Many people have slightly crooked teeth which is not serious enough to warrant orthodontic teeth straightening with fixed metal braces. Temporary aligners may be an option for minor straightening issues but these can often take months and involve all the discomfort of wearing a brace. One other alternative is to have a set of porcelain veneers designed and manufactured to eliminate the uneven teeth.

Modern veneer technology means that by using digital x-rays and computer guided machinery, veneers can be made and fitted in a single visit to the dentist completely changing the appearance of your teeth in an afternoon. This has a significant advantage over the months it may take with orthodontic aligners. It also has the advantage of restoring the colour of your teeth as veneers can be chosen to have a whitening effect on your teeth.

Porcelain is incredibly strong which adds a dimension of protection to your teeth and also has a slightly translucent appearance similar to that of tooth enamel for added realism. Veneers are fixed in place using a resin bonding that is also tooth coloured. A whole arc of porcelain veneers can completely transform the appearance of crooked, worn or discoloured teeth. Modern veneers are also designed to be incredibly thin so that they require little or no enamel removal prior to fixing.

Porcelain veneers are available from most Central London dentists and vary in price according to the extent of treatment and nature of materials used. Ask about veneers at your next appointment and see what they could do for your teeth.

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.

There is no question that children with crooked teeth should have teeth straightening done as quickly as possible. Aside from concerns about appearance, crooked teeth are impossible to keep clean. Eventually, this can lead to all kinds of dental and health problems later on in life. Today, dentists in the City of London offer a number of methods that can be used to straighten teeth.

As may be expected, you can obtain traditional braces and retainers. While this may be the cheapest method, there are also some other types of appliances that are more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. You may even be surprised to find that the price difference is not as severe as it used to be.

Today, there are a number of variants to traditional braces that can be used for teeth straightening. Among other things, you might be interested in invisible braces, as well as ones that are placed on the back of the teeth. While these braces cannot be seen, they will still need to be adjusted by your dentist as your teeth move into their correct alignment.

On the other hand, there are also invisible retainers that make the whole process of straightening teeth painless and effortless. You may even be able to have a retainer that can be removed while you are eating. At the same time, most people will not even know that you are wearing a retainer to correct dental misalignments.

For the most part, teeth straightening procedures still rely on appliances that use gradual and steady pressure to move teeth into their optimal alignment. Fortunately, the braces and retainers used today are not always silver colored, or difficult to clean. Without a question, the use of plastics and resins has created a revolution in the way braces are made and worn. Today, if you have crooked teeth, there is no reason to suffer with them, or the long term consequences.

There are currently many different ways available to straighten teeth. Depending on your needs, and the extent of misalignment of your teeth, some methods work better than others. Your City of London dentist will evaluate your teeth and perform a complete oral examination, dental X-rays, and study models, in order to determine how to go about straightening your teeth. Depending on which teeth are to be straightened and whether there is crowding or spaces, your dentist will either use orthodontic brackets and wires or perhaps offer you the Invisalign® system. If only your front teeth need to be straightened your City of London dentist may recommend the Inman® aligner. These braces and appliances take different amounts of time to achieve their goals. Your dentist will tell you all of the advantages and disadvantages of different teeth straightening procedures, along with their cost and approximate length of time to complete their goals. Following treatment, a retainer may need to be worn to stabilize your teeth in their new position. This will also allow the surrounding oral bone to remodel itself and tighten around your teeth.

The London Dental Clinic offers the Invisalign® system to straighten your teeth. This is achieved using a sequential series of clear plastic teeth aligners fabricated using a special computer, Invisalign® is successful, as well as being almost unnoticeable. The Invisalign® system offers comfortable tooth movement more quickly than full traditional orthodontics. It usually takes a year to complete versus 2-3 years for normal braces. Invisalign® should not be used on very crowded teeth and partially formed teeth, and shouldn’t be considered a substitution for ordinary braces if and when they are required. Consult your London dentist for a consultation and to see if Invisalign® is right for your dental needs.

There are a variety of dental procedures that can be used to straighten crooked teeth. The more recent methods can fall within the scope of cosmetic dentistry. A more common method is Invisalign®. Invisalign® teeth straightening consist of a series of sequential clear plastic trays specifically designed for each individual’s teeth and smile. After visiting your London cosmetic dentist or orthodontist, impressions are taken of your mouth, and models are poured in the usual manner. Computerized design and mapping methods are then used to produce a series of trays for the patient. These aligners must be used as prescribed by your London dentist, who will place the first tray. The tray will seem like it does not fit. Be patient, they are designed to fit exactly into the teeth when the teeth are in their next position. The trays will be worn day and night for 2 weeks, only removing them to brush and floss, and to eat. Then the teeth will be allowed to rest, and then the next tray will be placed. The whole procedure takes about a year to complete. Invisalign® cannot be used on partially erupted teeth.

Visit your London Dental Clinic for a consultation about using orthodontics to straighten your teeth and improve your bite. In the past, adolescents and teenagers seemed to be the only patients with orthodontic braces. This trend has reached many adults in recent years. However, it is still good to have braces at a younger age, if at all possible. It is recommended that you should get an orthodontic consult for your children by age 7 years old if at all possible. Independent of age, orthodontic treatment will help to perfect your bite and your teeth’s ability to function properly and to align your teeth and offer a more cosmetic result. Straighter teeth can also help you to perform better oral hygiene.
You London dentist may feel you are a good candidate for braces, and may send you to an orthodontist. The orthodontist will perform a complete exam and work up specifically for your needs, and will then review the proposed treatment with you. Depending upon the extent of your treatment, your treatment may take between 1-3 years to complete. Since children and teens are still developing bone structure, their treatment may go more quickly than in an adult patient. However, this is dependent upon yours or your child’s specific situation.