How does the treatment work?

If you’re not familiar with all the different types of orthodontic appliances, it can often be confusing or overwhelming to walk into the dental clinic and be offered a variety of treatments. Learning a little bit about what each type of treatment entails can help the process move alone much quicker, allowing you to fix your smile in a shorter period of time. You don’t have to be aware of all the ins and outs of a certain technique – that’s mostly for the dentist to know – but having some idea of how the procedure unfolds will help you know what to expect when you attend your initial consultation – this may also help with nerves and treatments costs, as you are spending less time at the surgery. If you can’t find the answers to all your questions online, or you just prefer talking to a member of staff in person, book an appointment with the Pearl Dental Clinic, their highly trained technicians will be happy to talk through the options with you.

How do invisible braces work?

Invisible braces are fast becoming the orthodontic appliance of choice for adults and teenagers who don’t like the idea of wearing obvious braces for an extended period of time; they are built using the latest 3D computer technology and can accurately predict the process of treatment, as well as the eventual outcome. With most types of invisible braces, you will need more than one aligner – unless the movement required is relatively minor – because the first device will only be designed to perform a certain amount of re-positioning, before it will become loose on the teeth and need to be replaced. The idea behind using more than one set of braces, is to make sure the teeth are not put under a massive amount of pressure for too long; encouraging small movements means the teeth are gradually moved in stages over a period of up to six to eight months, instead of forcing them straight from one position to the other under constant pressure.

What is the procedure behind the invisible braces treatment?

When you attend your first appointment, the dentist will examine your teeth to determine your suitability for a set of invisible braces, there are several different companies who manufacture the appliances, such as Invisalign or Simpli5, and it will be left to the discretion of your dentist to choose the best system. Prices may vary between companies and clinics, so your treatment may also depend on what type of budget you are looking at. It’s likely that your dentist will show you some examples of treatment – in the form of photographs and possibly x-rays; this is to give you an idea of what you can expect from the different versions of invisible braces and to show how successful they can be.

Impressions of your teeth will then be taken, using dental putty. This is not a hugely uncomfortable process, but it can take some getting used to – several moulds may need to be taken as your treatment progresses. The putty is held against your teeth with a plastic shield, until it has dried enough to hold the exact shape of them, then it is removed and used to form a cast of the inside of your mouth, to be used during the manufacturing process of your personal appliance. Your dentists should also take photographs and x-rays, along with taking notes about your current condition, as reference for the laboratory technicians.

The moulds are sent away to the lab so that the computers can put together a 3D image of your teeth, and begin to formulate a treatment plan best suited to your needs. If you are at a clinic that has on-site computer technology, you may be able to see an image of what your teeth will look like during and after the use of invisible braces, although this is not possible with all surgeries, it is becoming more commonplace.

When your first aligner is complete, you will be asked to return to the clinic to have it fitted, this is not a long process at all, as the shield should simply slip over your natural teeth and hug them firmly, but not uncomfortably. Your dentists should check the fit and give you any instructions on cleaning and care, as well as making sure you know how to remove and replace the device properly. The first aligner should be worn almost continuously for up to three weeks, however, if you don’t comply with your dentists instructions, you might have to wear it for longer – it’s more conducive to treatment times if you wear your braces as directed, otherwise you’re needlessly dragging out the process. After your aligner become loose around the teeth, it means it has performed to the extent of its capability, and you are ready to be fitted with your second appliance. Depending on your choice of system and dentist, you may have to wait a further two or three weeks for your new aligner to be made, after fresh moulds of your repositioned teeth have been taken. However, some laboratories will manufacture all the appliances required at the same time, so that you don’t have to wait between appointments.

If you are given several devices to take home with you, so that you can fit the next one when you feel ready, you are taking a certain amount of responsibility on yourself, this is why most dentists will recommend returning to the surgery every few weeks, to make sure everything is going smoothly and for any adjustments to be made. Some surgeons are more comfortable with fitting the aligners themselves, and don’t like to put any part of the treatments onto their patients, of course, this depends on how confident you are with deciding when the appliance needs to be changed, and what sort of system you were prescribed at the beginning.