Here we will discuss the different ways of straightening your teeth available, your dentist may well offer one or more of these services already unbeknown to yourselves. If they do not offer this service then they will be able to refer you to an Orthodontist or another general dentist that does and remember you can always ask our dentists for advice on straightening your teeth by clicking below.....happy reading
Adult Orthodontics is not a new thing in Dentistry but as more and more patients want to straighten teeth quickly, many different systems have become available for straightening front teeth more quickly and more invisibly than ever before and this is only set to increase!
Adult Orthodontics - Questions to ask yourself
1. Which Teeth do you want to straighten (All of them or just the front teeth?)
2. Would it need to be removable or could it be fixed to your teeth?
3. What would you be willing to wear (metal braces, clear/white but visible, clear, completely invisible)
4. How long would you be willing to wear it for? (weeks, months, years?)
5. Would you want your teeth moved to ideal positions or compromise on this for a quicker less visible treatment?
Fixed Appliances1. Move front and back teeth
2. Takes longer than moving just front teeth - 6 months to a few years depending on what needs moving generally 3. Fixed to your teeth 4. Can be metal or clear with metal or white wires (see photos) 5. Possible to have fixed on tongue side of teeth so almost invisible 6. Cost varies depending on length of treatment; usually £2000 - £6000 depending on treatment 7. Will usually be carried out by a Specialist Orthodontist and not by your General Dentist 
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Invisible Braces
1. Better for moving front teeth than they are back teeth
2. More restrictions than above on tooth movement so for more mild cases
3. Almost completely invisible
4. Fee can be quite high if need a lot of movement (if very minimal movement can be ~£1000, generally from £2500 upwards
5. Often can be carried out by own dentist or by a specialist orthodontist
6. The trays are like whitening trays but thinner and harder plastic (see photos
7. Many different brands including clearsmile, invisalign, clear inman aligners and many more all work in same way
8. Computer software used to make trays that will gradually move teeth into position
9. Often small amounts of tooth removed to allow the teeth to slide past eachother (as an alternative to taking teeth out to create this space)
2. More restrictions than above on tooth movement so for more mild cases
3. Almost completely invisible
4. Fee can be quite high if need a lot of movement (if very minimal movement can be ~£1000, generally from £2500 upwards
5. Often can be carried out by own dentist or by a specialist orthodontist
6. The trays are like whitening trays but thinner and harder plastic (see photos
7. Many different brands including clearsmile, invisalign, clear inman aligners and many more all work in same way
8. Computer software used to make trays that will gradually move teeth into position
9. Often small amounts of tooth removed to allow the teeth to slide past eachother (as an alternative to taking teeth out to create this space)
Quick Straight Teeth (fixed)
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1. Fixed onto teeth as in first section
2. Can be metal or clear ceramic with metal or tooth coloured wires 3. Can move front teeth top and bottom into position in much shorter time than comprehensive treatment 4. Can be fixed to tongue side of teeth again to make almost invisble but at an increased fee 4. Fee is lower than comprehensive treatment generally although clear brackets will cost more than metal ones 5. Many brands (including simply smile, 6 month smiles, quickstraightteeth, powerprox and many others) all work in similar way. |
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Quick Straight Teeth (removable)
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1. Can be taken in and out (but usually require 20 hours min wear per day)
2. Clear aligners can be included in this section 3. Other systems are all partly visible (see images) ranging from a single wire across the front teeth to a clear band of plastic across the front teeth 4. These Generally have the lowest fees and quickest treatment times sometimes as quick as 6 weeks 5. But they have limitations of the tooth movement possible and end result might not be perfect and part of the plan maybe to finish with clear aligners or short period of fixed braces; alternatively maybe to finish with reshaping teeth or restoring teeth with veneers or white fillings 6. Inman aligner is one such product but many others exist. Many General dentists offer these treatments as well as Specialist Orthodontists |
Hawley retainer
Inman Aligner
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Dental retainers are essential!
- After your teeth have been moved you must wear retainers to stop them from moving back
- This is essential as your teeth will move back without them
- You wear them full time if fixed to your teeth or full time/every night for a year or more
- If you go a period without wearing them your teeth may move back to the point where your retainers don't fit
- If worried ask your dentist/orthodontist or ASK OUR DENTISTS
- There are two types of retainer :
Bonded Retainer
These are thin stainless steel wires that are bonded onto the back of the teeth, after a couple of weeks the vast majority of patients get used to these and forget they are there.
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Removable Retainer
Hawley Retainer
Essix Retainer
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