Straighter Teeth With Modern Invisalign Orthodontics
Crooked teeth? Forget about unsightly braces, check out the discreet alternatives we offer at our Acton dental practice.
The use of cosmetic dentistry to improve smiles is becoming more widespread than ever. The increase in people seeking teeth whitening procedures or dental veneers is on the rise, with the result that many more people are delighted with their new smile.
There is one aesthetic dental issue though which can’t be fixed in a short period of time and takes between several weeks and a year or more to correct. In addition to this, the traditional treatment has been notoriously very visible which has put some people off having it at all. We are talking, of course, about the use of dental braces to straighten teeth.
The good news for anyone who has felt this way, and consequently chosen to put up with having a crooked smile, is that the modern orthodontics we have available at the Acton Vale Dental Centre offer a great way to have straighter teeth in a comfortable, convenient and discreet way.
Which orthodontics?
There are two types of orthodontics that we have available. The one chosen will depend on the problem in hand. For those with minor corrections required on the front teeth, such as where there is minor crookedness or overlapping, but still enough to spoil a smile, there are orthodontics which can correct this problem in just a few weeks. These are also much less visible than traditional ‘train track’ braces.
Perhaps the biggest revolution in orthodontics though is the advent of the clear aligner type of orthodontics. These are used where more complex correction is needed and we will take a look at them now.
The Invisalign revolution
Previously, anyone needing significant correction to their teeth would have had to wear metal braces, and quite possibly for a year or more depending on the situation. The high visibility and sometimes discomfort, to say nothing of the inconvenience of cleaning teeth while wearing them, was a barrier to many people. With Invisalign aligners, these problems are all but eliminated.
The Invisalign teeth brace system does away altogether with the wires and brackets which can cause problems for patients with discomfort and food getting trapped in them. Instead of these, you will be given a series of transparent ‘trays’ that are fitted over the teeth. In order to produce these trays, scans will be taken of your teeth so that we can custom produce them to suit your own teeth, making them more comfortable and effective.
Each tray is worn for a period of time and will help to gradually ease your teeth a little towards their desired position. It is essential that not too much pressure is exerted, otherwise this could damage the tooth and the bone it is located in too. Once the first tray has achieved its aim, it is replaced with the next in the series. This continues until your teeth are in their final position.
The benefits of Invisalign
There are a number of benefits for any of our Acton patients who use this system. Not only will you achieve a much straighter, and therefore more attractive, smile, but for the duration of your treatment you will benefit from:
Comfort
Because these trays are custom produced for you, there should be less discomfort than is sometimes associated with traditional braces. You will feel a little pressure of course but will soon become accustomed to this.
Discreet wearing
This is one of the main reasons for the popularity of this system. While not being entirely invisible (otherwise you would lose them), the trays are barely visible when being worn, especially to those who are not so physically close to you. As we will see in a minute, you can also remove the trays for short periods of time for special occasions such as a job interview if it makes you feel more confident. This should not be abused though as the more they are removed, the longer the overall treatment time will be.
Cleanliness
One big problem with the wire and bracket type of braces is that cleaning your teeth becomes a real challenge. Food can easily become trapped in the braces and may remain there for a long time as brushing effectively can be very hard to do. This can result in tooth decay in some cases.
With Invisalign, you simply remove your trays when you want to clean your teeth and you will need to clean the trays too and you will be advised how to do this correctly.
Eating convenience
Again, train track braces present challenges when eating some foods. The ‘classic’ one is spinach, where it gets stuck in the braces. It is not the only food that can be problematic though and you might find that you are avoiding some foods. With Invisalign, you simply remove the trays before you eat and replace them afterwards, ideally removing as much food debris as possible so that it doesn’t remain there any longer than necessary.
As you can see then, it is now possible to have straight teeth without the challenges and inconvenience of traditional dental braces. If you would like to find out more about how we can help you have straighter teeth and a more attractive smile, please contact us to arrange a consultation with one of our cosmetic dentists. You can do so by calling the Acton Vale Dental Centre on 0204 8749 3267.