Misaligned teeth can really spoil the appearance of a smile. Even if the teeth are in really good condition, being clean and white, if they are not straight it is instantly noticeable. When it comes to your teeth, to look their best, everything has to be right. Now, you can obviously clean your teeth to keep them clean and white, and even use whitening treatment to improve the colour, but what can you do if the teeth are not straight? The answer is to use orthodontic straightening treatments, commonly known as braces.

For many years, the world of orthodontics was dominated by the fixed metal, or train track brace. This is a tried and tested brace proven to be very effective. However, it did have some fairly obvious drawbacks. Firstly, the brace had a significant aesthetic impact, with its prominent metal brackets and wires, you could spot a fixed metal brace from a mile away. They also were uncomfortable, frequently causing patients irritation and discomfort, and all of this could last as long as three years.

Thankfully, over the last decade there has been an explosion in the way orthodontic treatments have been designed. Nowadays, a lot more attention is focused on making the treatment work for the patient and not the other way round. Braces such as Invisalign, Inman and the Six Month Smile are discreet, fast acting and use a lot less force to move the teeth into the desired position. For every patient there is now a brace to suit them and their needs. For a full range of the treatments available, make an appointment with your London dentist. They will be able to make an assessment about the condition of your teeth and their alignment and tell you which brace system will work best for you.

The Invisalign aligner is a brace by any other name, and it works like a conventional brace says a City of London dentist. The innovation is that it works in a modern way, and one of its really best advantages is that it can be removed at any time and simply replaced back in position afterwards. Your dentist will consult with a computer programmer and an orthodontist during the process, which is all rather 21st century and ingenious. From a series of X-rays and digital photos, which are scanned into the program, the orthodontist will get all the pressure measurements and positions of the teeth involved. These are all built into a clear plastic retainer which is like a gum shield and which is worn in the same way.  The dentist also gets a 3D film made as a CGI that allows you to see the way the teeth will be pulled into position to straighten them. The end of the film will give you an image of the end result, and you can track the progress every two weeks when the braces are changed. It can be removed by the client at any time to clean their teeth or for eating in more comfort, as long as its worn for at least 20 hours a day, no harm is done to the program so use this advantage wisely.

There are many factors that can affect the appearance of the teeth. One of the most prominent, however, is their alignment. Crooked, uneven or misaligned teeth can really spoil the appearance of the smile, even if the teeth are in otherwise great condition. This is why so many patients, especially amongst the young, opt to try and straighten the teeth using orthodontic braces.

Braces are undeniably effective but they also come with a number of drawbacks. Perhaps most obviously is the effect they have on the aesthetic appearance. Fixed metal braces are not the most pleasant things to look at, especially when the person is eating. Food gets caught in the braces and it can even make eating a messy experience. They can also make teeth very difficult to clean resulting in uneven colouration when they are removed.

Braces also need to be worn for a very long time to be effective, in some cases up to three years. This can be a very big sacrifice just to have straighter teeth. Thankfully, modern dentistry has come up with a several solutions to the problems posed by braces. New orthodontic straighteners such as the Inman aligner and Invisalign can achieve the same results as braces without the need for fixed metal brackets and wires. They are also much faster acting than traditional braces.

It is also possible to create the appearance of straighter teeth simply by using composite bonding to even out teeth that are crooked or uneven. The same can be achieved with porcelain veneers. To find out more about all the options for straighter teeth ask your Central London dentist at your next appointment.

When you think of the perfect smile you think of healthy looking, pink gummed, white teeth all in a straight line. Looking after your teeth and gums with oral hygiene will keep the gums pink and the teeth white but there is little you can do naturally to ensure the teeth are straight. For the many patients who naturally have crooked or misaligned teeth, it can often be very frustrating that they cannot have the smile they really want. This is why so many patients turn to orthodontic treatment such as braces to straighten the teeth.

The traditional fixed metal braces are very effective but they also have a number of drawbacks. These include: the length of treatment, the aesthetic impact of the braces and the comfort issue. However, patients were often without much choice as they were few other effective options. That was until about 10 years ago when people really started to focus on improving orthodontic treatment and addressing some of these concerns.

One of the key breakthroughs made was called Invisalign. These were a series of clear, one millimetre thick plastic braces that could not only straighten teeth just as effectively as metal braces but could do it six months faster and with minimal visual impact. Each Invisalign retainer is worn for about three weeks before being replaced by another. Each time, small adjustments gradually manoeuvre the teeth into a straighter, more desirable position. In total, there are between twenty and thirty retainers need for the average treatment meaning that it will usually take around 18 months.

The other major benefit of the Invisalign system from a City of London dentist is that the braces are completely removable. This makes cleaning the teeth far easier and lessens the chances of discolouration during orthodontic treatment.

In the past, straightening teeth almost inevitably meant having to wear the traditional style metal fixed braces, commonly known as train track braces. While effective, these braces also had several very noticeable drawbacks. Not only were they not the most pleasant to look at, but they also posed problems when it came to teeth cleaning. Regular tightening sessions made the braces painful and the metal could also cause irritation to the soft tissue lining of the cheek. However, by far and away the most common complaint was that the length of treatment was often excessive. In some cases, patients had to wear the braces for up to three years, which is a substantial period of time.

However, in recent years there have been major developments in the field of orthodontic teeth straightening. New braces have come on to the market that have addressed all of these old issues and more. Braces such as the Inman aligner for example, offer a more discreet straightening experience with the incredible bonus being the treatment time is only a quarter of the average time with fixed metal braces.

Other braces such as the Six Month Smile offer similar incredibly fast straightening. Braces such as the Damon system and Invisalign are not quite as speedy in the straightening stakes but they still beat the traditional braces by a comfortable six months. They also have other benefits in terms of incredible discretion and comfort. You can learn more about all these orthodontic devices and more at your next appointment with a City of London dentist.

Misaligned teeth are very common and can really spoil the appearance of the smile. This can lead to self-confidence and self-esteem issues if not corrected. As you are probably aware, the treatment for misaligned or crooked teeth involves using dental braces. However, you probably aren’t aware of the many different types of orthodontic braces there are on the market and how each has its own very distinct advantage.

For many years, the only treatment option that was really available was the traditional train-track fixed metal braces. These were effective but let’s be honest, they weren’t the most attractive things to look at and treatment time could be as long as three years, which is quite a sacrifice. Modern orthodontic treatments have aimed to reduce this treatment time as well as addressing the aesthetic issues that also came with conventional braces.

Straighteners such as the Inman aligner and Invisalign have been specifically designed to be far more discreet than fixed metal braces. Particularly the Invisalign treatment, which involves a series of clear plastic retainers that are virtually invisible in the mouth. The Inman aligner offers treatment times up to three quarters shorter than the average treatment with fixed braces.

Other modern braces such as Six Month Smile and Damon aim to provide a more comfortable treatment free of the painful tightening appointments that were common with train track braces. The Damon brace’s revolutionary self-ligating wires mean that fewer appointments are needed which is far more convenient. You can find out more about the various orthodontic treatments by asking a Central London dentist at your next check up.

Having straight teeth is really important for having a great looking smile. However, not everyone is born with naturally straight and healthy looking teeth but there are options for those of us who have to rely on orthodontic treatment. Braces have been around for many years but in the last ten or so there has been a dramatic improvement in brace technology with new techniques being devised to offer more effective treatment.

One of the most impressive of these new orthodontic devices is the Inman aligner. The main reason behind the success of the Inman is the speed of treatment. As opposed to traditional braces which aim to straighten teeth somewhere between two and three years. The Inman aligner can straighten teeth in as little as six months, with noticeable results being available sometimes after only six to ten weeks. This is an incredible improvement on some more traditional methods.

It has to be said that the Inman aligner is only really suitable for patients with minor straightening needs as any kind of significant rotation or leaning may require other treatment prior to using the Inman aligner, but for those just wishing to put the finishing touches to a smile it is the perfect tool. This could include brides-to-be wanting to have the perfect smile before the wedding, or even before starting a new job. Whatever the reason, the Inman aligner could make you a lot more comfortable with your smile.

It works by using the power of a coiled spring, situated on the tongue side of the teeth. This forces the lateral teeth out creating room for the central teeth to move into and straighten against a bar. It is completely removable and very discreet making it more popular with patients at Central London dentists.

One of the major drawbacks with wearing braces is the visual impact it can have on the teeth and the smile. The metal wires and brackets are quite unattractive despite their functional ability to produce great looking teeth. Wearing these ugly braces, especially in the difficult and image conscious teenage years can be very difficult and lead to a loss of self-esteem and in some cases even bullying. But there is now solution to this dilemma that straightens teeth without a significant aesthetic loss to the teeth.

Invisalign braces are clear plastic braces that are almost impossible to see when in the mouth. Made from plastic about one millimetre thick, they contain no wires or any other metal parts. They are specially designed for the individual’s teeth and capable of producing results in three quarters of the time of traditional fixed metal braces.

The system works by replacing the retainer every two to three weeks with a new one designed with slight adjustments. This gradually moves the teeth into the desired position through the course of the treatment. About twenty-five retainers are needed on average to achieve the best results.

The other major advantage of Invisalign braces is that they are completely removable. This means they can be taken out for teeth cleaning and for sports and other social activities. As long as they are worn for roughly twenty hours each day they will still produce the desired effect. The cleaning aspect of Invisalign is particularly important as conventional braces often leave marks when removed because the brackets have covered certain areas when the rest of the tooth has been exposed. With Invisalign you can clean all parts of the teeth right the way through treatment. Ask a London dentist for more information.

Everybody is familiar with braces, as they have become more and more prevalent over the last two decades. More young people are now able to benefit from the straightening effects of braces and have the beautiful smile that they want.

Braces are needed for a number of different reasons. Teeth are often overcrowded due to a lack of room in the dental arc, which causes the teeth to be forced together. This makes the teeth rotate and move out of alignment. This can often spoil the appearance of a smile, even if the teeth are clean and in good condition. The reverse is also true, that the teeth have too much room between them causing unsightly spaces between the teeth. All alignment issues can cause disruptions to the bite and profile of the patient, which can be both painful and have long-term consequences for facial structure.

There are many different types of brace available on the market, each with its own distinct advantage and selling point. In fact, over the last fifteen years or so, there has been an incredible improvement in brace technology and there are now brace treatments available that offer incredibly fast results, discreet straightening and also treatment with a greater degree of comfort.

For example, the Inman aligner and Six Month Smile braces can straighten teeth up to three quarters faster than regular braces and with equally stunning results. Invisalign braces are made of clear plastic and offer incredibly discreet teeth straightening, which is perfect for patients who don’t want to sacrifice their appearance but still want straighter teeth. To find out more about the variety of braces and possible benefits for your or your child’s teeth, make an appointment to discuss treatment with a London dentist. They will run through all the brace options available to you and offer advice on which may be the most suitable.

There are many different types of braces and teeth aligners on the market today, each offering a different advantage over the other orthodontic straighteners. But there is one brace that offers all round treatment that is both effective and fast.

Six Month Smile braces were developed in the US about a decade ago and are currently sweeping the UK, rapidly becoming the treatment of choice for many patients and dentists. The main advantages they offer to patients are that treatment takes on average about six months (hence the clever name), around 75 per cent shorter than most conventional treatments. The wires and brackets used in Six Month braces are also smaller and tooth coloured so they are much more discreet than most other traditional braces and even most modern ones.

Six Month Smile braces also aim to straighten the teeth gently without the need for painful tightening appointments and large amounts of discomfort, which can be one of the main drawbacks of wearing braces. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, they cost about half the price of other orthodontic treatment, which is obviously a huge advantage especially when you are not losing any effectiveness of treatment.

Patients need braces for many different alignment reasons. It could be due to overcrowding or even too much space between the teeth in the dental arc. There are also a number of bite issues that need to be corrected with straightening. The Six Month Smile braces work by attaching small and discreet brackets to the teeth and attaching these with a thin wire. This wire gradually moves the teeth into the desired, straighter position. Not all patients are suitable for Six Month Smile treatment, so make an appointment with a City of London dentist to see if you could benefit from these incredible new braces.