Invisalign – A comfortable and convenient way to straighten teeth

This revolutionary orthodontic system delivers great looking smiles!

The problem of uneven or crooked teeth is not something that can be ‘fixed’ with one quick treatment, but requires longer periods of time to achieve success. This is because, in order to realign teeth, pressure has to be applied to them in order to ease them to their desired position.

Naturally, it is important not to apply too much pressure as this would not only be uncomfortable for the patient but could also potentially cause long term damage to the teeth.

This has traditionally been one of the issues for people who want a nice even set of teeth. Having to wear highly visible ‘train track’ style braces for a year or more poses a lot of challenges, especially when it comes to our appearance. Thankfully, there is a new generation of orthodontics now available at The Dental Centre Bedford which can make this process more comfortable and much more discreet. It has other conveniences too as we shall soon see!

Invisalign

One of the leaders in this new generation is the Invisalign orthodontic system. The fact that this is becoming increasingly popular can be seen by the fact that the upcoming Invisalign open day on March 18th at our Bedford dental clinic is now fully booked up. If you would have liked to have gone to this, you can still fill in the form at https://www.dentalcentrebedford.co.uk/invisalign-open-day.html and we may notify in the event of any cancellations.

But why is Invisalign so popular? The answer probably lies in the first part of its name. Although not entirely invisible (you would soon lose them if they were!), Invisalign abandons the traditional system for straightening teeth using a series of wires and brackets, which are very visible. Even modern braces that use tooth coloured materials, whilst being more discreet, are still visible and present the same problem of trapped food in the wiring.

Instead of this, Invisalign consists of a series of ‘trays’ that sit directly over your teeth. These are made following scans and x-rays to make sure that they are the perfect fit for you and also use a transparent medical grade plastic that is strong as well as being almost invisible when worn.

While the ‘discretion factor’ is probably the main appeal of the Invisalign orthodontic system, it isn’t the only benefit that they offer. Not only do they enable teeth to be straightened without the obvious visual impact of traditional braces, but they are arguably better for your teeth too, as well as being much more convenient.

Healthier teeth

One problem that can occur with traditional wire and bracket style braces is that food can easily become trapped in the wires and the brackets. Even tiny pieces of food and bacteria that become trapped can lead to tooth decay. Although cleaning your teeth well when wearing braces is important, it can also be very difficult indeed to reach all areas of each tooth, increasing the risk of both tooth decay and gum disease.

Unlike traditional braces, which can only be removed by a dentist, the trays provided in this treatment are removable by the patient. This is great news for your teeth as it means that you can remove the trays and brush and floss your teeth as you usually do before replacing them in the mouth. There is, after all, little point in having straight even teeth if some of them are decaying. You will also need to keep the trays clean and you will be advised how to do this during your initial consultation with our Bedford cosmetic dentist team.

Convenience factor

Being able to remove the trays to clean your teeth isn’t the only advantage that this convenience offers. It also means that you can remove Invisalign when you want to eat. Eating while wearing traditional braces can be tricky and certain foods are often avoided because they get stuck more easily (spinach for example). Because you remove the trays when you eat, you can eat whatever you want, without fear of this problem.

Although the trays are removable when eating and cleaning your teeth, it is important that you do not abuse this. The more the trays are removed, and especially for lengthier periods of time, the longer the complete treatment time will take. Whilst there may be exceptions such as perhaps a job interview or if you appear ‘full face’ on TV, we recommend that you wear the trays as instructed and don’t remove them other than when essential.

Once your treatment is completed, we are sure that you will be more than happy with the results. You may also want to consider ‘topping it off’ with a teeth whitening procedure to bring out your very best smile.

If you would like to discuss Invisalign with us, or any other treatment, whether cosmetic or otherwise, we are happy to help. You can contact The Dental Centre Bedford toda by calling us on 01234 819868.