There has been a lot of coverage in the media in recent years about Invisalign invisible braces. They are the first really effective and invisible orthodontic straightening devices capable of achieving similar results to fixed metal braces but how do they really compare to the more traditional brace?

Invisalign braces were introduced in 1999 by Align technologies in the US and quickly caused a stir because of their ability to straighten teeth without the need for unattractive metal braces. Consisting of a series of one-millimetre thick clear plastic braces worn consecutively, the treatment aims to straighten teeth by making small adjustments in each new brace. Treatment usually lasts between a year and eighteen months, on average six months shorter than with conventional metal braces.

The braces are made using the latest digital technology allowing them to be very accurate so that they provide a comfortable fit over the teeth. Each new brace is worn for a period of between two to three weeks before being replaced. One of the major advantages of the Invisalign braces over fixed metal braces is that they are completely removable. This means they can be taken out for effective teeth cleaning and for eating. These are two of the most common complaints against fixed metal braces and the Invisalign addresses both of them.

London dentists offer Invisalign braces as an alternative to fixed metal braces for patients unwilling to make the sacrifice of up to two years of wires and brackets. Invisailgn braces are just as strong and powerful as fixed braces but may cost a little more. However, many patients see the added advantages of the Invisalign treatment as worth the extra cost.

The Inman aligner is a revolutionary orthodontic straightening device that has the incredible advantage of being able to straighten teeth in only six to sixteen weeks. Considering that some conventional braces can take up to two years of treatment to gain results, this really is a leap forward in straightening technology.

The Inman aligner also has other advantages over more traditional braces as it is completely removable. This means it can be taken out to clean teeth effectively and also for meal times meaning no food is off limits. More mature patients can also remove the aligner for important occasions such as an interview or presentation at work.

The Inman aligner is especially suited for patients with mild to moderate misalignment issues who previously may have resorted to veneers. This would have involved irreversible enamel removal that is not necessary with the Inman aligner. However, for patients with existing veneers or crowns, the Inman aligner can be used in conjunction with these treatments.

With some orthodontic treatments it is necessary to have regular uncomfortable tightening sessions with the dentist. This is not so with the Inman aligner, which only requires short fifteen minute check up appointments, with no tightening, every five weeks. The aligner works by creating room for the front teeth by moving the lateral teeth out using the power of a coiled spring. A metal bar along the front of the teeth (the only visible part of the brace when fixed in the mouth) straightens the front teeth discreetly and quickly.

The Inman aligner is the fastest acting brace on the market and since its introduction to this country has been very popular with teenagers and adults alike wishing to put the finishing touches to their smiles. Central London dentists are offering the Inman aligner for patients wishing to create the perfect smile without the hassle and irritation of traditional metal braces

For patients who want straight teeth but find the idea of metal braces too much to commit to, invisible braces can provide the sacrifice-free straightening they have been looking for. Invisalign braces were introduced in 1999 by Align technologies and represented the first really effective clear plastic brace.

The Invisalign braces are designed to fit comfortably over the individual’s teeth and to apply gentle forces to gradually reposition the teeth into the desired position. Invisalign braces are fast becoming the leading brand of orthodontic straightening device because of the level of discretion they offer and the increased comfort against metal braces.

The retainers are made from one millimetre clear plastic manufactured using the help of computer-guided technology. A series of over twenty retainers are used in all, each being worn for a period of roughly two weeks, making small adjustments of 0.25 millimetres to 0.33 millimetres to the position of the teeth. The aligners are completely removable which is ideal for effective teeth cleaning and meal times but they should be worn for at least 20 hours a day in order to reposition the teeth successfully.

The Invisalign treatment has several clear advantages over more conventional orthodontic methods but it must be pointed out that it is not suitable for all patients. For some cases of severe overcrowding and overly rotated teeth, patients may require some initial treatment before the Invisalign treatment is suitable. London dentists will be able to assess your teeth to determine if the Invisalign treatment could work for you. A successful assessment means you can begin to straighten your teeth without the discomfort of metal wires and with complete discretion.

Braces, also known as dental braces or orthodontic braces, are devices made from a combination of metal, plastic and ceramic used to align teeth for cosmetic and dental health purposes. They are commonly used to correct malocclusions, which include all bite misalignments, as well as crooked or overcrowded teeth.

Having existed in one form or another for over a hundred years, braces aim to use the force applied by wires and plastic retainers to gradually manipulate teeth into a more attractive position. They have become increasingly common over the last twenty years with more and more patients benefiting form the increasingly improved and more affordable treatment.

Most patients of a certain age will be very familiar with fixed metal ‘train-track’ braces which were very popular in the 1990s and first years of the new millennium but brace technology is now able to offer less intrusive and more aesthetically pleasing alternatives. Patients now have the choice of clear plastic invisible braces called Invisalign, or incredibly fast-acting braces such as the Inman aligner or Six Month Smile treatment, which aim to straighten teeth up to 75 per cent faster.

Almost all braces involve a certain amount of discomfort when initially fitted that normally passes after the first few days, but some treatments do involve uncomfortable tightening on a regular basis. Other new braces like the Damon system aim to limit the discomfort to the patient by using revolutionary self-ligating wires that require no tightening.

London dentists can offer each individual patient the most suitable treatment depending on their individual requirements and preferences. Brace technology has come a long way since the first braces were used in the 1880s and can now offer straighter teeth with the minimum fuss, discomfort and cost to the patient.

A crooked or uneven smile can be a source of great embarrassment for many people. It can be the root cause of low self-confidence and self-esteem but there is no need to suffer any longer. Orthodontic teeth straightening is not the same process it was twenty or even ten years ago and a whole new range of more effective and less intrusive products are now widely available to give you the smile you have always wanted.

Leading the new wave of advanced orthodontic straightening is the Six Month Smile treatment. Originating and manufactured in the US, Six Month Smile braces offer straightening up to 75 per cent faster than other conventional braces and by utilising tooth coloured wires and smaller brackets, they are as discreet as they are fast-acting.

Six Month braces are suitable for most crowding, spacing or bite problems occurring in the front teeth of the mouth. Patients opting for the Six Month treatment will first undergo a smile assessment with a City of London dentist to ascertain exactly what they desire from their treatment plan. The smile assessment usually involves digital x-rays and dental examinations to gain an understanding of exactly how much movement will be possible with the braces.

Once fitted, the Six Month braces may cause some initial discomfort but this is common to all orthodontic straightening devices and is no cause for concern. Patients will require short ten minutes appointments every four to five weeks to check progress and make any necessary alterations to the brace.

Wearing a brace can be a big decision for people who may have serious reservations about the visual impact. The discreet and incredibly fast treatment offered by Six Month Smile braces represents a genuine solution for these patients and many others desiring the perfect smile.

Teeth straightening technology has advanced in huge strides over the last twenty years. A few decades ago, patients would have been limited to one sort of metal brace, more than likely of the iconic ‘train-track’ variety, to straighten their teeth. These uncomfortable and let’s face it, ugly, metal brackets were effective but came with the obvious drawbacks. It was also true that in most cases braces were fitted to patients during the teenage years which is probably the last time you would want to stand out from the crowd.

Thankfully, since then the improvements in technology have meant that there has been an explosion in the amount of choices available to patients. Whatever your lifestyle there will be a brace that will best suit you. One of the newest braces to hit the market is the Six-Month Smile treatment. By correcting only teeth that are visible when smiling the focussed approach of Six-Month Smile can straighten teeth in, that’s right, only six-months. This is a reduction in treatment time of up to 70 per cent on other more conventional treatments.

Six-Month Smile works by using special nickel-titanium alloy wires to reposition teeth, focusing on the teeth that show at the front. The wires are tooth coloured, which means they are very discreet and only visible when up close to the patient. Six-Month Smile treatments are also especially designed to reduce discomfort, which as any brace wearer can tell you, is a major factor when they are initially fitted and tightened.

Six-Month Smile braces are mostly suitable for patients with minor overcrowding issues. Any serious overcrowding or alignment problems may need to be corrected with other braces before the Six-Month Smile brace can be used to add the finishing aesthetic touches. They are perfect for patients wishing to create a perfect smile in a discreet and comfortable way. Ask a London dentist about the Six-Month Smile braces and you could have the straight teeth you have always wanted.

For most patients who are told they need braces the major factor is not the discomfort or their unseemly appearance, it is the length of treatment. With some conventional braces treatment times can run from months into years. Fortunately, the advances in dental technology have brought with them new and improved methods of teeth straightening.

One of the latest and most appealing braces on the market is the Inman aligner. As an alternative to metal braces it clearly has the edge in terms of discretion and reduced treatment times.

By using the power of a coiled spring hidden on the tongue side of the teeth, the Inman aligner pushes the lateral teeth out creating room for the overcrowded front teeth. These are simultaneously pushed forward and aligned with a retainer that runs along the front of the teeth. This metal retainer bar is the only aspect of the brace that is visible to other people.

The Inman aligner begins to show results in an incredible six to sixteen weeks. Whole treatments rarely last longer than six months in total, which is a reduction in treatment time on average of 75 per cent against other metal braces and plastic retainers.

When initially fitted the Inman aligner may cause some mild discomfort as the teeth get accustomed to the new appliance. This is rarely ever more than a mild discomfort and usually passes within the first week. Other than this initial discomfort, the Inman treatment is relatively painless.

The Inman aligner is the perfect treatment for patients seeking to resolve minor overcrowding issues. For patients with more serious straightening needs a dentist may need to carry out some prior work to make the aligner effective. Inman is particularly suited to more mature patients because of its discreet nature and speed of treatment. It also has the added bonus of being completely removable for important business and social occasions. If you are suffering from overcrowding issues but can’t face lengthy treatment with traditional braces, ask a City of London dentist about the benefits of the Inman aligner.

Orthodontic treatment is most effective when patients are in their teenage years. This is the time when, usually, all of the baby teeth will have been replaced with permanent teeth yet the teeth and jaw are still developing. The teenage years also happen to be the most important years of emotional development. For many teenagers, wearing a metal brace can make them stand out from the crowd at precisely the wrong time. For those patients who wear a brace later in life, the stigma of braces being for younger people can be very embarrassing. However, there is an alternative for patients who still want to have straight teeth but don’t want to wear unseemly metal braces.

Introduced by Align technologies in 1999, Invisalign braces are clear plastic retainers that fit over the patients teeth and move them into the desired position. Almost completely invisible unless standing very close to the patient, Invisalign braces also have the advantage of being completely removable, so can be taken out for important business or social occasions.

Clear plastic braces had existed before but had been far less effective than Invisalign retainers and many patients still opted for the fixed metal braces. Made form one millimetre thick clear plastic, Invisalign retainers utilise the latest in three-dimensional computer technology to achieve incredible degrees of accuracy. A series of about twenty retainers will be used throughout the treatment, each with a small adjustment and worn for about two to three weeks. The average treatment time is 18 months but because of the complete level of discretion and comfort, many patients do not find the length of treatment to be an issue.

As the cost of Invisalign retainers becomes more and more affordable with the advances in technology they are increasingly becoming the brace of choice for patients and dentist alike. If you have always wanted straight teeth but could never face the prospect of a mouth full of metal, or if you simply don’t want to have your braces noticed, ask a Central London dentist about Invisalign braces.

Over the years, the stigma attached to braces has gradually been worn away. There are a number of reasons why this has happened. Firstly, a general change in prevailing attitude has meant it is now more important than ever to have straight teeth. Secondly, improvements in technology have meant that braces are more affordable to all patients and are no longer prohibitively expensive. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the technological improvements have meant that braces are no longer the large unsightly metal brackets of the past. All sorts of new developments have seen the introduction of more comfortable and less visually intrusive braces.

The first significant change was the introduction of effective invisible, or clear plastic braces. In 1999 Align technologies introduced their Invisalign range which for the first time made invisible braces an effective alternative. Initially expensive, the cost of Invisalign treatment has come down in the last few years and is now an option available for all.

Although the most discreet, the Invisalign system is quite a lengthy one. Other braces on the market now offer incredibly rapid straightening. Both the Six-Month Smile and Inman braces offer visible straightening results in less than six-months, an astonishing reduction in treatment time of 75 per cent on more conventional braces. More suitable for smaller overcrowding issues, threes braces are perfect for more mature patients wanting to put the finishing touches to a beautiful smile.

Even the old metal brace has had an overhaul. Damon braces are similar in style to the old train-track braces but utilise clear plastic and ceramic brackets to offer a more discreet treatment. Also, by using their revolutionary sliding mechanism there is no need for painful regular tightening.

Whatever your straightening needs, there is a brace that is best suited for your teeth. Whether it be a complete straightening procedure or just moving that last tooth into position, a City of London dentist will be able to advise you on the most suitable brace for you.

For patients who require their teeth straightened there are now far more options than there ever were previously. Twenty years ago it would have been ugly and uncomfortable metal braces or nothing at all. Metal braces worked, but having to have a mouthful of metal brackets and wires for months on end was often too much for some patients. It was also unfortunate that braces are for the most part fitted when patients are in their difficult and emotionally sensitive teenage years.

Thankfully, advances in technology means that there are now several alternatives to metal braces. Whether it is discretion or speed that you desire there will now be a brace to fit around your lifestyle and not the other way round.

One of the latest straightening methods on the market is the Six-Month smile treatment. By focussing solely on the teeth that can be seen when smiling, Six-Month smile braces are able to achieve incredibly fast results. They aim to completely straighten teeth in, that’s right, just six-months. This is a reduction of up to 75 per cent on other forms of straightening.

By using special nickel-titanium wires, overcrowding issues can be solved by repositioning teeth at the front into more natural places. The wire is usually tooth coloured meaning that the Six-Month smile brace is also very discreet. They are also said to cause far less discomfort to patients than most other orthodontic appliances. If you are suffering from overcrowding or feel that your teeth could do with that final bit of straightening to give you perfectly straight teeth, ask a Central London dentist about the Six-Month smile treatment and bring a beautiful smile back to your face.