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Are you new to using Invisalign aligners and in need of a bit of guidance on how to look after them?

At Clear Braces Direct London, our team knows all there is to know about invisible aligners and can offer you advice and survival tips for those first few weeks of use. Great!

Here, our team at Clear Braces Direct London discusses how to look after your aligners to maximise the realignment process and keep your teeth healthy, so enjoy!

Keep them clean

A key piece of advice that our team at Clear Braces Direct London will typically provide to those who are beginning the process of using Invisalign is to keep them clean.

This will not only help with the ‘invisible’ aspect of the aligner but also keep your teeth and gums healthy as you won’t be pushing food debris against them.

To keep your aligners clean, simply rinse them under a cold tap; do not use hot water to clean them, and refrain from using mouthwashes as this can stain the plastic.

Time yourself

These aligners are removable, and as such, you would have to wear them for around 22 hours a day.

The best way to stick to this limit (as obvious as it sounds) is to time yourself. If you leave the aligners out of your mouth for more than 2 hours a day, you can delay the process and even cause your teeth to revert to their former positions.

Take pain relief

You may have heard that Invisalign is a pain-free way to straighten your teeth.

Whilst we are aware that it uses gentle pushing motions as opposed to pulling teeth, it can still cause some discomfort. This is usually the most evident when you have just switched between aligners and have to adjust.

To mitigate these sensations, it may be wise to invest in some over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol. If you experience too much discomfort at any time, please talk to our team.

Use the app!

It seems that nowadays there is an app for everything, and the same can be said for realigning your teeth!

When you use these aligners, you will be given access to an associated app, which will allow you to send our team selfies of your smile so that we can assess how the aligners are working.

Should we feel that you need to come in to have an appointment based on any of the photos that you send, we will inform you and book you in.

Keep appointments

It goes without saying that these aligners are nifty and lifestyle friendly. However, that does not mean that you won’t need to see our team; we estimate that when you use Invisalign, you will require an appointment once every 6-8 weeks, just so we can check on how the process is going.

So, to help us maximise the effectiveness of the aligners and keep an eye out for problems, try to attend all the appointments made for you.

Do you want to get a straighter smile without the hassle of wearing a fitted metal brace as an adult?

At Clear Braces Direct London, we can help. We specialise in removable, clear aligners such as Invisalign, which can provide fast results for an affordable price!

In this article, our team will introduce you to some of the other advantages of using Clear Braces Direct London to get the straighter smile that you deserve. Enjoy!

Removable

As before, a key advantage of using Clear Braces Direct London is that we specialise in the Invisalign aligner.

And, as you may have heard, this aligner is not only visually discreet, but it is also removable. Why is that an advantage? Because it means you won’t have to worry about dietary restrictions like corn on the cob, you can take it out to brush your teeth and you can even attend dental checkups. Great!

Comfortable

It is worth remembering that Invisalign is designed to move your teeth into new positions.

But, it does this in a different way to regular braces and does not pull on your teeth to achieve this goal. It gently pushes them, and, as it is made from smooth plastic, it is physically more comfortable to wear at night or during the day, making it more appealing to adults and teenagers.

Fast results

As an adult, you may have concerns that any orthodontic process is going to be long-winded.

But, if our team gives the green light for you to undertake Invisalign, you may be able to have that straighter smile that you want in as little as 3 months! On average, this aligner takes between 3-6 months to straighten teeth, so it may not take as long as you think.

Lifestyle friendly

If you had a friend in high school who wore traditional braces, you probably remember them having to attend checkups every few weeks to have their braces adjusted and altered. Not only that, but they probably also had to visit their hygienist to ensure that their teeth were not succumbing to plaque that could get stuck behind the brace.

As an adult, this may be slightly inconvenient as you may have work and family commitments. With Invisalign, you do not need to have the aligner adjusted; you only need to attend (on average) a single appointment every 6-8 weeks and send us photos of your smile so that we can see how the treatment is progressing.

Improved oral health

One of the key things that concern adult patients about wearing a fitted brace is that it is going to be hard to clean and maintain.

After all, it is adhered to the teeth and can act as a magnet for food and debris, which can cause decay and increase the chances of you developing gum disease. With Invisalign, you can remove the aligner at any time, allowing you to clean your teeth as you usually would whilst also not having to worry about dietary restrictions.

In turn, this allows you to straighten your teeth without having to worry about your dental health being affected. Brilliant!

When it comes to orthodontic correction, most adults want a subtle aligner or brace that can get real results.

And when you come to see our experienced team at Clear Braces Direct London, we can offer you just that with the world-famous Invisalign aligner.

Here, our team at Clear Braces Direct London breaks down some of the top reasons to undertake treatment with Invisalign.

Effective

When used correctly, our team at Clear Braces Direct London can straighten your smile using Invisalign with minimal to no long-term issues with reversion.

Studies have found that clear aligners are just as effective at correcting dental misalignments as braces and can now be used to correct a wider range of problems, such as overbites, underbites and even spacing in the right clinical situations. Perfect!

Self-confidence

Being an adult is challenging at the best of times, let alone when you have a metal brace attached to the front of your teeth.

And while many people have no issue with such a scenario, if you work in a job where you need to give talks etc, it can be trickier to manage. By wearing Invisalign, you can give your talks, go on dates and even play sports without anyone knowing that you are undertaking orthodontic treatment. Great!

Time saving

Invisalign is renowned (and popular) for being able to deliver fast results concerning orthodontic realignment.

When wearing this aligner, the average time of use ranges from 3-6 months, maybe extending to 18 months for severe cases. But when compared to other orthodontic tools, this is extremely quick!

But, you will have to ensure that you keep the aligners in for the time required each day (usually 22+ hours) or else, your progress with realignment may slow down.

Hygiene

There are many ways in which using a clear aligner can improve your oral hygiene, especially when compared to a brace.

For one thing, whenever you remove Invisalign to eat, our team will advise that you give your teeth a quick scrub with a toothbrush, to remove any potentially harmful plaque and food debris. This will reduce the incidence of tooth decay forming due to these being pressed against the teeth by the aligner and, of course, it will also improve your oral hygiene.

When compared to a fitted brace, there is also less required to ensure that your teeth receive the correct level of cleaning; you simply remove the aligners, brush, floss and rinse, and then return them to your mouth.

Cost-effective

Suppose you have a minor misalignment or a gap in your smile, you may be wondering how this could cause issues with your finances long term.

Over time, your teeth will move and without treatment, that minor misalignment may move and can lead to issues with plaque accumulation and even decay. And of course, along with those issues come the costs of restorative procedures such as fillings or, in extreme cases, extractions. This may then lead to costly restoratives, such as dentures or even oral implants. So, by using Invisalign to correct that mild misalignment or gap, you may be saving yourself a lot of money in the long term.

Do you want a straighter smile without the hassle of braces and dental appointments?

At Clear Braces Direct London, we can help you get that straighter smile you want from the comfort of your own home with the help of dental professionals.

Here, our team at Clear Braces Direct London offers you a brief guide about Invisalign aligners, so read on and enjoy!

Who is suitable for Invisalign?

When this aligner was first created, more people were suited for it than weren’t. And today, that hasn’t changed!

When you come to Clear Braces Direct London, we will assess your suitability for Invisalign with a free scan; this will enable us to see the inside of your mouth more clearly than we would be able to with a dental mould.

But before we do this, we will need you to send us a selfie of your smile via our website. By looking at this, our team will be able to make a judgement as to whether or not you will be suited for Invisalign; if we deem you to be suited, we will invite you into one of our centres for a scan. If not, we will recommend that you wear a different type of brace to begin your dental realignment.

In short, if you have a mild to moderate misalignment with your front teeth, and you don’t need to have any of your molars moved, then it is likely you will be suitable for Invisalign.

Daily wear

OK, so once you have your Invisalign kit, you will need to wear the aligners in a set succession for them to be effective.

With each aligner (assuming there is no damage or loss), you will need to wear it for roughly 2 weeks. When it starts to feel loose, then it is time to move on to the next aligner in the set.

By this point, you will probably know that Invisalign is removable and so, you may be curious as to how long each day you need to leave it in for. Our team will usually advise that you keep the aligner in your mouth for 22 hours per day. Failure to adhere to this may result in delays in the realignment process.

Cleaning

Now, on to the cleaning!

As Invisalign is not fixed to your teeth, it is easier to clean than a standard brace and does not require you to invest in interdental brushes and other bits.

To clean your Invisalign aligners, you have to first rinse them under a tap to remove any debris or food; make sure that the water coming out of this tap is cool, as hot water can cause them to warp.

Simply use a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove stubborn debris and, if necessary, you may want to invest in some Invisalign cleaning crystals to keep them clean and clear.

Check-ups

With this aligner, the need for check-ups is reduced and you can send our team selfies via the Invisalign app so we can keep tabs on your progress.

If we feel that the aligner is not working correctly, we will invite you into one of our centres for a check-up and assessment.

Retainers

So, you’ve worn the aligner and now your smile is straightened. Congratulations!

Now is the time where we will send you a retainer, to help keep your teeth in place and to prevent reversion. Please wear it!

Are you curious if Invisalign can help correct those irritating gaps in your smile? Do you want the ability to use this aligner in your own home without having to constantly attend dental check-ups?

At Clear Braces Direct London, we can help! We are a leading provider of Invisalign and can see you through the entire process. From scans to retainers, we allow you to use this aligner in your own home, helping you to get on with your life while straightening your teeth.

Here, our team at Clear Braces Direct London answers 5 FAQs that we regularly receive about Invisalign for your information.

Am I suitable for Invisalign?

You are more likely to be suitable for Invisalign than unsuitable.

Our team at Clear Braces Direct London have helped over 6,000 people to get the straighter smile they wanted using this aligner and provided that you have a mild to moderate misalignment, but have good overall oral health, you will probably be able to begin treatment.

If I am suited, what happens next?

If we deem you to be suitable for Invisalign, we will invite you into one of our clinics for a free 3D scan of your teeth.

Once we have done this, we will send these images to a dental laboratory, which will then print your aligners using a 3D printer. After about 4-6 weeks, we will have the aligners sent straight to your door, so you can use them at home right away!

We will advise you to download our app to your smartphone too. That way, you can regularly send us selfies of your smile and we can assess how the aligners are working, without you having to come into the surgery.

How long will the treatment take?

This will depend on the severity of the misalignment being treated.

In most cases that warrant the use of Invisalign, the treatment will take between 3-6 months. However, we have had a few cases that have gone to 9 months and beyond. In order for our patients to get the most out of their aligners, we advise them to keep them in their mouths for 22 hours per day. If you fail to do this, then the procedure will likely suffer, there will probably be delays and your teeth may even revert back into their former positions.

To avoid this, keep them in and if you have any concerns, contact our team.

Do the aligners hurt?

Even though a nearly invisible aligner has been created, we are not yet able to make them completely comfortable when they move your teeth. Sorry!

Remember, that with Invisalign, each aligner is custom-fitted to your teeth, and thus it simply slots over them at each stage. Unlike regular braces which use a pulling force to move teeth, Invisalign gently pushes your teeth into the desired location. So, less force equates to less discomfort overall!

Will I be able to afford them?

Very possibly!

We know that money doesn’t grow on trees and as a result, we are able to offer our suitable patients a 0% interest-free finance option for 36 months. This will allow you to spread the cost of your new smile, helping you get and retain the straighter smile you have always wanted.

In recent years, you may have heard of an interesting development in the area of adult orthodontics or braces. Steadily growing in popularity, more and more people who may have busy work schedules are once again turning to the internet to solve their orthodontic woes, which is where our team based in London can help.

Providing customised aligners via the post, we have been able to help many people get the straighter smile they want, without the inconvenience of attending dental appointments, allowing our patients to take things at their own pace.

At Clear Braces Direct London, we believe that orthodontics should be available for everyone and it is our mission to make as many people feel as good about their smiles as possible. Providing Invisalign aligners via the post, we can help a wider demographic of people, all the while monitoring them using apps and selfies.

So, when you come to Clear Braces Direct London, what should you expect from our expert team? What is the overall process that we use to straighten teeth? Read on to find out!

Consultation

OK, so like many things linked to Invisalign, it all begins with a photo!

At Clear Braces Direct London, we use the initial selfie of your smile to assess if you would be suitable for treatment with these aligners or not. Then, if we think you are suitable, you will be invited to our clinic for a free Invisalign scan. This will involve our team using an intraoral scanner to map the positions of your teeth at the start of the treatment, so we can then assess how best to move them using the aligners. 

The aligners

It is worth noting here that even though we offer a free Invisalign 3D scan, you are under no obligation to undertake the treatment with us. You can go where you wish to if you are in any way unhappy with our services!

But, should you wish to continue your journey with us, post-scan, we will send off the images to a laboratory that will then create the aligners.

Made from firm but also malleable plastic, these aligners usually come in packs of 14 (depending on the severity of the misalignment) and you will need to wear them in the precise order, each one for around 2 weeks.

Our team differs as, rather than receiving the aligners to our surgery and asking you to come in, they are sent straight to you, allowing your Invisalign journey to begin sooner. So, immediately they arrive, pop them in and your journey can begin!

Monitoring

As mentioned earlier, our surgery has a monitoring app for these aligners, which will save you time and money from needing to attend check-ups.

All we ask is that once a week (or more if we request) you take a photo of your teeth and send it to our team with our app. Our team will be able to review the images and make suggestions if needed or call you in for an appointment. Simple! To begin using Invisalign at home, call our team today!

We started Clear Braces Direct to make straightening teeth more accessible and convenient for patients. We have found that many adult patients tend to put off their smile goals because their current schedules (work or social) won’t allow for too many dental appointments to fit in. These patients may go their entire lives unhappy with their crooked smiles, and there’s very little that can deflate confidence like an unsatisfactory smile does.

Why let an unattractive smile get in the way of you living your best life when you have access to Clear Braces Direct London?

Our direct-to-patient aligner service frees up time. With Clear Braces Direct London, patients can straighten their teeth at home using a seamless approach that is as efficient as it is effective. Does this sound like something worth investigating? This is just the start of what can be an amazing, life-changing journey. Read on to find out more.

Reasons to choose Clear Braces Direct London

Experience

Experience is largely a numbers game and this counts in our favour. We are pleased to say that we have helped close to 6000 patients towards a better-looking smile.This amazing feat gives us a Diamond Invisalign Provider status.

Since we only use Invisalign aligner treatment plans, we can argue to be a leading Invisalign provider. With this wealth of experience under the belt, patients can take comfort in the assurance that their teeth straightening treatment plan is in safe hands.

Registered dentists

All of our dentists carry professional dental qualifications and are registered with the relevant dental bodies in the industry. This means that, in offering our services, we abide by strict regulations and excellent practice methods.

Modern technologies

Modern technologies in orthodontics have opened up the way patients receive treatment and made what we do possible. In our treatment offering, we depend on three main mechanisms to help us achieve the desired results: digital scanning techniques, 3D modelling and the use of dental monitoring apps. The seamless workings of these processes make it possible to keep appointments to a minimum.

Remote monitoring

While we may not insist on frequent face-to-face appointments, this in no way means an out-of-sight-out-of-mind situation. We remain closely involved in your treatment progress through remote monitoring. For this to work, we will scan your teeth each week using the forward-thinking Dental Monitoring app, which will help us monitor your treatment and track your progress.

Why use Invisalign?

Many patients may not know this but Invisalign aligners differ from other types of aligners in the way that they are made. Invisalign aligners offer a more custom, contoured fit as they are completely machine-made (as opposed to being hand finished) for each patient. What patients receive is a more comfortable fit around the gum line.

Invisalign aligners also give patients more control over their treatment plans. It is up to patients to stick to their aligner change schedule as provided by our dentist.

For amazing results that you can track in real-time, the right choice is Invisalign aligners from Clear Braces Direct. Find out more about our seamless process by giving us a call today.