Category: Invisalign

When you begin the realignment process with invisible aligners, it is a fair assumption that you expect them to work. After all, they have been custom-fitted to match your teeth and you have had every stage of the treatment process explained to you, so you will know what to expect. You will even have access to an app linked to the invisible aligners which can answer the majority of your questions. This is a highly successful teeth straightening system.

For a select few individuals who are undertaking invisible aligner treatment, however, it may not go to plan. This may be due to poor sourcing of the aligners themselves if not from a reputable establishment, or maybe due to issues with adherence to the 22 hours per day recommended use.

At Clear Braces Direct, we know invisible aligners inside out and will always aim to provide our patients with tips to ensure that Invisalign London works for them. However, if you think that your aligners are not working as planned feel free to contact us for advice.

With that in mind, what are some of the key signs that your Invisalign London aligners are not working?

Poor fit

When an Invisalign London treatment is created, our team will use an intraoral scan of your teeth to get the exact position to structure the first aligner. Then, using a series of digital movements to this scan, we will be able to create the other aligners needed to get your teeth to the desired position. But if when you put the aligner into your mouth it does not fit correctly, this is a sign that the aligner is not going to work as planned and you should always aim to contact us to have them refitted.

Teeth not moving

This can be slightly harder to judge, especially if you have a minor misalignment with your front teeth. If after a few weeks of wear, you don’t notice any movement, then you may need to contact our team for an assessment. Aligners not moving teeth correctly could be due to a poor fit or non-adherence to the 22 hours per day of wear.

Excessive discomfort

It should be noted that even when you are using removable aligners there will be some discomfort, as they need to move your teeth. However, if you experience excessive levels of discomfort during wear, this will need to be examined by our team, as it can indicate that they are not fitted correctly. Or that there is an underlying health issue, such as gum disease, which is causing the aligners to feel tight and uncomfortable.

Wobbling

If your aligners are wobbling throughout the entire period of wear, this is also a sign that they have not been fitted correctly and thus they cannot do their job. The aligners are designed to slot over your teeth and look like a clear sports guard. If they are wobbling as soon as you put them in, this is a sign that you will not get any real movement and the aligner will need to be refitted.

Teeth moving incorrectly

Some patients become concerned when they notice that their teeth are not moving as planned. This can signify that there is an unforeseen issue in the mouth, such as a tooth which was loose or issues with daily wear. If your teeth are not moving as planned, you should contact our team.

It is true that when most people envision undertaking orthodontic treatment later in life, they picture wearing a fitted orthodontic brace.

However, depending on the severity of your misalignment, you may be able to straighten your teeth using an invisible aligner instead. But you may have concerns that an invisible aligner will not be able to straighten your teeth in the same way, or as successfully as a brace would.

At Clear Braces Direct, we have been working with invisible aligners like Invisalign London for over 10 years and can state with utter confidence that these aligners are great at straightening mild to moderate cases of dental misalignment.

Still unsure if they are as good as traditional metal braces? In this article, our team will do a brief comparison between Invisalign London and fitted metal braces to help you decide which one may be best for you.

Time span

Concerning time, invisible aligners like Invisalign London take between 3 to 6 months on average to straighten teeth. However, for this to be successful, the patient has to wear the aligners for 22 hours per day. When it comes to wearing a fitted metal brace, the treatment can range more widely depending on the severity of the issue, but for the majority of adult patients who need to wear a fitted brace, you may need to wear it for up to 36 months.

Discomfort

Many people associate fitted metal braces with discomfort, due in part to the fact that they need to be tightened or adjusted for them to move your teeth. Invisible aligners, however, have these adjustments built into their shape and while they do need to apply pressure to your teeth to move them, they are generally considered more comfortable to wear in daily life.

Versatility

When comparing invisible aligners and braces, there is no real competition in this area. Braces have been used in dental practice for well over 100 years and in that time, they have treated a myriad of dental conditions. Invisible aligners are mainly only suitable for people who have mild to moderate cases of dental misalignment. So when comparing them, traditional braces win for their versatility in treating misalignments.

Discretion

Invisible aligners are, as the name suggests, practically invisible and so when comparing them to metal braces, they are certainly the more discreet. However, there are fitted metal braces available today which have brackets that are clear or tooth coloured and may use thinner wires, which can be more discreet than the traditional option. Invisible aligners are custom-fitted to slot over your teeth like a clear sports guard, so they certainly win in the discretion department.

Cost

Many patients are surprised to learn that invisible aligners are sometimes more affordable in adult orthodontic care than a standard fitted brace. This is because invisible aligners do not require adjusting in the same way as fitted braces do. Also, they do not require as many appointments as orthodontic braces and are faster overall, making them more cost-effective. If you have concerns about the cost of clear aligners, talk to our team about financing options.

Do you want to get straighter teeth without the hassle of wearing fitted braces as an adult? If so, you may want to consider looking into invisible aligners.

At Clear Braces Direct, we are always happy to offer our suitable patients invisible aligners to straighten their teeth, including Invisalign London which is one of the most popular options among our adult patients.

If you want to learn more about what Invisalign London is, or how it works, please read on.

What are they?

Invisalign London is a system that uses 3D scans, 3D printing and computer technology to create a set of aligners which will move your teeth from their current position to a final desired position. They have been used in dental practices for more than 10 years, but are becoming more popular with dental patients who are adults.

How they work

Invisible aligners work based on their unique shape. The aligners themselves are made from clear plastic, which is 3D printed to match the position of your teeth at the start of the treatment.  Using computer technology, the other aligners are created, with each one representing a stage in the realignment treatment. So you will start with an aligner that fits over your teeth as they currently are, and the last one in the series will match the position that they need to be in, and all the others will be every stage in between.

They apply pressure to your teeth using vector points and this system gently pushes teeth into the new position, rather than pulling them, which is how traditional braces work.

How long do they take?

In general, invisible aligners take between 3 and 6 months to realign teeth, depending on the severity of the misalignment being treated. However, this may vary and will depend on other factors such as how long you wear them each day and if you need to order replacement aligners. Always wear the aligners in the order set down by our team and do not skip an aligner, unless you are advised to do so by us.

Potential issues

There are only a few potential issues with wearing invisible aligners, provided that you have sourced them from a reputable clinic or dental practice. One of the most common issues that we see at our practice is that patients do not wear them for the required 22 hours per day and so their teeth revert to their former positions.

You may find issues with placing the aligners correctly into your mouth, which can cause problems with tracking, making it harder for the aligners to work efficiently at moving your teeth. If you find that your teeth are not moving on schedule, please contact our team.

Longevity

Whether you have undertaken treatment with a fitted brace or an aligner, you will need to wear a retainer afterwards. This is to hold your teeth in place whilst they become accustomed to their new positions. If you fail to wear a retainer, there is a high chance that your teeth will move back to their original positions making the entire process a very expensive waste of time.

When you begin using an invisible aligner, there are some rules that you need to adhere to get the best result possible.

While these rules are nowhere near as strict or as difficult to stick to as the rules associated with fixed braces, by sticking to the basic guidelines set down by our team, your treatment is not only going to be smoother, but it is also more likely to go quicker and will get you the smile you want in less time.

At Clear Braces Direct, we have helped thousands of patients to get the straighter smiles that they want using Invisalign London. So, we know all of the tricks of the trade to ensure that this aligner works for you and gets you to have the straighter smile that you want and deserve in as little time as possible.

So, with that being said, what are some of our tricks of the trade to ensure that your treatment with Invisalign London is a success?

Keep them in!

Invisalign London is removable, meaning that many patients find it ever so tempting to take the aligners out and leave them out, especially if they have a day where they are having meetings or giving a lot of talks. However, for this aligner to work correctly, you will need to keep it in for a minimum of 22 hours per day or as otherwise directed by our orthodontic team. If you don’t, your teeth may succumb to reversion which is, in essence, them moving back to their original positions before you started treatment.

Keep them clean!

The aligners need to remain clean to stay invisible. But you will also need to keep them clean to prevent yourself from developing tooth decay or gum disease. Consider that on the inside of an unclean aligner there will be bacteria which will be pressed against your teeth or gums, heightening the chance of decay or gum disease. To keep the aligners clean, simply rinse them under a cold water tap and remove any food debris with a brush. Aim to do this at least twice a day.

Keep them straight!

Even though aligners are custom fitted to your teeth, they can still be placed in your mouth and not be correct in their location. This means there is a tracking issue and to resolve this, you can use chewies or other devices to ensure that there are no air bubbles between the aligner and the teeth themselves. This will help to keep the treatment on schedule.

Keep them safe!

It’s easy to assume that because they move teeth, the aligners are hardy. However, many people forget that they are plastic and can become warped or misshapen due to being placed in pockets or coats when they are not in your mouth. To keep them in good condition, be sure to carry them in the case provided.

Keep them in order!

The aligners will come in a set order, starting with the position that your teeth are currently in, to the desired position at the end. For the treatment to work, you need to wear them in order and you need to wear every single aligner for the required time, which is around 2 weeks.

So, you have visited our team and been given the green light to go ahead with treatment to straighten your teeth with an invisible aligner.

This is undoubtedly going to be a very exciting time, however, as is the way with most orthodontic tools, it is worth noting that the success of the aligner in straightening your teeth will depend on your adherence to the advice that we gave you, and the use of additional tools which can help the aligner to be more successful.

At Clear Braces Direct, we have experience in using clear aligners to straighten our patients’ teeth both in the surgery and at home. And so, when it comes to the use of Invisalign London, we know our fair share about how to best use this aligner and the accessories that can enhance its overall success at straightening your teeth.

So without further ado, in this article, we look at the most common accessories that you can use to make your treatment with Invisalign London more successful.

Chewies

First, we will start with the fact that when you have your Invisalign London aligners made, they will be custom fitted to slot over your teeth throughout the process of realigning your smile. However, there has been something of a trend with patients not placing the aligners correctly and there being air bubbles between the aligner and the teeth. This slows down the entire process of realigning your teeth and can worsen misalignment.

Chewies are made from a mixture of plastic and rubber and look quite similar to earbuds, except you put them in your mouth when you have changed between aligners, and you chew them to ensure that the aligners are placed correctly against your teeth. They are reusable and helpful for keeping the realignment treatment on schedule.

Puls

When you take your aligners out, it can be tempting to simply pull them off of your teeth. This can cause the plastic to warp out of shape or become damaged, especially if you have long nails. Puls are designed to help you remove the aligners easily and quickly without causing damage to their overall shape.

Cleaning crystals

This is self-explanatory, but if you wish to have aligners that have had a bit more of a deep clean than simply rinsing them under a tap, cleaning crystals can be used. They can ensure that your aligners not only taste better, but that they are also free from bacteria that can cause tooth decay or gum disease. Aim to rinse your aligners twice a day for between 15 and 30 minutes to see the effects of the cleaning crystals.

Carry cases

It happens to almost everybody, but if you lose your carry case when using this aligner, this can cause you to carry it incorrectly in your pocket or bag which can (you guessed it!) create damage. Therefore, it is wise to invest in additional carry cases which will help you keep the aligner in one piece when you are out and about and not wearing it.

App

The main accessory that you will need to ensure the aligner is used correctly is the app that is downloadable to smartphones and will allow you to send photographs to our team once a week to show us how the aligner is working. The app is easy to use and can be downloaded in a range of languages to help you make the most of it, if English is not your first language.

When you have mild to moderate alignment issues, you may be wondering what you can do to remedy the situation. Whether you have crossbite, over or underbite, crowded teeth or gapped teeth, the effect can be the same: you may have low self-esteem and feel frustrated that your smile isn’t more aesthetically pleasing. You may also be suffering from issues such as chewing difficulties and jaw pain, or you may be finding it difficult to brush and floss your teeth efficiently. At Clear Braces Direct, we offer a treatment for mild to moderate alignment issues with Invisalign in Newcastle. This treatment could have your teeth realigned in as little as 4 to 6 months and we are accredited Diamond Apex Invisalign providers. As such, we have treated over 6800 patients successfully with Invisalign, so we have the skills and experience to make your smile look wonderful!

What is it?

Invisalign in Newcastle is a system that comprises aligners which are made of plastic. The plastic is transparent, so when the aligners are worn over your teeth, only your teeth should be visible. This means that treatment can be very discreet and you can have the confidence to continue with your life as normal, whilst wearing the aligners. The aligners apply a little pressure to the teeth to move them into the correct position over a period of time. This will of course vary from patient to patient and we will be able to monitor your progress remotely using our bespoke monitoring app, so you will only need to come in for check-ups if we absolutely need you to; otherwise, we will monitor your progress each week while you stay at home, saving you both time and money.

Other reasons to love Invisalign in Newcastle

You may not know it yet, but if you are a suitable patient for this treatment, then there are a whole host of reasons to be pleased. Invisalign is not only a discreet treatment, but it should also be comfortable because the aligners are made bespoke to fit your mouth. Using iTero technology, we will use this digital scan to get the precise measurements of your mouth. From here, we can then also generate a 3D animation of what your teeth will look like after your treatment has been completed, before you have even started wearing your aligners. This should give you the motivation you need, knowing how great your teeth are going to look as you embark upon wearing your aligners. As your teeth become aligned, you could also see an improvement in any chewing or speech issues you may have been experiencing, when your teeth weren’t straight. You could also find that any jaw pain you had is alleviated as a result of realigning your smile.

Initial consulation

If you would like to find out more about Invisalign and whether or not it is the right treatment for your specific needs, why not book in for a free, no-obligation consultation with us? We will be happy to discuss your concerns and examine your mouth to be able to advise you about whether or not Invisalign is the right treatment for you. If it is, our experienced and friendly team are ready to give you great care that is convenient and efficacious, so you can smile with confidence in just a few months!

In years gone by, you may have believed that the only way to get a straighter smile was to undertake orthodontic treatment as a child. However, as the technologies have advanced and orthodontic teams have been able to use better equipment, it is now possible for anyone to get a straighter smile, provided that their teeth and gums are healthy.

With this comes the array of tools which are helping people to get the straighter smile they want, and you will be happy to know that not all of them involve fitted metal braces.

At Clear Braces Direct, as our name suggests, we specialise in helping patients to get the smiles they want using braces and aligners that are clear or invisible. These are exceedingly popular, with the most popular option being Invisalign London which has many benefits when used in adult patients.

With that in mind, what are some of the advantages that you can get from using Invisalign London as an adult? Read on to find out.

Better fit

Many people presume that because Invisalign London is not a fixed brace, it will not fit well. However, our team will use an intraoral 3D scanner to get a clear and precise image of your teeth in their current positions to design the shape of this aligner. This will then be entered into a computer, which will simulate the orthodontic movements required to get the smile that you want and from this, a set of aligners will be printed. All of which will be fitted to your teeth at each stage of the treatment.

Removable

Yes, invisible aligners are removable, meaning that you can take them out as and when you need to. We advise our patients to remove their invisible aligners when eating or drinking anything that is not water, so you can plan your day around when you will be giving talks or lectures and wearing the aligner. Just be sure to brush your teeth thoroughly before putting the aligner back into your mouth to prevent debris from being pressed against your gums and potentially causing tooth decay or gum disease

Accelerated treatment time

You may have heard that an invisible aligner comes with a slower treatment time, but this is not the case. When it comes to this brand of invisible aligner, you may be able to get the straighter smile you want in this little as 3 to 6 months, depending on the severity of the misalignment that is being treated.

Comfortable

Indeed, this aligner will not need to be tightened or adjusted, meaning that it is more likely to be comfortable throughout wear. However, you should be prepared for there to be a minimal level of discomfort, as this aligner is designed to move your teeth after all! This discomfort should be mitigated with over-the-counter pain relief, but if you are finding this to be an unsuccessful way to manage any soreness or pressure, please contact our team.

Easy to use

This aligner is incredibly easy to use. You simply wear it for 22 hours per day, or as directed by our team, rinse it under a tap to clean it and take photos of your smile using the associated app to keep our team updated on how the aligner is straightening your teeth.

Do you want to straighten your teeth in your adult years without the hassle of wearing traditional braces? Now, you might be able to.

When you come to see our team at Clear Braces Direct, we may be able to offer you Invisalign London; the world-famous clear aligner that can get you the straighter smile that you want in as little as 6 months.

Here, our team at the practice answers common questions that we receive about Invisalign London.

Will this aligner work for me?

If you come to our team and we deem you suitable, then yes, Invisalign London will work for you.

This aligner was created to treat mild to moderate cases of misalignment, but as technology has advanced it is now able to treat more severe issues with alignment, such as overbites and underbites, depending on their severity.

How long will I need to wear it for?

Each day (unless otherwise specified by our team), you should aim to wear the aligner for 22 hours. This means that you will need to wear it to bed, but don’t worry. It is comfortable enough to do so without any discomfort.

For the length of the aligner’s wear, you will need to speak to our team. The majority of patients wear this aligner for 3 to 6 months, but this will vary based on how severe your misalignment is.

Can I skip an aligner if I need to?

Not without talking to our team first.

If you think you can skip an aligner in your sequence, you should not do so without seeking our advice. Even if the aligners look the same, they are designed to be worn to move your teeth gradually. If you remove one from the line-up, this can create issues with the realignment process overall.

When should I clean the aligner?

You should aim to clean the aligner a minimum of twice a day, preferably when you brush your teeth in the morning and evening. This will help to keep the aligners clean and will prevent you from developing gum disease and tooth decay, as there will be no food debris to be pressed against your teeth and gums.

Cleaning the aligner is simple; you rinse it under a cool water tap as and when you need to. Try to refrain from rinsing under a hot water tap, as this can cause it to warp. Alternatively, there are aligner soaks you can use twice a day, which will provide the aligners with a minty fresh taste.

Is it expensive?

Many of our patients have concerns that wearing a clear or invisible aligner will be expensive. However, it is worth considering what goes into the costs of orthodontic care; the number of appointments you attend to have the braces or aligners looked at and altered, and how long you wear the device for. With this in mind, wearing an invisible aligner may be cheaper than a standard brace, as no adjustments are required and the average wearing time is between 3 to 6 months.

Having misaligned teeth may make you feel like you need a little TLC, but at Clear Braces Direct, we can offer more than that. For mild to moderate alignment issues, we can realign your smile with Invisalign in Newcastle and we are Diamond Apex Invisalign providers, which means we have successfully met the high standard of care and have treated over 6,800 patients with these aligners. If you are looking for a discreet, convenient and efficacious treatment, Invisalign in Newcastle could be the system you need to address a range of problems connected to misaligned teeth. With so many benefits for choosing this treatment, you’ll be glad that you did and you could have your new smile in as little as 4 to 6 months!

The lowdown on Invisalign

If you aren’t familiar with Invisalign, the system uses clear plastic aligners to straighten dentition. You will need to put them in your mouth where they sit very snugly over the teeth. You will also wear a different aligner at regular intervals as directed. All aligners will be sent to you for free, so you won’t need to come and see us to receive them, saving you both time and money. When the aligners are being worn, they apply force to push your teeth and this will gradually move them into the targeted position. They should be comfortable to wear because we make them bespoke for your mouth. Using iTero technology, we digitally scan your mouth and have the aligners manufactured to fit your mouth precisely. From this scan, we can also generate an animation of what your teeth will look like once your treatment has finished as well. This can really help to motivate you prior to wearing your first set of aligners!

The other benefits of Invisalign

Other benefits of Invisalign in Newcastle include the fact that when worn, the aligners are virtually invisible to other people. This is a major bonus for people who feel self-conscious about the thought of having to wear something in their mouths. What’s more, the aligners may be removed for 2 hours daily, allowing you to take them out at mealtimes and when you want to clean your teeth. You won’t, therefore, need to worry about altering your diet in any way to avoid certain types of food, such as hard or chewy edibles, and you can brush and floss efficiently afterwards, without having to try and brush around anything.

Another advantage of choosing Invisalign is the fact that by realigning your teeth, you are making it easier to clean them, as they should be in the optimum position for doing so, rather than being crossed over each other, for example. You may also find that your speech is improved by rectifying your alignment and also that you don’t have any jaw pain as a result of chewing difficulties, these should also be addressed by choosing to realign your smile. And, who can forget the fact that once you have straightened your teeth, you should have a fabulous smile?!

Find out more

If you would like to know if Invisalign is the appropriate treatment for you, why not contact us for a free consultation? There is no obligation and we will be able to examine you and present you with the treatment options, so you can decide with the grasp of everything you need to know. With our skills and experience at the practice, we want you to feel in control of the treatment you choose, and we are confident that we can give you the care you need to succeed.

If you have been thinking about Invisalign, then you have come to the right place. Here at Clear Braces Direct, we are specialists in Invisalign London, the world’s most popular teeth-straightening system designed for the modern generation, helping you achieve a beautifully straight smile comfortably and conveniently at your discretion. We are the UK’s only direct-to-patient Invisalign provider, and we can help you achieve a beautiful smile by correcting the aesthetic issues that are affecting the appearance of your teeth from within the comfort of your own home.

Here at Clear Braces Direct, we have a simple three-step process for you to undergo treatment with Invisalign London.

Step 1 – is Invisalign the right treatment for you?

The first step is to go onto our website and book yourself a free Invisalign scan to find out whether Invisalign London is the right treatment option for you. You can upload a smiling selfie onto our website and leave us your details; we will assess your smile and request that you book an appointment at your convenience. During this appointment, you will receive a free in-house consultation with one of our Invisalign dentists.

Our innovative 3D scanning system will create a digital image of your mouth, and using the Invisalign ClinCheck technology, we will be able to show you how Invisalign can transform your teeth. ClinCheck allows us to put together an individually tailored treatment plan for you, letting us know how many aligners are necessary to transform your smile. It also lets us give you an accurate prediction of how long the treatment will take as well as the cost of the procedure. If you are happy with the plan, then you are ready to proceed.

Step 2 – the treatment

In the second step, you will receive a consent form and a payment link. Your Invisalign aligners will then be ordered and delivered directly to you, or if necessary, you can book an appointment for an initial fitting. The treatment consists of a series of aligners, each of which is designed to be worn for approximately two weeks at a time to help you achieve a neatly aligned smile. We have a Clear Braces Direct monitoring app, on which you can upload regular smiling selfies, allowing us to track your progress using the latest in dental technology and giving you the opportunity to discuss any queries or issues you may have. In this way, you do not have to make time for lengthy appointments unless necessary, and you can speak to our dentist online.

Step 3 – retain your smile

The third and last step involves retaining your new Invisalign smile. Once you have completed the treatment course and you are happy with the results, you can speak to our team and find out about retainers to help you maintain the smile that you have achieved with Invisalign. Visit our website today and find out more about Invisalign with Clear Braces Direct and how you can enjoy a beautiful and healthy smile from the comfort of your own home.