Invisible Braces
Invisalign is a system for straightening teeth without the use of conventional braces.
The treatment consists of a series of nearly invisible, removable aligners that you change every two weeks for the next set of aligners. Each aligner is individually manufactured for your teeth, and only your teeth, and unlike fixed braces, there are no wires or brackets. As you replace each aligner your teeth move – little by little, week by week – until they have straightened to the final position we have prescribed.
What’s more, a 3D treatment plan in virtual reality shows the series of movements your teeth will make over the course of your treatment. This allows you to see at the start how your teeth are expected to look at the end of treatment. Once this is agreed, it is used to manufacture the custom – made clear aligners.
Realigning teeth with removable aligners is not new. However, the computer technology used to design and construct a series of aligners with finite corrections is the clever part.
Invisalign is recommended for orthodontic solutions with mild to moderate spacing or crowding. They are virtually undetectable, easy to use and comfortable to wear. Invisalign is only available for private patients and is becoming popular with adults and older teenagers.
Types of braces
If braces are indeed the solution for you, the dentist or orthodontist will prescribe an appliance specific for your needs. The braces may consist of bands, wires, and other fixed or removable corrective appliances. No one method works for everyone.
- Metal/traditional braces: Traditional braces are made of metal. They include brackets that are attached to the front of your teeth or bands that fit around each tooth, as well as flexible wires or arch wires that hold the brackets or bands together. Some braces also include rubber bands or metal ties that link the brackets to the wire. These bands create more pressure to help straighten and align your teeth. Sometimes, your orthodontist will have you wear a device called headgear at night. It provides added pressure to help straighten your teeth. You can put it on and take it off.
- Ceramic braces: The brackets in traditional braces are now also made in tooth-colored ceramic, so you don’t notice them as much. They can also be made with stainless steel, clear materials, or gold.
- Lingual braces: The brackets on these braces are attached to the backs of your teeth, facing your tongue. Lingual braces are harder to see.
- Clear aligners: You might also hear them called invisible braces. These are clear plastic trays that fit snugly onto your teeth. They use pressure to gently move your teeth into the correct positions and straighten your smile. You remove the aligners to eat, brush, or floss, but you should keep them in at least 22 hours each day for them to work. The orthodontist may also place tooth-colored attachments onto your teeth to hold the aligners in place.
- Damon braces combine innovative design with great looks. They’re small, discreet and, most importantly, brilliant at straightening teeth. Millions of happy patients have Damon braces to thank for their spectacular smiles.
- Smilelign is a clear brace system that uses innovative technology to create the smile you have always dreamed of. Smilelign allows you to straighten your teeth almost invisibly, enabling you to live, and smile, confidently.
By using a series of bespoke removable aligners, Smilelign lines up your teeth to make your smile straighter. Our powerful technology plots the exact direction your teeth need to move in to achieve optimal results. - Clear or near-invisible braces are tough, clear plastic aligners (moulds) or clear ceramic brackets that attach to your teeth that can, over time, straighten your smile. Since they’re clear, they’re nearly invisible, which means that people won’t necessarily know you’re straightening your teeth.
- Six Month Smiles works in a similar way to traditional braces with a system of clear brackets which are bonded to your teeth and tooth-coloured wires which are placed and adjusted by your dentist to align your teeth over time. However, Six Month Smiles are much easier for the dentist to fit than traditional braces. After an impression of your teeth is taken it is sent to the Six Month Smiles lab where custom trays are made that will assist your dentist in placing the new braces on your teeth.
Invisible braces are a common choice of braces for adults. Invisible braces can refer to clear aligners, ceramic or clear braces, or lingual braces. Each of these teeth straightening options is a little bit different. The type also determines how much invisible braces cost.
Average treatment time for most aligner cases is 6 months, with some cases finishing faster and others taking a few additional months. Overall, Invisible Aligner Treatment typically takes about 12 months to complete, though the length of treatment is dependent on the severity of your case.
Invisalign does hurt. In general, it is less painful than traditional metal braces, and like any type of orthodontic treatment, the pain fades after the teeth adjust to wearing the aligners and to having new aligners swapped in and out.