An introduction to Invisalign

It can be very difficult if you are an adult who has misaligned teeth. You may be concerned about how people judge you or that your smile negatively impacts your daily life.

But you may also have concerns that undertaking orthodontic treatment will draw undue attention to your smile or that it may even be expensive or excessively uncomfortable. Luckily, in modern orthodontic care, there is a way for you to get the smile you want without needing to wear a fitted metal brace, and this option is an invisible or clear aligner.

As our name suggests, we at Clear Braces Direct offer our clients clear or invisible braces, specifically Invisalign London. This aligner has changed the face of adult orthodontic care and can help you to get the straighter smile that you want in as little as 3 months. Great stuff!

If you have never heard of invisible aligners like Invisalign London, then you may want to know more before pursuing this treatment option. Here, our team offers a brief introductory guide to this treatment to help you decide whether it is right for you.

What are invisible aligners?

Invisalign London is visually similar to a mouthguard, and it is made from clear plastic. Unlike braces, which require adjustments or tightening to move your teeth, the aligners work by gradually applying pressure to your teeth in order to move them. It does this due to the shape of each aligner in the set. A typical set of invisible aligners will contain between 12 and 14 aligners, so when you change each aligner (every two weeks on average), the unique shape will move your teeth.

How do they work?

As mentioned earlier, invisible aligners move your teeth due to the shape of each aligner in the series. How do they do this? During your initial consultation with our team, we will use an intraoral scanner to take a clear image of the position of your teeth. Using computer software, we will then move this digital image into the final desired shape. From this, a set of aligners will be printed to match each step needed. Once they are applied to your teeth, the aligners should move your teeth as predicted in the computer-generated simulation.

Treatment time

Many people believe that because invisible aligners do not need to be adjusted or tightened that they will take longer. However, as the majority of patients who undergo this treatment have a mild to moderate case of dental misalignment, the average treatment time is between 3 and 6 months. But our team will be able to offer a more personalised breakdown of your treatment timeline.

Daily care

The daily care of invisible aligners is easy. You need to wear them for a minimum of 22 hours per day or as recommended by our team. To keep them clean, simply rinse them under a cold water tap. Alternatively, you can use a denture soak or one of the branded washes that will help keep the aligners clean and minty fresh.

Results

The end result of using invisible aligners will be no different to the results obtained using a standard brace. Your teeth will be straighter and healthier. However, you will need to wear a retainer to ensure that your teeth stay in the correct positions and do not revert.