The stereotype of a brace wearer is a teen or ‘young adult’ in those awkward transitional phases of trying to find their own direction. This just isn’t the case in modern orthodontics, there are more options available (more than ever before) and some dental clinics can offer these to patients via mail order. More often than not, the traditional metal brace is being used as a secondary treatment and only being implemented in severe or complex cases, such as when the molar positions need adjusting or palate alterations are required, which would once have been the realm of the head brace.

Also, the age of the patients has changed, with more working professionals seeking these orthodontic treatments than ever. Being treated with Invisible Braces in Clapham, invisible or ceramic braces they can go about their day in the office or board meetings without anyone noticing!

When pursuing adult orthodontic care, it’s important to start with a goal. For most adults, this is an aesthetic one rather than medical but is no less important when creating an effective treatment plan.

How do invisible braces work?

There are several invisible or low visibility ‘braces’ or brace-like treatments. The most common are clear aligners which, by being clear and very close-fitting to your teeth, are very subtle. There are ceramic braces that are very similar to the traditional metal braces, with an anchor or bracket made from clear polymers and ceramics, making them hard but a lot less noticeable. Then, there are lingual braces that fly under the radar by being mounted to the back of the teeth, having the strength of standard braces but being almost undetectable; the trade-off is a much longer fitting time.

Am I suitable for invisible braces?

Probably, the biggest factor determining if invisible orthotics are the right treatment for you is the severity of your misalignment and any other health concerns you may have. If you are suffering from decay or gum disease, it is important to address these issues first before trying orthodontics. This would have to be assessed by your dentist and possibly by a specialist orthodontist who would give a definitive answer that was relevant to you.

How long do less visible orthodontic treatments take?

Treatment time varies from patient to patient, if rapid treatment is important to you, the first method would probably be the aggressive use of metal braces but this can be very uncomfortable and your teeth would have to be in excellent condition. Aligners do take longer on average but are far more comfortable.

How do they feel?

It depends on the system; ceramic braces feel the same as metal ones, aligners are lighter and more comfortable. If you do have an issue due to tooth spacing, an aligner will immediately address that which can be a shock to some patents. Lingual braces, despite being smaller than a stander brace can impact on your pronunciation, particularly of ‘th’ sounds.

Most of these are small changes and little more than irritation which becomes normal and are shared with all orthodontic treatments, invisible or not.

Katie
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