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Much like the ongoing disputes between comic book fans about which comic is better, DC or Marvel, there is now something of a similar dispute undertaken by dentists: which is better for adult orthodontic care, braces or invisible aligners?

Luckily, this is down to interpretation as both of these options have their own benefits and setbacks. As you can imagine, it is easier to determine which will be better suited for a patient than which comic book villain is a better character!

When you come to Clear Braces Direct, we will offer you a candid assessment of your current dental misalignment. If we feel that it is too severe to undertake Invisalign London, we will happily refer you to one of our orthodontic colleagues to better fit your needs. However, if you are given the green light by our team, you can begin using these remarkable invisible aligners.

But what are some of the core considerations that go into choosing which is more suited for you? Here is a brief guide as to what our team will consider when deciding whether Invisalign London is right for you.

Discipline

One of the key differences between using Invisalign London and braces is the discipline involved in the use of the former. For invisible aligners to work, they need to be worn for around 22 hours a day; this is solely your responsibility. When it comes to assessing whether this treatment will work or not, our team will need to know that you have the discipline to wear them for this allotted time.

Severity of misalignment

As mentioned earlier, the severity of the misalignment will play a large role in determining which orthodontic tool we will use. If you have a misalignment that involves your molar teeth or requires one of your teeth to be rotated, this will usually be best suited to a fixed brace. If the misalignment is mild to minor and located at the front of your mouth, then we will likely suggest the use of invisible aligners.

Time

The timeline of both treatments is very different, with orthodontic braces taking up to 3 years to straighten teeth and invisible aligners taking between 3 to 6 months on average. So, if you have an important event coming up and a mild to moderate misalignment, then our team will likely suggest the invisible aligners. However, if you have a severe orthodontic misalignment, we will not recommend simply using invisible aligners just because they are faster but may suggest a clear fixed brace instead.

Impact

Do you have a job that requires you to give a lot of talks? Once again, if you do and need a more complicated realignment of your teeth, we may suggest a clear fixed brace. However, one of the core benefits of wearing invisible aligners is that visually, they are exceedingly discreet, thus making less of an impact.

Care

It is fair to say that fixed braces and invisible aligners both require care. Fixed braces will require you to attend dental checkups and appointments more regularly to have them tightened, and you will need to invest in interdental brushes to keep them clean. Invisible aligners also need to be kept clean, and you must maintain good oral hygiene. So, depending on your age and level of dental health, we will assess your suitability for each orthodontic tool.

If you grew up with a friend who was wearing a fixed metal brace, then you’re probably familiar with their routine. They would need to brush their teeth excessively after eating meals and see their dentist every 2 to 6 weeks on average to have their braces adjusted and tightened to move their teeth.

While seemingly invasive, this routine is fairly well known, and the daily care or fixed metal braces is almost ingrained into most people’s minds due to this interaction. However, when it comes to wearing invisible aligners, there is a cut-off in this kind of information.

Our team at Clear Braces Direct works exclusively with, as you can guess, clear braces and aligners like Invisalign London. We know all there is to know about this orthodontic tool and can provide you with specific instructions on how to care for your aligners every single day to ensure that they achieve their final goal of straightening your teeth without hassle or interruption.

So, with that in mind, what are some of our tips for maintaining Invisalign London in daily life?

Daily wear

For Invisalign London to work, you will need to wear the aligners for around 22 hours a day or as instructed by our team. If you do not do this, then it is likely that your teeth will move slower, or they may actually revert to their former positions, making the entire endeavour a waste of time.

Be sure to keep an eye out for things such as loosening aligners, as this can indicate that it is time to move on to the next aligner in the series.

Cleaning

One good thing about invisible aligners is that they are removable, meaning that you can take them out to brush your teeth. However, you will also have to ensure that the aligners are kept clean in order to keep your dental health in top condition. This will involve rinsing them under a cold water tap to prevent food debris from being pressed against your teeth and gums once you wear the aligner.

Carrying

Once again, because the aligners are removable, it can be all too tempting to simply take them out when you are at work and stuff them into your pocket or bag. This can cause the aligner to warp out of shape or break, which would render it useless. So be sure to carry your aligners in the carry case provided when you receive them from our surgery.

Selfies

There are few people who don’t like taking selfies, but as part of your routine, you will need to take weekly selfies, showing yourself wearing the aligner so that our team can assess how well it is working. You can do this with the associated app, which is downloadable for smartphones. Provided that all goes well, you will simply get a “no further action required” message back from our team.

Issues

There can be issues whilst wearing invisible aligners that you’ll need to keep an eye out for. One problem is that the aligners are too tight or too loose when you wear them; this can mean there is an issue with the fitting. If you lose an aligner, do not simply skip on to the next one in the series but instead contact our team to have a replacement sent out to you.

When it comes to undertaking orthodontic treatment as an adult, most people will want an option that involves as few trips to the dentist or orthodontic surgery as possible, as this can be quite difficult to fit in around a busy schedule.

Luckily, there is a way that you can get the straighter teeth you want without having to see a dentist every 2 to 6 weeks, and this involves the use of invisible or clear aligners. But you will need to take the helm when it comes to changing and cleaning your aligners and adhering to the guidelines given by our team.

At Clear Braces Direct, our team knows that most people do not have spare time to visit to see their dentists every few weeks to have their teeth assessed. Therefore, we are always happy to offer our adult patients Invisalign London if they are suitable candidates. Patients being treated with Invisalign will need to send us weekly photos of their smiles, and provided all goes well, that’s about it!

But even with all this ease of use and simple fitting, there may be some signs that your Invisalign London aligner is not working correctly; so, here are some of the key ones to keep an eye out for.

They wobble

As you will need to wear each aligner for around two weeks at a time, you will be able to predict when it is the right time to move on to the next one in the series, and that will be when the aligner is wobbling or loose. However, if your aligner wobbles when you wear it or throughout your daily routine, then this is a sign that it is not tracking properly and cannot move your teeth as required, so be sure to contact our team.

They are too tight

On the other side of the spectrum, if it is hard to take your aligners out or put them in, this can symbolise that they are too tightly fitted, which can cause excessive discomfort and unpredictable movements to occur. While you should expect it to be tight sometimes when you use this aligner, excessive tightness can cause discomfort and even injury to the gums. So, be sure to visit our team if this is occurring.

Your teeth aren’t moving

One of the best things about Invisalign London is that by using computer technology, we can show you exactly how your teeth are going to be moved by the aligner. But a sign that it isn’t working at all is that, simply put, your teeth are not moving! This needs to be assessed as soon as possible as it may be an issue with the fitting or the tracking.

Your teeth aren’t moving as predicted

Once again, your teeth need to move as predicted in order for the treatment to be successful. If they are moving in a way that was not shown in the computer models, this needs to be explored by our team.

The treatment is excessively uncomfortable

It is true that wearing an aligner or brace is unlikely to be exceedingly comfortable since, after all, these devices are designed to move your teeth. However, if you notice that your orthodontic treatment with an invisible aligner is causing excessive levels of discomfort, this needs to be assessed by our team as the aligner may have warped or there may be an underlying issue with your teeth or gums that has not been detected.

It is no small thing approaching a dental team to have your teeth straightened as an adult.

This process was once seen as extreme and expensive, but thanks to advances in modern-day orthodontics, you can now have your teeth straightened without drawing unwanted stares or breaking the bank.

One of the most popular methods available today for adults to straighten their teeth is the use of invisible aligners. However, while these are exceedingly popular, many people have disparaged them; therefore, there have been several myths floating around on the internet that you may have seen whilst researching adult orthodontic care.

At Clear Braces Direct, we’re always happy to discuss using Invisalign London with our patients to help them get a straighter and better-aligned smile. This aligner has changed the face of adult orthodontic care and can be used to treat even more severe cases of orthodontic misalignment. So, if you are curious about getting straighter teeth without the hassle, feel free to contact us.

But what are some of the most common myths that surround this aligner? Read on to learn the facts behind the fiction relating to Invisalign London.

The aligners don’t work

Of course, Invisalign London works! It wouldn’t be so popular if it didn’t!

This myth seems to stem from people assuming that the aligner just cannot work as well as a brace. However, due to its unique, custom-fitted shape and vector maps, the aligner can apply pressure to the right areas in your mouth to move your teeth gently and without hassle. If you have used aligners mimicking Invisalign that you bought online and they have not worked, you likely need to see a dentist or orthodontic team to discuss a suitable option.

They take longer than standard braces

Actually, no, they don’t! Because Invisalign aligners are designed to treat mild to moderate cases of dental misalignment, they can do so in as little as 3 to 6 months. Whereas wearing a standard fixed orthodontic brace can take 36 months for most adult patients.

They are too expensive for most people to afford

Once again, treatment with Invisalign is more affordable than many people expect because patients don’t have to visit their dentists to have their aligners straightened or adjusted. Furthermore, since the aligners must be worn for around 3 to 6 months on average, fewer appointments are needed, thus lowering the overall cost of the treatment.

You can get the same results using aligners bought online

Many online aligners will require you to take dental moulds by yourself at home; unless you have orthodontic experience, this can be tricky to get right. So, generally speaking, no, you cannot get the same results from aligners that are bought online. If you want to get your teeth straightened, you should seek the advice of our team.

The results don’t last

Like all orthodontic treatments, the results will only last if you maintain regular appointments with your dentist and wear the required retainers for the appropriate amount of time to prevent your teeth from reverting to their previous positions.

When most adults are advised to undertake orthodontic treatment, many of them presume that this will mean wearing a fitted orthodontic or metal brace.

This can create more than a few problems, especially if you have a job that requires you to give talks, such as a lecturer, as you may be self-conscious about people looking at your teeth. Luckily, there is a way to get the straighter smile you deserve without undergoing such extensive orthodontic work, and that is with the use of invisible aligners.

When you come to us at Clear Braces Direct to talk to our team about orthodontic treatment, we will likely advise the use of one of our most famous and successful aligners: Invisalign London. This aligner has helped thousands of people get the straighter smiles they wanted, without using excessive force or visually noticeable methods, making it exceedingly popular.

But even at this early stage, you may have queries about how Invisalign London works. In this article, our team aims to answer five of the most common questions about this invisible aligner treatment.

How do the aligners work?

Invisalign London works due to its unique and custom-fitted shape. When you come to see our team for your initial consultation, we will assess your suitability, and assuming that you have good oral health and only a moderate case of dental misalignment, we will then use an intraoral scanner to take an image of your teeth.

The image from the scan will be used to create the shape of the starting aligner. Using computer technology to move your teeth digitally, another set of aligners will be custom-made to support the movement at each stage.

How long does it take?

It is hard to say since your clinical case will vary from other people. However, on average, invisible aligners can straighten your teeth in as little as 3 to 6 months, provided that you wear them for the allotted time per day, which is usually 22 hours.

Can they correct overbites?

In some cases, yes, they can correct overbites. As mentioned earlier, your overbite will have to be mild to moderate, and it cannot involve crooked molar teeth that need notating, as this can only be achieved using standard metal braces.

Is it uncomfortable to wear them?

Because the aligners are slimmer than traditional fitted braces, many patients find that they are easier to wear in daily life. Because the aligners do not exert pressure or force in the same way as braces do when they have been adjusted or corrected, the treatment itself is more comfortable in general.

However, you should expect some sensations of soreness and pressure, for which you will need to take over-the-counter pain relievers. If it becomes excruciatingly difficult to wear your aligners, please contact our team.

Are they going to be expensive?

The cost of braces in adult life is governed by multiple factors, one of which involves visits to the dentist to have the braces tightened. As invisible aligners do not require this, you may be surprised at how affordable they can be. We are also able to offer financing options to suitable patients to help break down the cost of treatment.

Are you fed up with having to hide your smile in group photos at work? Or have you simply had enough of feeling that your smile is not good enough to show off? You are not alone, and in the UK, as many as 1 in 5 adults wish their teeth were straighter.

Luckily, there is now a way for you to get the straighter smile you want without having to resort to wearing fixed metal braces, and this is known as the use of clear or invisible aligners, which are simple to use and easy to fit into a daily schedule.

At Clear Braces Direct, we are always happy and eager to meet with adult patients who want to straighten their smiles. One of the aligners that we use in our surgery is Invisalign London, which can work quickly and effectively to correct mild to moderate cases of orthodontic misalignment.

But what exactly goes into making and wearing Invisalign London? Below is a rough guide on what you can expect when you come to our surgery for this treatment.

Consultation

First, for you to be deemed suitable to wear Invisalign London, our team will need to assess your overall oral health and the position of your teeth. As mentioned briefly earlier, if you have a mild to moderate misalignment, then it is highly likely that you’ll be suitable for this treatment. You also need to have good oral health with no signs of active decay or gum disease. If all goes to plan, we will use an intraoral scanner to take an image of the inside of your mouth, which will then be sent to a dental laboratory.

Creation

From this scan, your digital teeth will be uploaded into specialised orthodontic computer software, which will move them. Using these projected movements, a set of aligners will then be 3D printed; there will usually be between 12 to 14 aligners in a standard set, but for slightly more complicated cases, there may be as many as 18. The entire process takes between 6 to 8 weeks.

Daily wear

When your aligners arrive back at our surgery, we will call you in and show you how to wear them. They have to be worn in the set order and for around 22 hours a day for them to work.

You also need to keep your aligners clean; when you take them out before a meal, you will need to brush your teeth to ensure that no food debris gets pressed against your teeth or gums once your aligners are back on. This will help to keep your oral health in check whilst undergoing this treatment.

Appointments

You will not need to see our team frequently unless a serious issue needs to be addressed. However, you will need to download the app with Invisalign and send us weekly images of your smile so that we can assess whether or not the aligners are working as predicted.

Post-treatment

Once you have finished your treatment (in as little as 3 to 6 months), you will need to wear retainers to keep your teeth in their new positions. Without retainers, your teeth may revert or take on a different misalignment, which will lead to another course of orthodontic care.

When you are an adult considering orthodontic care, you may have concerns that some of your pre-existing dental conditions or restorations may not be compatible with orthodontic realignments, particularly when it comes to using an invisible aligner.

Luckily, the dental teams that produced Invisalign were aware that realignment rarely occurs in a vacuum and that those who use this tool will likely have other treatments that have been performed in their mouths. Thus, they have aimed to ensure that invisible aligners are compatible with almost every restorative or cosmetic treatment there is for your teeth.

At Clear Braces Direct, we will always aim to be frank and clear with our patients about treatment with Invisalign London and how it may impact other restorative and cosmetic treatments they have undertaken. After all, we want you to get the straighter smile that you want and deserve without having to sacrifice other cosmetic treatments to do so.

So, without further ado, in this article, our team looks at the common cosmetic treatments that many of our patients have when they come to us for Invisalign London and whether or not they are compatible.

Dental implants

Invisalign London is designed to move your natural teeth into more desirable positions. But what if you have dental implants? Will the use of an invisible aligner cause an issue?

In most cases, no. The use of dental implants will not negatively impact the realignment process of an invisible aligner. This is because most dental implants are set in straight positions alongside your other teeth and will not need to be moved by the aligner, making them compatible.

Crowns

Crowns are an extensive restoration of a tooth that has been damaged just above the gum line but has healthy roots; this leaves many people to worry that pressure from an invisible aligner may cause the crown to fall off. Luckily, if your crown is being correctly maintained with bi-annual checkups, it will likely not fall, and the tooth can be moved alongside any others without hassle during the realignment process.

Fillings

Much like a crown, even a very large filling can be successfully moved using invisible aligners, provided that there is no underlying decay or that the tooth that has the filling is not loose or showing signs of decay.

Root canals

Root canals are a bit more complicated as they are, in essence, fillings that have occurred underneath the gum line. You’ll be glad to know that if the tooth that has had the root canal is healthy, it will not negatively impact the orthodontic treatment you wish to undertake.

Just be sure that you attend your bi-annual checkups regularly before undertaking invisible aligners to ensure that your root canal is set in place.

Veneers

As you may have guessed by now, the majority of these restoratives depend on them being securely in place and not moving when it comes to treatment with invisible aligners. In the case of veneers, which are, in essence, porcelain shells placed over the front of your teeth, it is possible to have treatment with aligners, as it does not put pressure onto the veneer but rather the tooth. Provided that the veneers are strongly bonded to your teeth, there should not be an issue with invisible aligner treatment.