Orthodontics and Clear Aligners

Recent studies suggest that there are growing numbers of adults and young people seeking orthodontic treatment. Why? Orthodontic treatment is about making the best of your teeth; it’s about improving the harmony of your mouth and jaws. Once you can bite together correctly, you can eat more comfortably and care for your teeth and gums more easily. And your smile will benefit immensely!

The Benefits of Orthodontics;

• Removal of dental crowding or closing spaces
• Alignment of the upper and lower dental arches
• Correction of the bite of the teeth so that the front teeth meet on closing and the back teeth mesh together
• Reducing the likelihood of damage to prominent teeth
• Enhancing facial aesthetics
• Accommodating impacted, unerupted or displaced teeth
• Preparation for advanced dental treatment, such as crowns, bridges or dental implants
• Reversing the drifting of the teeth in older patients who have suffered from advanced gum disease

Fixed Appliances

Where possible we use a hard ceramic material for the brackets to blend in with the natural tooth. This produces a more aesthetically pleasing appliance which is more of an attractive option particularly for adults. The orthodontic wires can also be tooth coloured to help improve the appearance further. Ceramic fixed appliances can be as effective as conventional fixed appliances at achieving tooth movement.

Clear Aligners

“Invisible” removable aligners are perhaps the highest profile orthodontic appliance, with brands such as ‘Invisilign’ using widespread advertising campaigns. Whilst they have become increasingly sophisticated and refined it remains important to be clear about the circumstances in which these devices are best used and by whom.

Aligners are thin clear flexible plastic ‘mouthguards’ which fit closely over the teeth. A series of aligners is used to move the teeth incrementally according to a treatment plan developed by the orthodontist. Aligner appliances are ideally suited to adult patients whose life-style or work commitments make it difficult for them to wear more visible conventional fixed appliances.