One of the best advances in dental equipment has been the introduction of a range of invisible braces over the last couple of decades.
Nearly everyone with wonky teeth wants to get them straightened, but the thought of having to wear embarrassing metal and wire contraptions on the teeth for several months, if not years, has put a lot of people off.
Not any more, however. Now, a choice of invisible braces means that adults of all ages are getting in on the straightening act.
Here at Crofts Dental Practice in Essex, our patients can choose between 4 kinds of devices that cover the range of misalignment issues, from the very mild to the seriously complex. As an adult, even if your teeth are all over the place, there’s no reason for you to have to wear metal braces over your teeth.
Lingual braces
These hidden braces are great for complex alignment issues that other devices cannot handle. They use the reliable mechanics of bracket and wires but they go on the tongue side of the teeth instead of the outer-facing sides.
Made of gold alloy, the brackets are made specifically for each of your teeth, from detailed scans. They take about 3 weeks to make, but it’s worth the wait if you want your braces completely hidden and your super-wonky teeth sorted out.
Clear aligners
These look like mouth guards made of wafer thin, rigid, transparent plastic. They snap on over the teeth and inside each one there’s ridges and bumps that press on the teeth to move them. You wear a series of these Invisalign aligners, and you can take them out for eating and cleaning.
Inman Aligner
One removable device that uses opposing forces to gently reposition the front teeth. You take it out for eating and cleaning and it doubles as a retainer, so is very good value for money.
Six Month Smiles
Bracket and wire braces made with clear ceramic brackets and tooth-coloured wires to blend in with your teeth. These are fixed braces for moderately misaligned front teeth. They take 4-9 months to do their work.
Retainers
Everyone who gets their teeth straightened needs to finish their treatment by wearing a retainer.