Straighten Teeth Invisibly
With the stigma of metal braces still present, invisible brace options have become a popular treatment choice with adults because they are not only more discreet but also faster.
Whether it’s white fixed braces or clear aligners, invisible devices have revolutionised the orthodontic market.
They make it possible for patients to straighten their teeth in private without the stigma of traditional metal braces, which can take up to 36 months to straighten teeth with visible brackets and wires.
So, if you’re thinking of straightening your teeth, here are the latest invisible brace options on offer.
Clear aligners
- Good for all types of bite problems
- Successfully solves class I and class II malocclusions
- Costs from £1,500
Invisalign is not the only brand offering clear aligners; it is one of the most popular and trusted. Clear aligners, like Invisalign, use transparent, removable trays made from medical-grade plastic. The trays are custom-designed to fit snugly over a patient’s teeth, exerting gentle pressure at the right time to gradually move teeth into their correct position.
However, as clear aligners are removable devices, it can sometimes encourage patients not to wear them for their allocated time.
Compliance is essential for the success of your treatment. If you opt for Invisalign clear aligners, you must wear them for 20-22 hours per day and switch to your new aligners as directed by your orthodontist.
Clear aligner brands include Invisalign, ClearCorrect, SureSmile, Byte, Strayt, and AlignerCo. However, it’s best to seek treatment with a dentist who aligns themselves with certain trusted brands. For example, as seen most recently with the Smile Club tragedy, it’s best to choose clear aligner brands used and recommended by dentists, like Invisalign.
Lingual braces
- Recommended for all types of tooth misalignment
- Successful for overbites, underbites, crossbites and more
- Costs from £5,000
Lingual braces are discreet but work exactly like traditional metal braces, as they sit behind the teeth (facing the tongue) rather than on the front surface. In this instance, lingual braces are not detectable when smiling but can be more noticeable when talking or opening the mouth wide.
However, patients might experience initial discomfort with lingual braces or speed impediments as they adjust to the braces, which typically resolve with time.
Six Month Smiles
- Mostly used to treat minor crowding cases
- Costs from £2,000
Six Month Smiles are like fixed braces, except that they’re smaller and white, making them harder to detect. However, as the name suggests, Six Month Smiles works faster and straightens minor bite problems within six months, which means patients with more complex orthodontic problems like overbites, might want to explore other discreet options. Ceramic braces are similar to Six Month Smiles but take around the same time as metal braces, if not sometimes longer.