Barely Visible Orthodontic Treatments For Discreet Teeth Straightening In Canterbury

Our patients can reap the benefits of straight teeth without the visibility of traditional braces

In addition to wanting to ensure that our teeth and gums are healthy, many of us visit our dentist in order to achieve the nicest smile that we can possibly have.

There is a wide range of cosmetic dental procedures that can help with this, whether that be teeth whitening, veneers or even teeth implants. All of these can bring about almost immediate improvements to our smile; however one treatment that does take longer to achieve, is straightening teeth.

While other treatments can bring about fast results, the straightening of teeth can be a lengthy process and, depending on what needs doing, you may be required to wear orthodontics for a year or more. For those hoping to improve their smile directly following treatment, this poses a real challenge. Yes, eventually your smile will look much better, but wearing braces can mean that people are likely to notice them for the duration of your treatment.

Although traditional ‘train track’ braces are very visible, patients of Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic can instead benefit from the use of the almost invisible popular orthodontic system ‘Invisalign’.

Clear aligners

Instead of using wires and brackets as has traditionally been the case, Invisalign uses a series of transparent aligners that fit directly over your teeth. These are custom made for you following scans and impressions that we take of your teeth during your visit to our local dental clinic. Each aligner is worn for a period of time before being replaced with the next one. This continues until your teeth are in their final position.

Let us take a look then at some of the benefits of using this increasingly popular system.

Comfort

One thing that many people complain about traditional braces, aside from their visibility, is the discomfort of wearing them. Although this tends to ease a little once you become used to them, the fact is that having wiring around your teeth may present a certain level of discomfort. As mentioned earlier, Invisalign aligners are produced from scans and impressions of your own teeth and will not only straighten them but ensure the best level of comfort currently possible.

Discreet wearing

Perhaps the most common reason that people choose Invisalign is that they are barely visible when being worn. The fine medical grade plastic that they are made of means that most people won’t even notice that you are wearing them. There may be close up occasions where they are more noticeable however and, for example, for a job interview, you are able to remove the aligners temporarily as you will see in the next section. There is no doubt though that this orthodontic system offers a great way of straightening your teeth with the maximum discretion.

Removable

Unlike traditional braces which can only be removed or adjusted by your dentist, Invisalign aligners are designed to be removed by the wearer albeit for limited reasons and periods of time only. If you remove the aligners too often and for too long, this may significantly lengthen the treatment period. You should therefore, only remove them for the following reasons.

‘One offs’ – Like the job interview mentioned above, you can remove the aligners for brief periods for rare occasions like this. Another example might be if you had a TV interview where the camera would be showing a close up of your smile. You should always return them to your mouth as soon afterwards as you possibly can.

Eating – This is an important one for many of our Canterbury dental patients. Eating while wearing wire and bracket type braces can be problematic with food getting trapped between the teeth and in the wiring. This can also lead to tooth decay and gum disease as removing any trapped food can be notoriously difficult. When you eat, you are able to remove the aligners and this means that you are free to eat absolutely anything that you want without fear of anything becoming trapped in the orthodontics.

Cleaning – Equally important is the ability to remove the aligners in order to brush and floss your teeth. While tooth decay can be a real issue with regular braces, there is no reason why you should suffer this as an Invisalign wearer, as long as you brush and floss your teeth well and also see your dentist and dental hygienist on a regular basis. The aligners themselves will also need to be kept clean and we will provide information on this at the time.

If you have been deterred from having straighter teeth by the thought of having to wear metal braces, you need worry no more. The first step to take is to arrange a consultation with our dentist who will be able to advise and guide you towards the most appropriate treatment that we can offer. To book your consultation, please call Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic today on 01227 463529.