Author: Clear Braces Direct

When you decide to undertake adult orthodontic treatment, it is likely that you will have questions.

While a quick internet search can provide you with answers in relation to things like the fitting, the aftercare and even how to handle the discomfort that may arise, there are few articles which address how wearing an invisible brace will impact on your day-to-day life. And, as any former Invisalign patient will tell you, it will.

Having a removable brace in your mouth may seem ideal to many people, but with this additional convenient feature comes a whole array of tricks and tips that you will need to help you adapt and cope throughout the treatment. Indeed, you cannot expect to simply pop the braces in as and when and expect them to work, so when you are given the all green for treatment with Invisalign, you need to know some tricks to make the process go smoothly.

At Clear Braces Direct in London, our team specialises in treating patients with Invisalign and can, therefore, answer any questions that you may have which relate to the treatment, the wearing and of course, the aftercare. Our team has helped over 5,000 patients get through the Invisalign treatment to get their desired smile, so we know a few things that will keep the process simple!

So, what are some hints to make those first 2 weeks wearing Invisalign easier? Our team at Clear Braces Direct in London has the following tips.

Carry a toothbrush

OK, so tip number one from our team at Clear Braces Direct in London is to invest in a travel-sized toothbrush.

When you wear Invisalign, you will need to remove the brace when you eat food and, if you travel a lot, you will need to remove any residue before you pop the brace back in. Enter the travel toothbrush!

This will stop food being pressed against your teeth and gums, which in turn, will prevent inflammatory issues like gum disease and tooth decay.

No hot water

Cleaning your braces is important for their upkeep.

Even if you have a stubborn stain on the retainer, do not use hot water to remove it! As these retainers are made from plastic, soaking them in hot water may cause their customised shape to warp, which will obviously render them useless and waste money.

Keep them in the case

When you begin treatment, you will be given a carry case. If the braces are not in your mouth, keep them in the case to prevent them from getting broken.

Dental wax

Sore spots on your tongue caused by frequent rubbing? Ask our team for some dental wax to smooth the sharper edges and invest in anti-inflammatory mouthwash.

Stick with it

Many patients are initially shocked by how complicated this brace seems to be to maintain. Our team’s advice is to stick with it; once you make it past the first few weeks, the process will be second nature and the benefits will begin to show. Brilliant!

Since the invention of clear and invisible braces, the world of adult orthodontics has changed.

Correcting anything from minor misalignment to complex crowding is now achievable without a metal brace and, understandably, many dental patients are happier to wear a brace that is discreet and painless.

But, like most things in life, treatment with invisible braces such as Invisalign is not for everyone. And do be aware, when you type in ‘Invisalign treatments’ into any internet search engine, you are likely to come across some stories of this brace failing to correct dental issues or even making them worse!

However, before you decide that treatment with Invisalign is not for you, it is important to differentiate between the facts about this aligner and the myths that you find online.

At Clear Braces Direct in London, treating patients with Invisalign is our team’s speciality! We know everything there is to know about this brace and can accurately assess whether or not you will benefit from undertaking treatment with it. We will guide you through every step and ensure that once that invisible aligner is off, that you will be beaming with pride at the final result.

So, what are the most common online myths that our team at Clear Braces Direct in London hears about Invisalign?

Invisalign requires your teeth to be filed down

No, it doesn’t.

While this practice may be seen in some cases of traditional braces being fitted, our team at Clear Braces Direct in London do not actively file down teeth prior to Invisalign braces being placed.

Any dentist can use Invisalign on their patients

Although Invisalign does not require an orthodontist in the same way that regular braces do, it is important to check that the dentist you undertake Invisalign with is trained with using this brace. All of our team at Clear Braces Direct are trained to use Invisalign, so if you choose to undergo treatment with our team, you know you are getting the best!

You need to have teeth removed to fit this brace

Once again, this seems to be a myth that materialised in the world of traditional braces and made its way into cosmetic dentistry.

While each case is unique, it is unlikely that our team will need to remove any of your teeth for Invisalign to work correctly.

Treatment time is shorter than that of metal braces

Both Invisalign and metal braces work at roughly the same speed.

On average, Invisalign treatment can be completed in as little as 6 months, however, for more complex cases of misalignment, you may need to wear the invisible aligner for up to 2 years. It will be worth it, we promise!

Complex cases cannot be treated with Invisalign

Our team has helped many patients who have had complex bites, misalignments, extreme crowding and even spacing issues get the perfect smile that they deserve with the help of Invisalign. Depending on your clinical presentation, you may be surprised at what conditions this brace can reverse.

If you are an adult considering cosmetic braces, you probably don’t have the time to mess around.

Growing up, you may have heard that traditional, metal-based braces caused discomfort and were difficult to eat with. While cosmetic aligners offer somewhat of a reprieve from these issues, you may have been told that even the most famous of invisible braces, Invisalign, has been linked to discomfort whilst being worn. And as an adult, who really has time for that?

While there are many obvious advantages to wearing the Invisalign brace, it would be fool-hardy to assume that it is purely plain sailing. This brace will test your resolve, your determination to achieve a gorgeous, straighter smile and will also impact on your day to day routines. Is it all worth it? Yes, it is.

At Clear Braces Direct in London, our team are experts when it comes to the Invisalign brace and can provide you with tips and advice on how to make your journey with Invisalign a bit less taxing. We have helped thousands of patients achieve a straighter, healthier smile using this aligner and we are certain that we can help you too!

So, what advice and tips do we have to help you as you wear your Invisalign aligners? Read on to find out!

Discomfort

OK, we will start with the most unpleasant one first.

Our team at Clear Braces Direct in London is aware that in the first few days of wear, it is likely that you will be in some discomfort with the Invisalign aligner. As you have to wear it for a minimum of 22 hours per day, it is important that you keep it in your mouth to achieve the desired long-term effects.

At Clear Braces Direct in London, we recommend taking over the counter pain-killers, such as Ibuprofen to help with potential swelling and we also advise that you eat softer foods until the discomfort subsides.

Bad breath

As unpleasant as it sounds, if you are prone to snacking and then putting your aligners back in, you may find that your breath begins to smell a bit off, alongside your mouth tasting bad. This is due to the particles of food being trapped against the gum line.

A way to avoid this is to improve your dental hygiene, and brush your teeth every time after you eat and drink. If you are unable to do so, rinsing your mouth with water will do the trick.

Saliva

With something new in your mouth, your body’s response is to create excess saliva to aid digestion. Of course, as you aren’t going to eat your aligners, this is a rather embarrassing issue, but not often talked about.

Luckily, you can minimise your saliva and associated issues by practising talking when you are alone. How does this help? It will allow you to manage your excess saliva production without discomfort, meaning that you can talk around others without feeling worried about this particular side effect. Trust us, this irritating issue does resolve itself fairly quickly!

When it comes to your cosmetic dentistry, second best simply won’t do!

As the extensive area of cosmetic dental options grows across the country, you could be forgiven for assuming that all dental surgeries are the same in not only what they offer, but in the quality of the work and the results. But this simply isn’t true!

When turning your attention to the aesthetic value of your smile, you want to know that the professionals that will help you are the best around, as your smile is one of the first things that others notice about you and judge you on.

At Clear Braces Direct in London, we will help you get that straighter, whiter smile that you deserve. Our specialist team will use the world-famous Invisalign braces to make that straighter smile a reality; we have helped over 5,000 patients in the UK obtain a smile worthy of the Hollywood elite and you could be next!

But are there any other reasons to choose our team at Clear Braces Direct in London? Of course, there are!

Specialists

As the name of our surgery suggests, at Clear Braces Direct in London, our dentists only use Invisalign braces with our patients and so, we are truly specialists.

Our combined team of Diamond and Platinum Elite Invisalign dentists have improved the smiles of thousands of patients using the world-famous brace and, simply put, we know everything there is to know about this aligner!.

Monitoring applications

With the world of smartphones and applications becoming increasingly popular, when you take on an Invisalign brace with our team, we will be able to offer you a daily monitoring application. This will allow both you and our team to keep an eye on the progress you are making with the brace, provide alerts on when it is time to change your aligners, and will allow you to message us directly, should the need arise.

Adapted for those with a busy lifestyle, our application is the perfect way to keep your treatment as remote as possible. It saves time too; you won’t need to attend our surgery every week, meaning that you can get on with your life and only visit us as and when required. Perfect!

Retainers for life scheme

It is important to note that while Invisalign is a great way to straighten your smile, it is important to consider it as an investment.

Our team is able to offer our patients a ‘retainer for life,’ simply meaning that you will be able to claim a new retainer, should your current one break or become damaged. This will prevent an additional expense in the event of an emergency and will prevent your teeth from relapsing into their old positions.

Financing

Many patients are worried about undertaking an adult based brace due to cost, but our team can help! We can offer suitable patients an interest-free financing option, allowing you to spread the cost of your new smile over 12 months. Now that’s handy!

In the modern world, dentistry has evolved far beyond a biannual check-up or a scale and polish.

Indeed, many adults and even teenagers are becoming aware of the cosmetic advantages of regular visits to the dentist; everything from a simple whitening to having veneers fitted are now commonplace at many dental surgeries. While it may seem odd to categorise braces as a cosmetic dental option, if you have a slightly crooked smile or are fed up with gaps, then there are many cosmetic aligners that can help you get the straighter smile you deserve. Perfect!

However, before you rush in to book a dental appointment, it is worth noting that, like most things in life, some of these braces are not suitable for everyone. While the list of exclusion criteria is short for many adult orthodontic treatments, it is worth having a rough idea of what type of brace is best suited to reverse your misalignment prior to booking a consultation.

At Clear Braces Direct in London, our team of cosmetic dentists is proud to be able to offer our patients one of the most popular invisible braces available, Invisalign. An invisible brace that offers an accelerated treatment time, Invisalign is an effective brace that reverses a wide array of dental misalignments and is discreet enough to not affect your confidence. Brilliant!

So, what are some of the inclusion criteria for Invisalign at Clear Braces Direct in London? Read on to find out!

Oral health

Of course, before you can undertake treatment with this invisible aligner with our team at Clear Braces Direct in London, you will have to have the green light in relation to your dental health. Any underlying issues that you may have, such as tooth decay or gum disease will need to be treated before any cosmetic treatments can take place, so best to make sure that your pearly whites are, well, pearly white!

Clinical presentation

While Invisalign can help reverse the majority of minor to moderate dental issues, it is more suited to treating some over others.

If you have a smile that is full of gaps or is overcrowded, then our team is more likely to suggest Invisalign to correct these issues. Similarly, malocclusions such as over or underbites can be reversed with this brace, but it will depend on the severity of the condition presented.

Commitment

Invisalign is a versatile brace, but in order to benefit from it, you have to be committed to the treatment.

Invisalign braces are removable, so you can remove them as and when you desire. If our team is concerned that you are unlikely to wear it for the required time per day, then you may not be suited to them; this is a primary reason why this particular brace is not recommended for children.

Of course, the only way to know for certain if you are suitable for treatment with Invisalign is to undertake a consultation with our team. We have helped thousands of patients straighten their smile with Invisalign, and your smile could be next!

Clear Braces Direct London could be a dental treatment to consider if you are persistently unhappy with your smile. Here at Clear Braces Direct, we can offer you a cutting edge dental treatment to gently move your teeth into their correct position. This can have a positive effect on your smile and how you feel about it. This treatment can achieve straighter teeth in a window as small as 4-6 months. This treatment is accessible and affordable. This treatment can be done quickly and within three appointments. This article will run through what procedure these clear braces use in order to gently move your teeth into a better position and then discuss the benefits you could receive, if you decide to go ahead with this treatment. Here at Clear Braces Direct, we believe that everyone should have the chance to achieve their perfect smile.

What is the procedure?

Clear Braces Direct London can provide you with straighter teeth in three easy steps. The first step involves a consultation where you will receive a free Invisalign scan. This scan’s main purpose is to determine whether you would be suitable for this treatment. If unfortunately, you are not suitable for this treatment, then our experienced dentists will advise you on what other solutions could work for your mouth. During this scan our highly trained team members will use top of the range 3D scanners which will determine if this treatment is suitable for you, there is no need for moulds. The second step of this procedure includes the application of these clear aligners. Following your consultation, you will receive a Comprehensive Dental Health Assessment report. The 3D scanner will be used to build your clear aligners. Once you have paid for your treatment your braces will be ordered and then delivered straight to you. Each set of braces will gently move your teeth into the desired position. You can also use the Clear Braces Direct Monitoring App which will track your progress and prevent you from having to attend any unnecessary in-practice appointments. The final step involves maintaining the progress you have made through using the clear aligners. Retainers can be used to maintain your new smile.

What are the benefits?

If you decide that Clear Braces Direct London could be the correct choice for you there are numerous benefits that come alongside the treatment. Through the use of these aligners, you could dramatically reduce your chances of gum disease. These aligners can correct problems with bites such as open bites, overbites and crossbites. Issues with overcrowded teeth can also be relieved through this treatment. Most importantly this dental treatment can have a dramatic impact on your self-confidence. If you have a healthier, straighter smile then your own self image could be dramatically boosted. Everyone deserves to be proud of their smile and no one should have to hide behind their hand when they laugh.

At our Clear Braces Direct dental clinic we combine Dental Monitoring with treatments in Clear Braces Direct in London to provide patients with a definitive teeth-straightening experience. Dental Monitoring makes use of Artificial Intelligence technology that helps dentists to monitor progress of teeth movement in their patients’ teeth-straightening treatments without the need for an in-clinic appointment. We have found that many patients find favour with this feature that can be done remotely.

Patients can access the dedicated app on a smartphone or tablet. To use the technology, patients simply take scans or videos of their teeth each week during the treatment, upload it to the app and send it through to the supervising dental practitioner to examine. The dental practitioner will then analyse the scans to ascertain whether the patient’s treatment is on schedule or whether there are worrying symptoms that need to be treated.

In the orthodontic world, artificial intelligence can now be used to top off orthodontic treatments. The app is able to evaluate more than 130 intraoral situations that include: three-dimensional tooth movement, the fit of the aligner trays as well as archwire passivity.

Through this innovative technology patients are enabled to take a more active interest in their own orthodontic treatment. Clear Braces Direct in London paired with Dental Monitoring has a number of sought after benefits for the patient. We take a look at some of the top advantages of this type of treatment.

How patients can use Dental Monitoring to optimise their Invisalign treatment

 Stay on top of treatment

The app facilitates easy communication between patient and dental practitioner through live messaging.

Less need to visit the dentist in person

Patients can save on precious time by not having to schedule dental appointments. Patients can receive updates on their treatment via the app. This communication can be carried out from anywhere in the world so there is no need to interrupt travel plans.

Identify problem areas

Clear Braces Direct in London like Invisalign braces can pose a unique challenge for patients who forget to reinsert the trays after removing them (to have a meal or to rush their teeth) – not wearing the trays for the minimum time recommended may see the treatment time extended. Remote monitoring allows for such issues to be adjusted for.

Provides overview of treatment history

Patients have the complete history of their treatment available at their fingertips. They can compare before and after images.

For many patients, remote monitoring encourages a faster turnaround time. Patients should take note that the technology does not replace the need for a dental practitioner. The dental practitioner’s expertise remains an indispensable part in the teeth movement process. This expertise is necessary to use data analysis correctly to identify problems and to make suitable adjustments to keep a patient on track with their treatment.

When it comes to cosmetic specialties, everyone wants an expert to perform their treatment; and why wouldn’t they?

In the world of dentistry, where people are squeamish about errors and problems with their teeth, cosmetic options require a bit more care and a whole lot of special insight. If you are considering straightening your teeth and you live near London, come to us!

If you are concerned that you may be unsuitable for treatment with Invisalign, you will probably be surprised! Once a brace that could only correct minor orthodontic issues, this brand has grown and developed, and is now capable of reversing some complex orthodontic cases with ease!

Specialising in working with the world-famous Invisalign brace, our team at Clear Braces Direct in London can promise you smooth sailing towards getting your new smile. Using one of the ever-growing family of Invisalign aligners, we will pick the perfect brace for you. It really is that simple!

Why should you choose Clear Braces Direct in London for your orthodontic treatment? Won’t the brace do the same thing, regardless of the dentist? Read on to find out what makes Clear Braces the best choice for adult orthodontics.

Free scan

As you may already know, at the start of your Invisalign journey with Clear Braces Direct in London, our dentists will need to take a 3-D scan of your teeth. This is to help us to accurately predict how this brace will move your teeth over the coming months, so both you and our team can be prepared.

At Clear Braces Direct, we can offer you this scan for free as part of the diagnostic process, so if you decide that you don’t want to undertake this procedure, you are completely free to walk away. Without obligation!

Monitoring app

One of the best things about having a smartphone are the apps; everything from having games to play, to keeping up with world events is literally at your fingertips.  Apps are great for keeping track of stuff too!

Our practice has worked with the team at Invisalign and has devised an app, suitable for any smartphone that allows you to track the progress of your smile with Invisalign.

It also allows you to talk to our team about any issues you are concerned about and offers you tips and advice about your Invisalign brace.

Retainer

While retainers are nothing new, when you come to Clear Braces for your Invisalign treatment, our team will discuss with you our ‘retainer for life’ option.

This allows you to claim a brand new, custom-fitted retainer every 12 months for the rest of your life. Without this plan, aftercare could prove extremely pricey, and if you have just lost or damaged your retainer, forking out for a new one is probably the last thing you will want.

Contact our team about this plan today!

5,000 smiles

At Clear Braces Direct, our team has helped nearly 5,000 patients get straighter smiles with Invisalign. What more could you ask for in a cosmetic dental team?

Having a yellow-tinted smile is rarely a good look.

Associated with genetics, smoking or just poor hygiene, yellow teeth can really put a dent in your confidence, causing you to hide your teeth from others.

A trip to any pharmacy will allow you to see the rows of whitening toothpastes, all proclaiming that they can whiten your teeth multiple shades in a set time. Unfortunately, studies have found time and time again that if you want a whiter smile that is striking and looks even, you need to go to a dentist.

Like most things, whitening treatments have changed over the last decade and are now simpler (and more comfortable) than ever. They are also less time-consuming too, meaning you can fit in a quick whitening session in your lunch break!

Along with providing our patients a straighter smile, our team at Clear Braces Direct in London will also be able to offer dental whitening. After all, what is the point of a straighter smile if you are self-conscious about the shade of your teeth? Completed in just under 2 weeks, our team will help you to get a whiter smile, worthy of those who grace the red carpet!

But how does Clear Braces Direct in London achieve this?

Staining assessment

At Clear Braces Direct in London, we are very proud of our interactive website.

If you want to have your smile whitened, take a selfie and upload it to our site for our dentists to examine, We will determine the type of staining that you have, and will be able to devise a suitable treatment plan to get your teeth back to their natural pearly-white hue!

Consultation

Just like the scan we use for Invisalign, our team will take a 3-D scan of your teeth at a consultation. This will help us to make a truly custom-fitted tray that you will use at home as part of the whitening process.

We will provide you with an oxidising gel, to place into the fitted tray, which will lift deeply set stains, and reveal the whiter surface of your teeth. You will need to use this tray for 14 days to obtain the desired whitening effect.

At home treatment!

Gone are the days when all whitening procedures took place in a dentist’s office using an abrasive brush.

Our team at Clear Braces Direct will be able to send your custom-fitted trays to you at home, so you can start the whitening treatment in your own time. Of course, if you are worried about any aspect or have any questions, simply contact our team and we will be more than happy to help.

About whitening

While our team will always make sure that your teeth are whitened using our trays and gels, depending on the initial shade of your teeth and the level of staining, abrasion and damage, the final colour of your teeth may vary. Our techniques can whiten your smile up to 16 shades, so what have you got to lose?

So, you’ve decided you want to straighten your teeth – good for you!
Apart from boosting your confidence and improving your smile’s appearance, straightening teeth is also a great way to improve other areas of your life too, such as your dental hygiene.

When looking for a dental surgery to undertake your cosmetic straightening, you may have come across adult based braces, like Invisalign and the Damon System. Indeed, the majority of dental surgeries offer these options and more, so all that you have to do is choose your ideal dental surgery.

At Clear Braces Direct in London, we are proud to offer all of our patients a wider variety of cosmetic braces. With our experienced team of dentists, we can provide you with a more in-depth service for straightening your teeth and can even enable you to undertake more complex realignment procedures using one of our many invisible braces.

Aside from traditional Invisalign, what are other types of invisible brace we can offer you at Clear Braces Direct in London?

Simple Invisalign Lite

An option devised to help patients with minor orthodontic issues, Invisalign Lite is one of our more straightforward braces we can offer you at Clear Braces Direct in London.

Usually completed in 7 months, Invisalign Lite can help reverse common orthodontic issues, such as minor overcrowding, poorly positioned teeth, incorrect alignment between upper and lower teeth and spacing issues between teeth. It is also used as a precursor to other orthodontic treatments or cosmetic procedures.

Typically completed using no more than 10 aligners or trays, this option is also more cost-effective for many of our dental patients.

Moderate Invisalign

A 20 stage treatment option, Moderate Invisalign is designed for patients who need a bit more movement in their teeth than they would get with Invisalign Lite.

Often completed between 5-12 months, Moderate Invisalign can help to correct more moderate malocclusions, including more severe cases of crowding, spacing and more complex cases of misalignments between the upper and lower jaws. Depending on the severity, you may also be offered this brace if you have a minor over or underbite.

Comprehensive Invisalign

And, last but not least, our team at Clear Braces Direct may decide that you are a suitable candidate for treatment with the Comprehensive Invisalign package.

As it is described in the name, this treatment option is perfect if you suffer from more severe malocclusions or misalignments, which are too minor for treatment with traditional metal orthodontic braces.

This process involves more than 14 aligners for the course of the treatment and has an overall completion time of over 7 months or more. This package also involves a more in-depth 3D scan to be taken of your teeth, to allow our team to create your personalised aligners.

Remember, as with most comprehensive treatments, it is vital that you follow our team’s advice to the letter, which, in relation to Invisalign and more complex orthodontic presentations, will involve wearing your aligners for up to 22 hours each day.