Invisalign – The Modern And Discreet Way To Straighten Teeth

We are now pleased to offer the popular Invisalign orthodontic system at our Bedford dental practice

Invisalign wearer In our blog you will find several articles about the treatments we have available to help you have whiter teeth. These are very popular, but for some patients, there can be drawbacks in that they can actually highlight other ‘flaws’ in your smile; one of the most noticeable being where a patient has crooked or uneven teeth.

Unfortunately, there is no ‘quick fix’ for this particular problem and the fact that dental braces have to be worn, often for lengthy periods of time to correct it, means that a significant number of people decide against this treatment and miss the opportunity to have a really great looking smile.

One of the biggest issues for people when it comes to wearing teeth braces is that they are quite noticeable. Patients of The Dental Centre Bedford then, will be delighted to hear that we now offer one of the most discreet orthodontic systems available; namely Invisalign.

What are Invisalign braces?

When you think about dental braces, you probably think of the more familiar wire and bracket types that have been standard for many years. These are often very visible and as they may have to be worn for a year or more, it is probably not surprising that this is a deterrent for some people. Whilst there are systems that still use this approach for relatively minor corrections that may only take a few weeks, and which may be tolerable for this short period of time, the idea of wearing unsightly braces for a year or more can be a big ‘no no’ for some people.

Instead of using this approach, Invisalign teeth braces instead use a series of transparent plastic trays that fit securely over the teeth. The plastic used is of medical grade quality and is not only transparent but offers a high level of strength as well. The trays are produced from impressions and scans that we take of your own teeth. This ensures not only that they are effective but they offer a good degree of comfort too.

How do they work?

Like all orthodontics, Invisalign works by gently applying pressure on your teeth in order to guide them towards their desired position. Naturally, this has to be done slowly and gradually to avoid any damage being done to the teeth and the bone in which they are secured. With traditional braces this is done through a gradual tightening of the wiring system. With Invisalign, you will be given a series of trays to wear for a short period of time, each of which gradually encourages your teeth towards their final position.

What are the advantages of Invisalign?

The most obvious advantage of this system is the fact that they are very discreet. Most people won’t even notice that you are wearing them unless they are very close and even then, your natural teeth will still show, with no wires interrupting your smile. Whilst this is probably the main reason that our Bedford patients are likely to want to use this system, it isn’t the only advantage. Invisalign trays are made to be removable by the wearer. This helps to eliminate two other key problems which arise with traditional braces.

Eating – Instead of having to choose carefully what you eat, often avoiding foods such as spinach which may become trapped in the wiring of your braces, you simply remove the trays before you eat, This means that you can eat absolutely anything that you wish. This makes Invisalign especially ideal for those who enjoy eating out in company.

Tooth decay – Aside from any embarrassment about food becoming trapped in traditional braces and showing when you smile, this also causes a real problem of tooth decay as it can be quite difficult to clean your teeth effectively when wearing wire braces. Again, with Invisalign, you simply remove them for this purpose, returning the trays after you have done so.

One word of caution on this matter. Although you can remove the trays yourself, it is strongly advised that you do so only for these purposes as excessive removal will mean that it takes longer for your teeth to become straight and even. There may be ‘one off’ instances when you may wish to remove them such as an interview or a date, but generally speaking, they should only be removed for eating and when cleaning your teeth.

Having a nice set of straight and even teeth is now achievable in a comfortable and discreet way! If you would like to discover more about this popular treatment, please arrange your initial consultation with us by calling The Dental Centre Bedford on 01234 819868.