Orthodontic Treatment – Traditional Or Modern?
With advances in cosmetic dentistry, teeth straightening methods are now more varied.
In certain circles, the British seem to have gained a reputation for having crooked and uneven teeth. While this is usually exaggerated for comedy effect, it is largely true that the US adopted cosmetic dentistry more rapidly and readily than the UK did. Times change though, and more people than ever, in the UK, are now looking to cosmetic options to improve their smile. Although teeth whitening is usually the ‘go to’ for many patients of our Acton dental practice, especially for a first treatment, orthodontic treatment is also growing in popularity.
One reason for this increase is due to the new systems that are now available to straighten teeth. Everyone is familiar with the traditional metallic wire and bracket braces, and these are still used, but, as we will see, modern orthodontics offer a greater degree of comfort as well as being almost invisible to those around you. Let us look at the two methods now.
Traditional dental braces
Traditional braces work well to straighten a patient’s teeth and have been used for a very long time. They are reliable and, once fitted, are left in the mouth until the treatment completes. They are gradually adjusted by the dentist until your teeth are in the desired position. They are then removed to leave you with your new, even smile.
While this method does work well, the braces used are generally made from metals which are very visible, often deterring some people from wearing them. There are more modern versions of this system which use teeth coloured wiring and brackets which does offer a degree of discreet wearing. However, these types of braces are often used for more minor adjustments where they don’t have to be worn for so long.
The other issue with this older system is that the wiring means that food is more easily trapped in the braces and cleaning is also more difficult. Because of this, there is an increased risk of tooth decay by the time they are removed.
Invisible orthodontics
So, is there a solution for patients who want to have an even smile, but who want to do so without the sight of visible metal in the mouth? The answer is yes.
There are now a number of modern orthodontic systems that can straighten the teeth in a very discreet way. One of the best known of these is the Invisalign teeth straightening system which we have available at the Acton Vale Dental Centre. This is a new and effective way to straighten teeth without the use of wires and brackets. All orthodontic systems work by applying gentle pressure to the teeth; slowly pushing them towards the desired position over a period of time, often quite lengthy and a year or so in length. It is essential that too much pressure is not applied, whatever the method used, in order to avoid damaging the teeth or supporting bone structure.
The main difference then, is that instead of wires etc, Invisalign works by using a progressive set of ‘trays’ that fit directly over the teeth. Each tray is worn for a couple of weeks or so before being replaced by the next in the series, with each encouraging the teeth just a little more towards the end position. This can be done by the patient under guidance by the dentist. This reduces the number of appointments needed over the duration of the treatment.
Advantages of Invisalign
So what benefits can our Acton patients expect from this new method?
Less visible
The trays used are made from a transparent medical grade plastic. This means that most people won’t even know that you are wearing them. This is great news for anyone who is concerned about being seen to wear braces.
Removable
Unlike traditional braces, the patient can remove the trays so that they can eat and clean their teeth without restriction. There is no need to avoid certain foods that would be difficult to eat with traditional braces and you can make sure that you can have healthy teeth as well through easier cleaning.
Comfortable
The trays are produced from impressions that we take of your own teeth. This means that they should fit securely and comfortably, making the treatment period more pleasant for you.
Ease of cleaning
As mentioned, to clean your teeth, you simply remove the braces and brush and floss as you already should do, before returning them to the mouth. This greatly minimises the risk of decay or gum disease that is not uncommon when wearing metal braces.
If you have ever wished that you had teeth that were more even but didn’t want to wear braces, now might be a good time to reconsider. If you would like to find out more about Invisalign or other orthodontic treatments, why not book a consultation at the Action Vale Dental Centre by calling us today on 0204 8749 3267.