A Better Smile With Straighter Teeth!

A Better Smile With Straighter Teeth!

How removable orthodontics can be a dental ‘game changer’ for our Ipswich patients.

Many problems that visibly affect the way that our teeth look can often be corrected with a one off procedure.

Dull looking teeth can be whitened with a tooth whitening treatment, or through the use of porcelain veneers in more severe cases. A broken tooth can be restored using a crown and even missing teeth can be replaced with dentures or dental implants. One problem which does take longer to correct though, is where the teeth are crooked or uneven.

Where only minor adjustment is needed, orthodontics such as the Quick Straight Teeth system, can often correct problems in between one and six months. However, for some patients, straightening their crooked teeth is likely to take a year or more in order for the treatment to be fully effective.

The problem with braces

One of the ‘problems’ of wearing traditional dental braces is, of course, that they are very visible and there can be no hiding from the fact that you are in the process of having your teeth straightened. Although modern braces are more refined than in the past, many do still use traditional wiring that is very visible. Newer generation cosmetic dental braces are an improvement, and may use a tooth coloured material to replace the widely used metal wiring and brackets. This is less visible, though can often be seen when in close proximity to the wearer.

Even these latter types of braces are not without their drawbacks though. Any system that uses wires and brackets runs a risk of causing food to become trapped in them, potentially leading to problems like tooth decay and gum disease. Cleaning your teeth well when wearing them is very important.

The ‘no wires’ alternative

Because dental braces may have to be worn in excess of a year, it is important for the patient that these will cause the least inconvenience possible, as well as being effective at straightening the teeth. Whilst some cosmetic braces achieve some of these aims, they can fail to some degree, in areas such as visibility and comfort. With this in mind, we recommend that patients of the Foxhall Dental Practice who are considering having their teeth straightened, take a look at the Invisalign system, at least so that they know about all of the options available.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign orthodontics offer a new experience for people wanting to have straighter teeth. Gone are the wires and brackets that are usually present in dental braces, and along with these go the slightly increased risk of oral health issues associated with them. In addition to this, Invisalign orthodontics are usually both more comfortable and convenient for those who wear them.

To look at a set of Invisalign; if you were not told what they were, you may not even identify them as being braces. They look entirely different to traditional braces and are made from a medical quality clear plastic and are made to fit each individual patient through the use of impressions taken of their teeth. From these impressions, a series of transparent ‘trays’ are made that fit directly over the wearer’s teeth. Each of these trays are worn for a few weeks, before being replaced by the next tray in the series. The trays work by moving the uneven teeth a little and once the last tray has been worn, your teeth should be straight and even!

The advantages

The most obvious advantage to the patient is that Invisalign is an almost invisible tooth straightening method. The fineness of the material used and its transparency means that most people will not even be aware that you are wearing them. Despite this, they are strong and durable, although, naturally, care should be taken not to tread on them etc when not being worn. This is not the only benefit to this revolutionary method. Because there are no wires involved, and because they are created for each patient individually, they offer a level of comfort that most dental braces simply do not. Given that they may need to be worn for a year or longer, this is often an important factor in the decision of those considering orthodontic treatment.

The gift that keeps on giving

There is one more benefit which makes Invisalign perhaps one of the the best options for straightening teeth. Unlike other braces, Invisalign can be removed by the patient and this is done just before you eat a meal, meaning that you aren’t restricted in what you are able to eat. You just remove the trays before eating and replace them afterwards. Do remember to clean both your teeth and the tray before returning it to your mouth because if you don’t do this, small food particles may become trapped, leading to decay and gum problems.  You should also remove them when you clean your teeth.

You may be tempted to remove the trays at other times too but the general advice of our Ipswich orthodontists is that you should keep this to an absolute minimum. Removing them for too long or too often will slow down the corrective process.

Further guidance and advice about getting the best from this treatment is available at the Foxhall Dental Practice. We are always happy to discuss your needs with you and find out if you are a suitable candidate for this, or other, orthodontic treatment. For a very brief glimpse of what Invisalign look like, there is a short introductory video on our teeth straightening page or for a more in depth discussion, you can arrange a free consultation by calling our Ipswich practice on 01473 258396.