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Appledore Clinic |
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Orthodontics
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There are three main types of orthodontic braces, and the new system which uses aligners - invisalign:
1. Fixed braces The teeth have small attachments glued to them. Fixed braces fitted to upper and lower teeth look a bit like railway lines, so some people call them "train-track braces". These are very good for correcting complex problems. When used for children they are most commonly made of stainless steel, as they are easier to keep clean. Most adults would have the tooth coloured ceramic or acrylic appliances. They are much more aesthetic. We also use lingual fixed appliances - this is where the attachments are glued to the back of the teeth, very helpful for straightening teeth for people in prominent positions. Fixed braces are simply "glued" onto the teeth. There is no need for an anaesthetic injection. Fixed braces are adjusted every 4 weeks. 
2. Removable braces These can obviously be removed, but they must be worn full-time, apart from when they have to be cleaned. Simple removable braces are good for correcting simple problems, such as moving a single tooth. A removable brace is fitted very easily by clipping it onto several teeth. There is no discomfort involved. Removable braces are adjusted every 4-8 weeks 3. Functional braces These are also removable but have to be worn full-time, except for cleaning. They are used to correct the growth pattern of the jaws. They can be used when one jaw is bigger than the other, to correct asymmetry. They can be used in conjunction with headgear to help jaws to grow correctly. 4. Invisalign The newest and most invisible way to straighten your teeth. Instead of using fixed braces on your teeth, we can straighten your teeth with a series of invisible retainers. You will have a series of photographs and x-rays taken and a set of very accurate impressions. These are then sent to California to the Invisalign facility. The impressions are scanned with lasers to make 3D images of your teeth which are then ‘straightened’ virtually on the computer, step by step. Once your dentist has agreed the treatment plan, the computer images will be transferred to the manufacturing point to make you a series of custom retainers. Each retainer is worn for approximately 2 weeks, and you will see your teeth gently align. Treatment times are similar to regular braces. This is a real boon to those in the public eye who want to have straight teeth, but cannot bear the thought of having visible braces. You will need to have any fillings completed before we can take the records for the invisalign orthodontic treatment. We ask for a non-refundable deposit at this stage. Once the treatment proposal has been returned from the states, we will then be able to advise you of the total cost for your treatment. The invisalign appliances are a series of clear aligners, which are worn to gently move your teeth into their new positions. You will need to wear them all the time, except for eating and cleaning. We will probably need to place some tiny attachments on your teeth to help your aligner to stay in position. These will be matched to your tooth colour so they will not be noticeable. It usually takes 8-10 weeks before we get everything back from the USA in order to fit your first aligners. We will then see you every 6 weeks to check your progress. Once the treatment has been completed you will wear the final set of aligners as retainers at night for at least a year. You may want to have a new set of retainers made yearly to wear at night long term. You can then be certain that the teeth will stay in their new positions. As of August 2006, the average price for invisalign treatment is approx £4.5k, a simple case can be as low as £2.5k and a complex case can be more. For images of Invisalign please click here |
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