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Author: Clear Braces Direct
What is the difference between Invisalign and braces?
When most people think of orthodontic treatment, they immediately think of a standard or stereotypical metal brace which is composed of metal brackets affixed to the teeth using an archwire as the connector.
In recent times, however, there has been a shift in the use of metal braces towards treating more extreme cases of dental misalignment. And for most people who have mild to moderate dental alignment issues, the use of clear or invisible aligners has become the standard practice.
But what are the differences between clear aligners and fitted orthodontic tools?
At Clear Braces Direct, our team (as our name suggests) specialises in clear or invisible treatment options to correct dental misalignments. One of our most prevailing methods which are proving exceedingly popular is Invisalign London. So if you want to have your teeth straightened without drawing attention to your smile, contact our team for more information about this treatment option.
So, back to the initial question that this article is aiming to answer: what are the differences between braces and Invisalign London? Read on to find out!
Fitting
Fitting a traditional brace will require your dentist to place dental cement onto your teeth, fix the brackets and then the archwire. With Invisalign London, all we need to do to properly fit the aligner is to take a 3D scan of your teeth using an intraoral scanner. This will then be used to create the aligners, and when they are sent either to your home or to the surgery, you can pop them right into your mouth.
And the fitting is done!
Treatment time
There is a wide range of differences between the treatment time for both aligners and traditional braces.
With adults using traditional braces, it can take up to 36 months to straighten your teeth. However, with an aligner, the average treatment time is between 3 to 6 months depending on the severity of the dental misalignment and the patients’ adherence to the treatment schedule.
Speciality
There is no way around it; traditional braces are certainly more versatile and can fix a wider range of dental issues, from issues with molar alignment and severe protrusions. Invisible aligners are better suited to issues occurring with the six teeth at the front of the mouth on the upper and lower jaw and providing they are mild to moderate issues, they can easily correct them.
Cleaning
The cleaning of a standard brace typically requires a hygienist, interdental brushes at home and a high-intensity electric toothbrush to remove the debris from under the wires and around brackets.
Aligners, however, are removable and simply require you to rinse them under a cold water tap and use a soft bristle toothbrush to remove debris.
Discretion
Many people now do not have an issue with wearing a standard fitted brace, as it has almost become a hipster icon among adult patients, but there is no way to avoid the fact that they are visually obvious.
Invisible aligners, however, are visually discreet and made from a clear plastic that can be slotted over your teeth without the use of an archwire or brackets, making them easier to conceal in daily life.
Misconceptions about Invisalign cost
Do you want to have straighter teeth without the fuss of braces?
But have you heard that the newest option for straightening teeth, an invisible aligner, is too expensive and is not worth the cost?
It may be the case that to straighten your teeth you will need a brace, as there may be some complications that an invisible aligner cannot fix, but if we give you the green light to use invisible aligners, we think you will be surprised about many aspects of this option.
At Clear Braces Direct, we are happy to specialise in invisible or clear aligners and, of course, we have heard from many of our newer patients about their concerns relating to Invisalign cost London. But don’t worry! We will be clear with you about prices from the start, so you will always be aware of what’s involved.
In this article, we look at some of the most common pieces of misinformation we hear relating to Invisalign cost London, to give you a clearer idea of what is involved in undertaking this treatment option. So enjoy!
It’s too expensive
It is one of the most common things that you may have heard about Invisalign cost London; it is too expensive for most people to afford.
Luckily, this is not true and when you enquire with our team about this treatment choice, we may be able to offer you a financing option to help you break down the final total into affordable, monthly repayments.
Unfortunately, as the cost of your treatment with this aligner is unique, we cannot specify how much your treatment will cost without a consultation, so you will need to discuss this with our team.
It’s not worth the money
Another complaint we have heard from the few critics of this invisible aligner is that it is not worth it.
But of course, we think it is worth it and all of our patients who have undertaken this aligner with us agree!
It is discreet, easy to use, can be carried out at home, is simple to clean and offers an accelerated treatment when compared to other orthodontic tools. But don’t take our word for it! If you want to determine for yourself if this aligner is worth it, call us today for a consultation.
The aligners don’t work
They are clear, they are newer and they seem trendy; surely they cannot work?
Of course, they work and our team has seen thousands of patients obtain the straighter smiles that they have always wanted using this aligner. But for this aligner to work, you will need to stick to the treatment schedule as laid out by our team, which will include wearing the aligners for 22 hours per day and keeping in regular contact with us relating to the treatment.
Braces are cheaper and better
It is often the case that many people think that braces are cheaper than clear aligners.
But what is often overlooked is what goes into the fitting, tightening and maintenance of metal braces; appointments with the orthodontist, the hygienist cleaning and of course, a longer time span. All of these things can lead to an expensive treatment option.
Indeed, invisible aligners can get you a straighter smile in less than 6 months, but a brace can take up to 3 years, which will entail a lot of maintenance checks and sessions, all of which add to the overall cost.
Invisalign; what it can treat
You may have heard that when it comes to dental realignment, using either an aligner or brace, each case is unique, and a dentist is the only person who will be able to choose the correct treatment option for you.
However, in recent years as technologies have advanced, more and more people have been given the green light to use a less invasive treatment known as an invisible aligner.
When you come to Clear Braces Direct, our team will be able to advise you on your suitability for clear aligners, especially Invisalign London as this is our speciality, alongside home-based treatment options, which has been more beneficial than ever to many people in recent times.
In this short guide, you will be walked through what Invisalign London is, what it can treat and when you may not be suitable for treatment with it.
What invisible aligners do
By now, you should have an idea of what an invisible aligner looks like visually; think of a sports guard made from clear plastic.
Invisalign London is made to fit over your teeth snuggly and, using a set of between 12 and 14 aligners, your teeth will gently be pushed into alignment to correct any issues that you may have in this area. Typically, treatment with an aligner lasts between 3 to 6 months.
What they can treat
As the technology surrounding invisible aligners has advanced, it has been possible for our team to treat more issues using this method.
Bite issues- if you have an overbite, an underbite or a crossbite, then you may be suitable to use an invisible aligner assuming that it is not deemed to be a severe bite issue.
Protrusions- protruding teeth are common and if you have one tooth that is poking out at an unusual angle, our team may be able to correct this using invisible aligners.
Crowding- are your teeth overcrowded and pushing against each other? If they are located at the front, then our team may be able to use invisible aligners to alleviate this issue and get your teeth straightened.
Spacing- large gaps in between your teeth can cause issues with confidence and can be resolved using an aligner if they are not too excessive.
What they cannot treat
Unfortunately, as you may have gathered by now, the word mild and moderate keeps appearing and when it comes to using invisible aligners, there are a few conditions that they can treat.
Jaw alignment issues: if your upper and lower jaws do not sit together correctly, creating an issue with an extreme over or underbite, then this cannot be corrected using an invisible aligner and will require something akin to a fitted brace.
Molar misalignment: if your molars on the upper and lower jaw do not fit together when you close your mouth, this cannot be corrected with an invisible aligner and will likely need a fitted brace.
Extreme misalignments: if you have a more complex set of misalignments, which may include a pick and mix of an overbite issue, crowding or spacing, then it is unlikely that you will be suitable for invisible aligners.
Misconceptions about getting straight teeth at home
Have you heard a story about invisible aligners gone wrong? Something along the lines of it was put into someone’s mouth and then their teeth failed to move as needed, or at all?
Such horror stories are not uncommon online. And, if you are looking into using invisible aligners to straighten your smile, this is not the kind of article you want to read.
Luckily, our team has produced the following article, which debunks some of these stories, to help you understand what is fact and what is fiction with invisible aligners like Invisalign.
At Clear Braces Direct, our speciality is invisible aligners like Invisalign, and we are always eager to offer our patients straight teeth at home London when possible. We know the truth about using Invisalign at home and can assuage any concerns that you may have about the process.
So, here, our team looks at some of the most common misconceptions about trying to get straight teeth at home London. So, enjoy!
It doesn’t work
Many patients have genuine concerns when it comes to moving their teeth, especially concerning moving them with Invisalign as they may have heard that the treatment simply doesn’t work and that you cannot achieve straight teeth at home London.
Invisible aligners have been in use for around 10 years and, in that time, they have achieved 99% effectiveness in the cases they have been used in. Ergo, we can promise you that they not only work, but they work well.
All at-home aligners are the same
No, they aren’t; the aligners we use, like Invisalign, have a great track record of straightening teeth and as they are custom-fitted in surgery using an intraoral scanner, they are one of the most effective aligners to use overall.
You are left to your own devices
No, you aren’t! When you come to Clear braces Direct, we will oversee your care when you are using Invisalign via the app, which will help us to stay in touch and offer advice as and when needed.
You certainly won’t be left on your own when using Invisalign with our team, so don’t worry!
The process is long-winded
One of the reasons many providers of invisible aligners began offering their patients at-home options was because it made very little difference to the process if it occurred at home or via dental surgery.
But no, the process is no more long-winded than it would be normally, and depending on the severity of your misalignment, you can expect the process to take between 3-6 months.
The results don’t last
There is a prevalent myth that if you get straighter teeth in your own home, once the aligners are off, your teeth will simply fall back into misalignment. Of course, this is not the case, or else our company would not still be operating!
When you have finished using Invisalign, you will need to wear a retainer for a while, to ensure that your teeth do not revert to their former positions. If you do not wear the retainer, you will not be able to maintain the results obtained from this treatment, but this will not be due to an issue with the aligner.
Invisalign chewies – a guide
When it comes to using any kind of new dental device, it is important to get as much help as possible if required.
And nowhere is this truer than in the field of adult orthodontics, especially when it comes to using invisible aligners. As these are somewhat new to this area, many people have concerns about using them effectively in their own homes and want as much guidance and help as they can get to ensure that their teeth are straightened and that they get the smile that they want.
Our team at Clear Braces Direct will always aim to offer our patients as much help as possible, especially relating to the use of Invisalign London. If during your time with us you have any queries or concerns about using this aligner, simply give our team a bell, and we will ensure that we get back to you promptly.
With the idea of using additional tools to enhance the effectiveness of using Invisalign London, in this article, we will be looking at and exploring the use of chewies; what are they, how are they used and how can they benefit the use of invisible aligners? Read on to find out!
What is tracking?
The use of chewies when it comes to Invisalign London revolves around tracking. Tracking is simply how well the aligners fit your teeth, and if they are tracking correctly, your teeth should move on schedule without issue.
But many people, especially those new to using invisible aligners, have concerns about placing their aligners correctly over their teeth, and this is where chewies come into play and can be a useful tool.
What are chewies?
Have you ever seen somebody wearing a dental retainer chewing on a pencil to get the retainer to fit better? In essence, chewies are the professional version of the pencil. They are made from a soft foam material, very similar to the materials used to make earbuds and are reusable.
They are designed to ensure that your aligners fit correctly and that there are no air bubbles between the aligner and your teeth, which can otherwise cause issues with tracking and may slow down the treatment.
Using chewies
Using chewies is a relatively straightforward procedure. You simply place the chewies between your jaws and bite down hard on them when you are putting an aligner in your mouth. Aim to use one chewy per day when fitting your aligners. Chewies are the most reliable when you have finished using one aligner and are moving on to the next one to ensure that it fits over your teeth correctly.
Aim to chew the chewie for several minutes until you feel confident that the aligner is fitted correctly.
When to contact our team
Unfortunately, there are some instances in which even using chewies cannot help with tracking, and this can be caused by poorly made aligners or issues with the wearing of aligners for the required time each day.
If you have issues with fitting your aligners correctly and you have tried this method to resolve it but it has not worked, please contact our team for an assessment.
Things to look out for when using Invisalign
When you have invested a lot of time and money into a new treatment, whether it is designed to remove wrinkles or straighten your teeth, it can be nothing short of a nightmare scenario when you realise that it is not working as predicted.
And unfortunately, there are many reasons why this can occur and in dental care, this is no exception; some people simply have issues when it comes to realigning their teeth.
It is also not a new phenomenon, as many people who have worn fitted braces have reported slowness relating to the teeth moving and with the use of invisible aligners becoming more common, this trend seems to be continuing.
At Clear Braces Direct, we will always aim to ensure that the treatments we provide to our patients get the results that they want; however, if when using Invisalign London, you notice that there is a problem with the aligner, please contact our team urgently, and we will seek to resolve the underlying issue.
But what are some of the signs that your invisible aligner treatment simply isn’t working? Here, our team discusses signs to look out for when using Invisalign London.
How invisible aligners work
Before we get into the science of why Invisalign London may not be working, it is important to have a brief rundown of how these aligners work.
They are designed to fit your mouth and this is done using an intraoral scan during the assessment with our team. Then a set of 3D printed aligners are created from this scan and are sent to either your home or our practice for you to begin wearing, for two weeks at a time. Each aligner has a slightly different shape and is designed to push your teeth into a different direction each time you place a newer aligner in your mouth, to get the straighter smile that you want.
So, what are some of the key signs that this simply isn’t working in practice?
The aligner is loose
When you place a new aligner in your mouth, a sign that there may be an issue is that it does not fit or is not tracking correctly is that it feels loose.
A newly fitted aligner should feel slightly tight over your teeth, as it is required to move them and a loose-fitting aligner is unlikely to be able to move anything. If your aligner feels loose when you place it in your mouth, please contact our team.
The aligner is unusually uncomfortable
In a similar vein, if you place an aligner in your mouth and it causes excessive levels of discomfort you should also seek guidance from our team. An aligner that is unusually tight is unlikely to move your teeth in any meaningful way and a remeasurement may need to be done.
Your teeth aren’t moving
It can be hard to determine if your teeth are moving when you are wearing a clear aligner. However, if you think after a few weeks of using your aligners that your teeth are not moving at all, then please contact our team for an assessment.
Misalignment is worsening
It is not unheard of in orthodontics for a misalignment to become worse before it gets better, but if you have concerns that a gap is growing or your teeth are becoming more misaligned, then we advise you to call our team for a check-up.
FAQs about Invisalign cost answered
Have some questions before investing in invisible aligners?
At Clear Braces Direct, our team always aims to be completely open with our patients about areas such as Invisalign cost London, how long the treatment will take and of course, if you are suitable for it.
Here, our team looks at 5 of the most common questions that we receive about Invisalign cost London, to help you decide if the treatment is right for you.
Is it expensive?
The key question many of our patients have about Invisalign cost London is relating to its price.
And it is easy to see why; many of those who use it are adults and are thus either paying for this treatment out of their own pocket, or they may be using financing options to assist them with the cost.
But it is tricky to say if your unique treatment with this aligner will be more expensive or not, as there are many variables that can impact the cost, which we will look at in a moment. For a better estimate of how much this treatment will cost you, please talk to our team.
What impacts the cost of the treatment?
A key factor that will impact the cost of this procedure is the severity of the misalignment or protrusion that is being corrected.
If you have a mild to moderate case of dental misalignment, then it is likely that you will only need the standard 12-14 aligners and that the treatment will be corrected in around 3-6 months. But for more extreme cases, it can take longer, meaning more intervention may be needed from our team, and thus the price will go up.
Can I use online aligners for less money?
You may have read online that you can opt for other online aligners for less expense, which typically involves a dental mould kit being sent to your home and then the aligners being made from this.
However, this can create its own set of problems; if you have the oversight of a dental team, then yes, the process will cost a bit more, but you can rest assured in the security that there will not be an issue with moulds being taken incorrectly or other complications.
Will I need to pay for replacement aligners?
At our practice, we know that sometimes, accidents happen or that you may simply misplace your aligners.
And so, we are happy to be able to offer our patients who are using invisible aligners with us security against this potential issue; for an additional fee each month, you can protect your dental investment. So, if you lose an aligner during the course of the treatment, you will not have to pay anything extra and a new one will be ordered for you promptly.
Should you lose an invisible aligner, we advise you to switch back to the previous aligner and not move on to the next one, as this can cause problems with the dental realignment process.
Is it worth it?
Many patients have concerns that when it comes to using invisible aligners, the treatment will not work and may just be an expensive waste of time.
However, many of our patients who have used this brand of invisible aligner have reported that they were impressed with the discretion that accompanied the aligners, alongside being pleasantly surprised at how comfortable the aligners felt and how easy they were to slot into everyday life.
Myths about Invisalign debunked by our team
When you are looking for a way to straighten your teeth as an adult, you will undoubtedly go online to research all of your treatment options.
And while the internet is a great source of information, it can also be slightly unreliable, especially when it comes to information surrounding dental care and particularly orthodontic treatments!
If you have ever researched clear or invisible aligners online, you have likely come across articles seemingly scaremongering people into not using this treatment option and this can be slightly off-putting.
When it comes to debunking myths that surround Invisalign London, our team at Clear Braces Direct has heard them all before and more! We know the truth about this aligner and can help you understand the real-world benefits of using it to get the straighter smile you want. Great!
So, what are some of the most prevalent myths that we have heard about Invisalign London in our clinic? Read on to find out and to have a bit of a laugh, as some of them are exceedingly comical!
They don’t work
Of course, clear aligners work!
But this is a myth that we hear daily at our surgery relating to Invisalign London. Granted, invisible aligners do not work in the same way as traditional braces but they operate using custom-fitted trays, which gently move your teeth into the desired position via pushing. If you have a complicated case of dental misalignment, then it is unlikely that this option will work for you, but our team will be able to assess your suitability for these aligners before beginning them.
They are completely comfortable
As they are not fitted directly to your teeth, you may have heard people stating that invisible aligners are completely comfortable to wear and will not cause any soreness or pressure in your daily life. As much as we wish this myth were true, it isn’t, and it is worth remembering that any orthodontic tool has the task of moving your teeth, which can be complicated and a bit sore.
Luckily, this aligner has been deemed exceedingly comfortable to wear, and any discomfort you may feel should be mitigated using over-the-counter pain relievers.
They are too expensive
As they are clear and as they are new, you may have concerns that you will not be able to afford treatment using invisible aligners.
But our team at Clear Braces Direct can offer you financing options to help you spread the cost of this treatment, so you can get the straighter smile you want without concerns for your income or monthly budget.
DIY aligners are just as good
There has been a storm relating to the use of DIY aligners available via the internet and dental moulds being sent to your home. However, in our experience, these are not as good as using invisible aligners under the care of a member of our team and can worsen dental misalignment due to inaccuracies during the measurement and moulding stage.
The aligners take longer than standard braces
On average, invisible aligners take between 3 to 6 months to straighten your teeth and when compared to the 36 months of a standard brace, it is easy to see that they are fast working appliances!
What is needed to get straight teeth at home
There is much to be said for doing things in your own home, especially since 2020.
So, if you want to use an aligner at home to straighten your teeth, you may be curious as to what this entails. Do you have to attend check-ups? What happens if you think there is a problem with the aligner? These questions are rarely clear to those new to the world of invisible aligners like Invisalign.
At Clear Braces Direct, our team will guide you in the use of invisible aligners at home and will help you to get straight teeth at home London with as little inconvenience as possible.
And while your experience may vary slightly, in the following article, our team discusses the steps required to get straight teeth at home London when you choose clear braces. Enjoy!
Assessment
First things first, when you want to get straight teeth at home London, you will need to have an assessment with our team to ensure that using Invisalign would be beneficial for you.
In most cases, it is. You simply need to have a mild to moderate case of dental misalignment on the front teeth in your mouth for this aligner to work.
If we deem that you are suitable for using Invisalign, we will use an intraoral scanner to capture an image of your teeth, from which to create the aligners.
Aligner printing
The world has changed dramatically since the invention of 3D printers and when it comes to Invisalign, this is no exception.
Using a computer program known as ClinCheck, our associates will predict the movement needed to move your teeth into their desired positions. Once this has been completed, the aligners can be printed and sent back to either our surgery or straight to your home.
Wearing the aligners
The aligners will come in a set of around 12-14 and will need to be worn in a specific order to move your teeth.
Each aligner will need to be worn for around 2 weeks at a time. To keep your aligners clear, you will need to clean them using either a cold water tap, Invisalign cleaning crystals or a similar product. Do not use hot water to clean your aligners and do not use mouthwash, as this can stain the aligners.
Check-ups
OK, so this is a treatment that can be primarily undertaken at home, so you will not need to attend our surgery unless requested.
But we will need to see images of your teeth via the Invisalign app, which will need to be sent once a week, so this kind of counts as a check-up!
If we spot anything that we are not happy with when we assess these photos, we will respond via the app with either instructions or with an invitation to attend the surgery.
Compliance!
We know it is tempting to take these aligners out and leave them out for extended periods, especially if you have been suffering from discomfort with them. But for this treatment to work, the aligners need to be worn for a minimum of 22 hours per day so please, keep them in!
Invisalign care guide from Clear Braces Direct
When you begin using an invisible aligner to straighten your teeth, it can feel like a bit of an adjustment at first.
Luckily, as many dental teams have been using invisible aligners for a while now, they can offer advice on how best to use them. But few dental surgeries specialise in the use of invisible aligners and that is where our team is different and can help clear up any worries you may have.
At Clear Braces Direct, we know all there is to know about clear aligners, especially Invisalign London and we can offer you advice on how to manage this aligner in your daily life to ensure you get the most out of wearing it. Great stuff!
In the following guide, we break down some of our top care tips on how to use and care for Invisalign London, so you can go about your day knowing exactly what is needed for you to get the straighter smile you want using this aligner.
Carry the case!
When you begin using Invisalign London, you will be sent a plastic carry case that takes the shape of the letter ‘c’. We advise you to use this when you are not wearing your aligner as it is designed to keep the aligner at the right temperature and safe from any external damage. We do not advise simply tossing your aligner into your pocket or your bag, as this can cause it to warp out of shape and then require you to invest in a replacement aligner.
Cold water only!
The aligners themselves are made from clear plastic, which is both malleable and hardy. But it is worth noting that these aligners are not Indestructible and when you are cleaning them, it is advised that you use cold water only to remove debris. Do not use hot water or even slightly warm water, as this can cause the aligners to warp out of shape.
If you have any stubborn debris on your aligners, we will advise you to use a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove it. Do not under any circumstances apply a heavy-handed approach to cleaning your aligners as this can cause irreparable damage.
Cleaning crystals
Alternatively, you can use cleaning crystals to keep your aligners fresh and clear. Just be sure that the cleaning crystals you choose are suitable for use with aligners. You can even use denture cleaning products, as these are designed to not be harsh on the gums and will keep your aligners minty fresh. Just use them twice a day!
Time yourself
To get the most out of your invisible aligners, you will need to keep them in your mouth for a minimum of 22 hours per day. And while this may sound easy, our team advises you to time yourself to get an idea of how long it takes you to eat, clean your teeth or engage in other activities that require you to remove the aligner.
Replacing aligners
If you lose or damage an aligner, you will need a replacement and our team at Clear Braces Direct will be happy to send you one. But we advise that you do not move on to the next aligner in the series if you lose an aligner, as this can cause the misalignment to worsen, or for your teeth to move out of sync.