Category: Invisalign

In life, when looking for treatment, many people seek to compare the desired treatment with the closest alternative. This is common in cosmetic care, with patients comparing the effects of a facelift to dermal fillers, for instance.

However, when it comes to dental care and the realigning of teeth, this is no different. Many patients are aware that straightening teeth with a clear aligner is usually the way to go for easy and discreet treatment. But they cannot help but have concerns that an invisible aligner will not compare to a standard fixed brace.

Hence, we have devised the following article to help you compare invisible aligners with braces.

At Clear Braces Direct, we know all there is to know about invisible aligners, especially Invisalign London, and we are well versed in how they compare to fixed forms of orthodontics. So if you are curious about how this aligner works or whether it is suitable for you, feel free to contact us.

But how does Invisalign London compare to a standard fixed brace when straightening teeth? Read on to find out.

Time

You may have heard that Invisalign London will take longer than a standard fixed brace to straighten your teeth simply because it doesn’t work on the same principles; this is not true. Most patients who undertake treatment with an invisible aligner will need to wear it for between 3 to 6 months, depending on the severity of the problem being corrected and their adherence to the advice set down by us. A standard fixed brace is usually worn by adult patients for between 12 and 36 months, so it is easy to see which option is preferable if you are looking to save time while straightening your teeth.

Comfort

Even in 2022, there is no such thing as a comfortable aligner or brace because these are tools that need to move teeth and cannot afford to hold back when aiming to achieve that goal. However, aligners work differently. Braces are fixed and require tightening or adjusting to work, whereas aligners have these movements built into their shapes and gradually push your teeth into the required locations. So many patients find aligners more comfortable to wear overall.

Ease of use

Braces are somewhat easy to use; they are fixed, you need to keep them clean, and then your dentist adjusts them. Aligners, on the other hand, are within your control. You are required to time how often you wear them and when you wear them, as well as send weekly selfies to our team via the associated app. However, many patients find the ease of use with invisible aligners related to the cleaning and general maintenance, which is a bit more complicated with a fixed brace.

Appointments

When you wear a fixed brace, you will need to attend appointments with our dentist every 4 to 6 weeks to have the brace tightened or adjusted. With invisible aligners, you will need to see our team on average every 6 to 8 weeks for checkups. But as mentioned earlier, you also need to send weekly selfies, which can reduce your time visiting our team if all is going well.

Cost

Many people assume that invisible aligners are more expensive than braces, but this is rarely the case, as the overall cost involves the appointment with our team and any adjustments that are needed, which will be more common with a fixed brace. So, invisible aligners are usually the more affordable option.

When it comes to wearing a brace, you will not need to know whether it is working or not; this is the job of the dentist in charge of your care, who can make adjustments on your behalf, so the brace will straighten your teeth. However, this is not the case with aligners. There are many people in the UK straightening their teeth with clear aligners who may not be aware of whether their aligners are working or not.

With many clinics offering distance-based dentistry, it can be tough for dental teams to spot whether the aligner is working as planned until there is an obvious issue. So how can you tell whether your orthodontic treatment is going to plan or not?

At Clear Braces Direct, we have made it our mission to straighten the smiles of our patients using Invisalign London. We know everything about this nifty clear aligner and will always aim to ensure that it works for you and that you can get the straighter smile that you want and deserve.

But how can you tell whether the aligner is working or not when you are at home and in between checkups? Here are some telltale indicators that Invisalign London is not working as planned and that you need to book an appointment to see our team.

Your teeth aren’t moving

It sounds obvious, but many people assume that because the aligners work in smaller increments, you will not notice your teeth moving. Invisalign London offers you the ability to visually see your teeth moving through the aligner as the treatment progresses. If you notice that your teeth are not moving as predicted by our team, then you need to book an appointment to see us. The aligners may no longer fit correctly, or there may be another issue that needs addressing.

The aligners are wobbly

Wobbly aligners are a part of this treatment. When you wear an aligner for two weeks and it starts to feel wobbly, it is time to move on to the next aligner in the series. But if each aligner feels loose or wobbles when you talk, then this is a sign that the aligners do not fit correctly and, therefore, cannot work. The invisible aligners should be tight to your teeth when they are first put on and gradually become looser during the wear.

The aligners don’t fit over all of your teeth

If the aligners do not cover all of your teeth correctly, then it is unlikely that they will have the required tension to work as planned. If your teeth are moving and the aligners no longer fit over one of them, then you need to see our team to assess the underlying cause of this unpredicted movement.

They are too tight

On the other end of the spectrum, if your aligners feel tight throughout the entire period of you wearing them, then this is a sign that there is an issue with the overall alignment process. Typically, this can be due to a tooth moving out of alignment unpredictably. Our team will need to assess this and remedy it for you to get your straighter smile using the aligner.

Before undertaking any kind of treatment, it is always wise to search online to find out as much as you can. However, while the internet is a great source of information relating to procedures, it is not always an accurate one, especially when it comes to dentistry and adult-based orthodontics. If you are researching clear or invisible aligners, you may have heard or come across many articles relating to mistruths about this treatment, primarily ones that claim that the aligners do not work or are an expensive way to not get your teeth straightened.

This can be disheartening when you are an adult who simply wants a better-looking smile!

At Clear Braces Direct, we have heard all of these mistruths about Invisalign London before and are always happy to discuss the concerns that our patients may have about this aligner before we begin using it to help them get the smile that they want.

With that in mind, what are some of the most prevalent myths about Invisalign London that you may have seen online? Read on for the truth behind the most common ones that we have heard in our clinic.

Myth 1 – They don’t work

Of course, Invisalign London works! Otherwise, there would not be thousands of patients who can show off their smiles with supreme confidence after using the treatment. We believe that this myth is due to poorly fitted aligners that have been purchased from online sources and, therefore, been linked to Invisalign. We can assure you that if you are suitable for treatment with this aligner, it will be able to straighten your smile.

Myth 2 – They are too expensive

Many of our patients have concerns about paying for adult orthodontic care and believe that invisible aligners will be extremely expensive. However, we know that money does not grow on trees, and we can offer financing to our suitable patients to help them cover the costs of their orthodontic treatment with us. Great!

Myth 3 – Online options are just as effective

In our experience, online options or straight-to-your-door options are rarely as effective as the ones that we can offer. This is because the majority of these options require you to take a dental mould at home all by yourself, which can cause issues with getting an accurate measurement of your teeth. An accurate measurement is required to make an aligner. When you come to our team at Clear Braces Direct, we will use an intraoral scanner to take clear and precise measurements of your teeth, which can then be used to make your aligners.

Myth 4 – They cannot treat difficult cases

Originally, invisible aligners could not treat difficult orthodontic cases, but as technology has advanced, they have become better at correcting more complicated misalignments. The only way to be certain whether this option will correct your misaligned teeth is to contact our team and set up a consultation.

Myth 5 – They are better than braces

They are clear, they are fast; therefore, they are better than braces, aren’t they? The answer is no. Invisible aligners are suitable for those who have mild to moderate cases of misalignment. Whereas fitted braces are better designed for people who have more complicated cases. So, neither tool is better but rather more suited to certain cases.

When you are given the green light to start using an invisible aligner, it is going to be an exciting time. Not only do invisible aligners straighten teeth in an accelerated time frame, but they also offer the discretion that many patients want when undertaking orthodontic care in their adult life. But that does not mean that invisible aligners come without their instructions. In actuality, when undertaking invisible aligners, you will have to follow a strict set of instructions to ensure that the aligner has the time to work.

At Clear Braces Direct, we have helped thousands of patients get the straighter smiles that they want using invisible aligners like Invisalign London. And so, we will always be on hand to answer any queries that you may have about using this aligner to get the straighter smile that you want.

So, what are some of our tips for ensuring that your time wearing Invisalign London is not in vain? Read on to find out.

Keep them in!

Invisalign London is removable, so it can be extremely tempting to remove and leave it out of your mouth. But for this aligner to work correctly, you need to keep it in for a minimum of 22 hours per day or as recommended by our dental team. If you don’t follow this guideline, not only will your teeth not move, but they may revert to their former positions, making the entire experience a waste of time and effort.

Keep them clean

For maintaining a high level of dental hygiene while undertaking invisible aligners, you will need to keep the aligners clean; this is extremely straightforward as they are made from plastic and can simply be rinsed under a cold water tap. You can also use a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove any stubborn food debris. It can be tempting, but even if you have a stubborn stain, do not rinse your aligner under hot water as this can cause it to warp out of shape.

Get a toothbrush

A key tip for maintaining oral hygiene and ensuring that your aligners track correctly is to keep your teeth clean. We advise that when you are eating or consuming beverages that are not water, you should remove the aligners from your mouth. So when you go to put the aligners back into your mouth, you will need to scrub your teeth quickly to remove any food debris; this will prevent cavities and gum disease from forming. Therefore, it is well worth investing in a travel-sized toothbrush to take to work or university.

Maintain contact with our team

You will need to maintain regular contact with our team to ensure that your treatment goes off without a hitch. This is not extensive, as you will only need to see us every 6 to 8 weeks to ensure that there are no issues that go undiagnosed.

Download the app!

Yes, even invisible aligners have an app! To maintain contact with our team, we advise our patients to download the app, which will allow them to send weekly selfies so that we can assess whether their aligners are working as predicted or whether they need to come in to see our team.

There has never been a better time to undertake orthodontic realignment as an adult. When you visit a dental clinic in 2022, there is a multitude of options available to help you get the straighter smile that you want and deserve.

One of the most popular options that modern dental surgeries can offer is invisible or clear aligners. These have taken the world of adult orthodontics by storm, as they are easy to wear, do not require adjusting and are, of course, invisible or the closest thing to invisible that you can get!

When you come to us at Clear Braces Direct, our team will be able to offer you invisible aligners to straighten your teeth in the form of Invisalign London, as this is one of our most popular options.

But before you rush to book your appointment, you will likely have some questions about these aligners. In this article, our team answers 5 of the standard questions that we receive about Invisalign London from our patients. So, read on and enjoy!

How do the aligners work?

Invisalign London works due to its unique shape. The aligners themselves are custom-fitted to slot over your teeth well, and during the course of the treatment, they gradually apply pressure to your teeth, pushing them into shape. An average set of aligners contains between 12 and 14 aligners, which will slowly move your teeth into the desired positions. Our team will take an intraoral scan of your teeth during the first appointment and then use computer technology to simulate the movements needed to get the result that you want. These images are then transferred to a 3D printer and printed. And voila! The aligners are complete!

Can anyone wear them?

Unfortunately no, not everyone is suitable for undertaking treatment with invisible aligners. Originally designed to help with mild to moderate cases of orthodontic misalignment, this option is not suitable for people who require more complex movement of their teeth, such as movement of molars, rotations of teeth or extreme protrusions or bite issues. But our team at Clear Braces Direct will be able to assess your suitability when you attend a consultation.

How long do they take to work?

Invisible aligners take on average between 3 and 6 months to work, but this will depend on the severity of the misalignment being treated and whether or not you adhere to wearing the aligners for the required 22 hours per day. For more complicated cases of misalignment, you may need to wear the aligners for up to 18 months, but our team will be able to offer a more specific breakdown of your treatment timeline.

Can I afford them?

Orthodontic care in adult life can be intimidating, especially when you consider the potential costs. However, our team can offer financing options to suitable patients, which will help break down the overall cost into affordable monthly repayments. So you won’t have to worry about your budget being affected!

Will I need to wear retainers afterwards?

Yes, irrespective of the tool that is used to move your teeth, you will need to wear a retainer afterwards to ensure that your teeth remain in the final positions.

When it comes to wearing invisible aligners, you are likely to have some questions. Especially if this is your first time undertaking orthodontic treatment. Invisible aligners are designed to be very different from traditional braces, which means the patient is more involved in their daily wear than they would be with a fitted brace.

If you are considering the use of invisible aligners but want to know more about what their daily wear will entail, please read on and, we will aim to provide you with a straightforward guide.

At Clear Braces Direct, our team has specialised in the use of invisible aligners, particularly Invisalign London, and will always aim to ensure that our patients know exactly how to use any orthodontic tool we prescribe to get the best out of the treatment. After all, we want your smile to straighten just as much as you do!

With that in mind, here, we answer common queries that our past patients have had about the daily wear of Invisalign London.

How often do I need to wear them?

For Invisalign London to work as needed, you will have to wear the aligners for a minimum of 22 hours per day or as directed by our team. This will ensure that they have the appropriate amount of time to apply the required pressure to your teeth in order to move them. If you do not wear the aligners for the prescribed time, then your teeth may fail to move or they may revert to their former positions.

How do I carry them when they are not in my mouth?

When you are at work or university, you may be required to take your aligners out. You will need to place them into the carry case provided. Do not simply toss them into your bag or pocket, as this can cause them to become damaged. The carry cases are designed to ensure that the temperature within the case does not cause warping, whilst also protecting the aligners from external stressors that could damage them.

Is cleaning them difficult?

No, the cleaning of invisible aligners is not difficult. In fact, all you need to do to keep your aligners clean is rinse them under a cold water tap twice a day and remove any stuck-on food debris with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Do not rinse them under hot water, as this may cause them to warp out of shape.

Do I need to take them out when I eat?

Yes, you will need to take the aligners out when you eat or drink anything that is not cold water; this is to prevent the aligners from becoming damaged or stained. Just remember to brush your teeth after eating and before putting your aligners back in to ensure that tooth decay and gum disease do not develop.

Do I need to use a straw when drinking while wearing the aligner?

There is nothing to stop you from using a straw whilst drinking when wearing the aligner. Just be sure that you aren’t consuming cold water or anything hot or high in tannins. As mentioned earlier, hot beverages can cause warping and high tannins can cause staining.

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.

When you are an adult who is interested in straightening your smile, you will want to ensure that any treatment that you undertake will be beneficial.

With the use of invisible aligners, it is easy to assume that the control and success of the aligner are completely within the hands of the dentist. However, this is not true, and there are many things that you can do that will ensure your time wearing an invisible aligner is successful.

For years at Clear Braces Direct, we have been helping patients get the straighter smiles that they want using Invisalign London. This clear plastic aligner can slot over your teeth and gently apply pressure, moving them in gradual steps rather than tightening sessions, which is common with a fitted brace.

So, what are some of the things you can do to ensure that Invisalign London works for you? Read on to find out.

Hygiene

This aligner is removable, so it will not have a detrimental impact on your oral hygiene.

However, Invisalign London will require you to take care of your teeth and gums. When you remove the aligner during mealtimes, you will need to clean your teeth before you wear the aligner again to ensure that food debris and bacteria are not pressed against the teeth or gums. You may also need to see a dental hygienist throughout this treatment if you have a history of gum disease or if there is a family history of this disorder.

Diet

It goes without saying that when you undertake any kind of orthodontic treatment, you should minimise your sugar intake as this can increase the chances of secondary conditions occurring. However, as invisible aligners are removable, you will not need to alter your diet as much as you would with a fitted brace.

Smoking

Everybody knows that smoking is bad for your health, and this extends to your teeth and gums. If you are looking to undertake invisible aligners, it may be worth kicking the habit fast. Smoking whilst wearing invisible aligners not only increases your chance of developing gum disease but also heightens the chance of you developing oral cancer. It is also worth noting that if you smoke whilst wearing an aligner, this will dry your mouth out, which can lead to a higher chance of developing tooth decay. A dry mouth has less saliva, which is essential for keeping food debris and sugars off of your teeth to keep them healthy.

Appointments

One of the main reasons why people choose to undertake invisible aligners is because there are fewer appointments with our team. But you will still need to see us every 6 to 8 weeks on average, provided that there are no issues with the ongoing treatment.

Engagement!

This brings us to this point! When you come to Clear Braces Direct to undertake invisible aligners, we will need to see weekly selfies of your smile to ascertain whether or not the aligners are working as predicted. If they aren’t, you may need to come in and see our team for adjustments to be made.

When it comes to wearing an invisible aligner, you may think that the only thing that will prevent you from being suitable would be the severity of the dental misalignment.

It is true that the severity of the misalignment that you have will impact the choice of orthodontic treatment that may be suitable for you. However, there is a lot more that goes into deciding whether or not an invisible aligner will be the right option for you.

At Clear Braces Direct, our team knows all about the suitability for Invisalign London as this aligner is our speciality. We are always happy to discuss this with our patients and will always be honest about whether or not this aligner is the most suitable one to help you get the smile that you want.

So, what are some of the factors that may impact your suitability for treatment with Invisalign London? Read on to find out.

Good oral health

First and foremost, you need to have good oral health. If you have any active decay or gum disease, then you will not be able to undertake treatment with Invisalign London. This is because it is detrimental to put pressure on teeth that are already cracked or damaged or on gums that may be rejecting the teeth they are supporting. If you have any signs of gum disease or tooth decay, these must be resolved before you undertake any orthodontic treatment.

Age

There is a reason why our team prefers using invisible aligners on adults.

In simple terms, it is because they tend to be more compliant. Many parents have approached our team to ask about their children undertaking invisible aligners rather than braces. But we have found that this is rarely suitable, as children are less likely to keep the aligners in for the required time each day. Invisalign is working on developing a suitable model for child patients, but at the moment, we do not have any options available; our youngest patient group tends to start at the age of around 13 years old.

Non-smoker

It is preferred that those who undertake invisible aligners do not smoke; this is because there is a direct link between smoking and a higher incidence of gum disease and tooth decay. Cigarette smoke dries out the mouth and reduces saliva, which is otherwise beneficial in keeping your teeth free from debris and reducing decay. Similarly, cigarette smoke has been linked to the formation of aggressive gum disease, and as mentioned earlier, this is not good if you want to undertake orthodontic treatment.

Mild to moderate issue

We mentioned this before, but you do need to have a mild to moderate case of dental misalignment to use invisible aligners. If your molar teeth are involved in your misalignment, or if there is excessive spacing, crowding or severe protrusion. then you may be more suitable for a fitted brace.

Willing to participate!

And finally, you have to want to undertake the treatment and engage with the guidelines. These will involve you sending our team weekly selfies of your smile so that we can assess whether there are any issues. You will also need to wear the aligner as prescribed and, of course, ensure that your oral health remains in good condition.

Have you ever felt a little bit like you’ve missed the boat, when it comes to getting your teeth realigned? Or are you a teenager who can’t contemplate risking people seeing how you are getting your crooked teeth straightened? Or perhaps you are one of those people who procrastinates and thinks you’ll sort your mild to moderate alignment issues tomorrow, but tomorrow never comes, not for doing something about it anyway. At Clear Braces Direct, we understand that finding an appropriate treatment for realigning teeth could pose a number of barriers for people: time, money, motivation – you name it. But, we are here to offer you a convenient and discreet method of realigning your teeth in as little as 4 to 6 months – that’s got to be worth taking action, right? When it comes to getting great care, we are Diamond Apex providers of Invisalign in Newcastle. We reduce the amount of times you will need to come in to see us to save you time and money, and to make life easier for you. We know your time is precious and we have the means to provide personalised treatment, while you spend more time doing the things you really want to do.

What is Invisalign then?

Invisalign in Newcastle is a system that uses plastic aligners that push your teeth into the targeted positions as they are being worn. The plastic is see-through, so only your teeth should be noticed by other people, allowing you to continue with your life, without the need to worry about what others are thinking about your smile. The aligners may also be removed for 2 hours each day, allowing you to consume food and drink normally, as well as brush and floss efficiently. You will just need to change your aligners regularly as directed by us and we will send your new aligners to your home for free! It’s just another way that we aim to keep your life simple.

What are the other advantages of Invisalign?

We will only call you in for a check-up if we think you really need one. Otherwise, we are able to monitor your progress remotely, using our personalised remote monitoring system. The app that we provide you with will also enable you to keep an eye on your progress too, which should be a motivational aspect of your treatment. What’s more, we will find out what the shape and size of your mouth is for your aligners to be made bespoke for you and, using iTero technology, we will also be able to create a 3D animation of how your teeth will look after treatment, before it has commenced, which should be highly motivating for you knowing how great your teeth are going to look. Invisalign in Newcastle can also improve your speech if you have developed speech issues due to your misaligned teeth, as well as reduce any jaw pain you may have. By realigning your teeth, you may also find that you can chew more easily and that you can brush and floss your teeth more efficiently afterwards.

Find out more

To find out whether or not Invisalign is the treatment for you, why not come and have a free consultation with us? It is a no-obligation opportunity for you to let our experienced dentist examine you and to advise you on the treatment options. If Invisalign is the way forward, you could have a great smile in just a few months. We know how to take care of our patients!