How Do You Straighten Teeth Without Braces?
Although orthodontic braces are more discreet now than they were several decades ago, people (in particular adults) are still put off by the thought of having to endure a mouth full of brackets and wiring for lengthy periods of time. This is despite the fact that inconspicuous ceramic braces and other types such as lingual braces have come a long way to eradicate the ‘brace face’ perception of orthodontic treatment.
But what if there was a way to straighten teeth without the use of brackets and wiring altogether? Cue the Invisalign Aligner!
It’s fair to say that the Invisalign Aligner is about as far removed from traditional bracket and wiring style braces as orthodontic treatment gets. In reality it’s a lightweight clear plastic aligner which is placed over the teeth like a gum shield. A cleverly engineered gum shield none-the-less, but it’s pretty simplistic in form and that’s they key. It’s designed to be easily removed by the patient and unlike traditional braces which are worn 24/7 for the duration of the treatment, Invisalign Aligners are designed to be removed when eating and drinking. Oh, and one more thing… as the name suggests it’s virtually invisible.
The question I know you’re dying to ask is…. if an Invisalign Aligner doesn’t rely on brackets and wiring, then how does it move teeth?
The answer lies in the fact that one person typically has anywhere between 12 and 36 aligners per treatment, depending upon the degree of straightening needed. Each aligner is designed to be a tight fit over the teeth and will naturally force the teeth to move a fraction of an inch. When the aligner has done it’s job (usually 2-3 weeks) it’s exchanged for the next one in the series which allows for further tooth movement. This carries on for the duration of the treatment (usually 18 months) until the final aligner has worked it’s magic and the teeth are in perfect position. All without a single bracket or wire in sight!
The advantages of Invisalign aligners are many….
First and foremost they can be worn with complete discretion allowing greater freedom for people to carry on with their normal daily lives.
Secondly, the patient can choose when and where they wear their Aligners. If for instance they have an important meeting, event or dinner date, nobody needs to know they’re even having orthodontic treatment. That said – for best results, Invisalign Aligners should still be worn for 20-22 hours a day for optimum effect.
Finally, as they’re designed to be easily interchanged by the patient, very little chair time is needed when it comes to initial fitting and final removal. As a result, Invisalign Aligners are ideal for those people who are particularly anxious about visiting the dentist.
If you feel that your teeth could be straighter but really don’t fancy a mouth full of brackets and wiring then come and talk to us about Invisalign. To find out more, book a no obligation consultation with us and take the first steps towards restoring your great looking smile today!
