs) are tiny, temporary pins that serve as anchors in the jaw. They have revolutionized adult orthodontics.
- Advantage: They enable tooth movements that were previously considered impossible or would have required surgery. We can move individual teeth specifically without putting strain on the other teeth as an “anchorage.”
- Scientific Aspect: TADs make us independent of patient compliance (e.g., wearing elastics) and allow for a purely biomechanically controlled correction.
- Ideal for: Extreme lack of space, closing gaps, or correcting deep bites in adults.
Decision Guide: Which system is right for you? Use this overview as an initial orientation for our consultation:
| Criterion | Invisalign (Aligners) | Lingual Braces | Ceramic Brackets |
| Visibility | Virtually invisible | 100% invisible | Discreet (tooth-colored) |
| Comfort | Very high (removable) | Adjustment period needed (tongue) | Good (fixed) |
| Precision | Very high (digitally planned) | Maximum (individual basis) | Maximum (manual control) |
| Discipline | Required (22h wear time) | Not required (fixed) | Not required (fixed) |
| Complexity | Mild to moderate | All levels of difficulty | All levels of difficulty |
Why Dr. Horvath? “Scientific Precision” meets digital planning
Regardless of which system you choose: The key to success lies in digital diagnostics. In our practice in Jestetten, we replace the classic, unpleasant impression with a high-precision 3D intraoral scan. Based on this data, we create a virtual treatment plan that considers not only the dental crowns but also the root positions and the function of your jaw joints.
Through digital remote monitoring and precise advance planning, we reduce on-site appointments in Jestetten to a minimum. This makes the treatment easily manageable, even with a busy schedule.
Especially for our patients from Switzerland, this fully digital workflow offers enormous time savings and the security of planning according to the highest German and international quality standards.
FAQ: What our patients ask us most frequently
“Am I already too old at over 40 or 50?”
Definitely not. As long as your periodontium (the tissues supporting the teeth) is healthy, teeth can be moved at any age. We regularly treat patients who fulfill this wish later in life.
“I already had braces as a teenager. Why are my teeth crooked again?”
Teeth are in motion throughout your entire life. In dentistry, we call this process “physiological tooth migration.” Many of our patients come to us because the results of their previous treatment have slowly changed over the decades. This often happens because there was no permanent stabilization (retention) after the active phase. Without stabilizing measures, teeth tend to drift back toward their original misalignment.
“Is the treatment painful?”
Switching to a new aligner or adjustment can create slight pressure in the first few hours. However, this is a sign that the gentle movement is working and is usually not perceived as pain.
Modern Orthodontics instead of a “Standard Solution”
Tooth correction in adulthood is a matter of millimeters. Whether it is the flexibility of aligners or the unbeatable biomechanics of fixed high-end systems: we don’t just pick a system; we develop the technological concept that leads you safely and efficiently to your perfect bite.
Let’s find out together which path is the right one for your permanently healthy smile. Book a 3D scan now and see your future smile in the simulation.