Smile Like You Mean It!

Does having misaligned teeth make you feel down in the dumps? Do you have a frown that needs to be turned upside down? Having misaligned teeth can be a real cause of low self-esteem, especially if you think that you have missed the boat when it comes to doing something about it. Thankfully, all is not lost and there are ways that you can realign your teeth, even post-high school. Clear braces in W1 are providing discreet solutions to realigning your teeth that don’t have to involve wires and brackets at all.

Aligners

There are certain brands, such as Invisalign, that offer treatment for realigning your smile without the use of fixed metal braces. Instead, they use clear plastic aligners that sit over the teeth and apply pressure to them to move them gradually into position. The aligners are custom-fitted to your mouth to ensure that you have maximum comfort and you are provided with sets of these aligners to change between every week. You then only need to see your dentist every 6 weeks or so for a checkup! 

The beauty of aligners is that they can’t be seen by other people (unless they are looking unnaturally closely at your mouth). They are comfortable to wear and may be removed when you are brushing and flossing your teeth. This prevents further complications with your teeth as a result of not being able to clean them easily as can sometimes be the case with fixed metal braces. Another benefit of being able to remove them for up to 2 hours every day is that you have flexibility when you choose to wear them. You can opt out of wearing them while you participate in sports, for example, and when you are eating and drinking. By being able to remove them at mealtimes, you won’t have anything to clean up afterwards as you can do with other appliances, plus the aligners won’t break as brackets and wires can. In fact, having clear plastic for the aligners’ material means that they are very durable indeed and you should have little reason to visit the dentist for an emergency appointment. 

Fixed appliances

Sometimes, you may need to have fixed braces; Invisalign and other aligners are only designed for mild to moderate alignment issues. Your dentist may advise that you use another appliance. In this case, where you need fixed brackets and wires, some dentists offer lingual braces which consist of the brackets and wires being attached to the back of the teeth, rather than to the front, making them completely invisible to other people. These can also be customised to your teeth to ensure that they are as comfortable as possible.

What to do next

If you are keen to find out more about the treatment options available to you, you can book in for a consultation with a dentist who offers these treatments. They will be able to give your mouth an examination and may take x-rays to determine which is the best treatment for you. During this time, you should ask as many questions as possible to be fully involved in the decision making process about your treatment plan. Once you have your treatment underway, you will have every reason to smile a smile you mean and want to share!