Braces are not only a great way of improving the appearance of your smile, but also improving your dental health for the future. Many people are reluctant to wear braces to straighten their teeth. This has resulted in dentists across the world looking for alternatives to traditional braces. Traditional braces consist of brackets that are attached to the front of your teeth and arch wires which join the brackets to apply pressure to the teeth to improve the appearance of your smile. If you are looking for a more discreet option than you need to speak to your dentist and to find out about the many alternative options that are now available for you.
One of the most popular options across the world is Invisalign London.
What is Invisalign?
If you want to straighten your teeth, but you do not want to draw unwanted attention to your mouth, then Invisalign is the solution for you. Invisalign uses clear thermoplastic aligners as an alternative to brackets and wires to apply pressure to crooked or wonky teeth and create a neatly aligned smile. Speak to your dentist and book a consultation. They will carry out a thorough examination of your teeth and gums and make sure that they are strong and healthy, free of decay or disease. If you have any underlying dental health issues then these will need to be treated before you can begin straightening your teeth. Underlying dental health issues such as tooth decay and gum disease can affect orthodontic treatment and can worsen as you try to straighten your teeth.
How does Invisalign work?
If your teeth are clean and healthy and your gums are strong and free of decay or disease then you are ready to straighten your teeth. Your dentist will carry out a three-dimensional scan of your mouth. They will use this to create a digital image which can show you how your teeth will look following the treatment before committing to or beginning the procedure. If you are happy with the predicted results then your dentist will ask the Invisalign laboratory to create a series of aligners for you. These aligners only take a few weeks to arrive. They are 3-D printed for accuracy and precision. The number of aligners that you need varies from patient to patient and there are different Invisalign treatment plans to meet your individual requirements. Once you receive your aligners you can begin the process straight away. You may need to have attachments placed on the surface of your teeth so that the aligners can fit securely in place. The aligners themselves are easy to remove and replace once you become accustomed to the procedure.
You will receive the full set of aligners as well as a handy case to put your aligners in safely and hygienically when you take them out of your mouth. Each aligner is numbered so that you know which order they need to be worn in. The aligner will work for approximately two weeks after which it will be unable to move your teeth any longer and you need to move on to the next aligner in the series. You may be able to straighten your teeth in as little as 6 months or it may take 12 to 18 months for more complex orthodontic issues.