Invisible braces have become a highly sought after method of straightening teeth. They have become more popular than traditional metal braces. This is because these braces straighten or align your teeth without people noticing. A widely known and used brand is the Invisalign clear aligners. Furthermore, they provide a convenience that is not available with metal braces, that is, the fact that it is removable.
However, although invisible braces have been widely accepted by many as an effective brand, one might wonder how much they cost, and whether or not they are the most suitable brands. In this article, we would be bringing to your knowledge; all you need to know about Invisalign and other invisible braces. You can also visit our dental clinic at Harley street London or contact us on 02071830903 for further enquiries.
Invisible braces refer to the use of clear aligners or tray that are made of plastic, to straighten your teeth, and move them into perfect alignment. They are often referred to as removable braces; however, their correct term is clear aligners. Invisible braces are not exactly “invisible “; they simply utilise advanced technology that makes them not to be easily seen or detected by people. This means that, unless they are told, people will not notice you wear clear aligners.
Clear aligners are used to treat various teeth alignment problems such as:
They can also be used to control and stop teeth that have started to move back to the original position after treatment. There are several brands of invisible braces available, with Invisalign clear aligners being the most popular and well known.
Invisalign braces are used to treat about 90% of teeth alignment or orthodontic problems. However, you must know that there are still some highly severe cases that cannot be treated with Invisalign. Those cases will require a different type of brace or outright surgery. Invisalign clear aligners are available for anyone who needs them.
If you are confused about which brand of clear aligners to go for, you can get in touch with us at Harley Street Dentist. We have highly qualified and experienced dentists to help you through the process of getting the appropriate clear aligner for you.
Invisible braces, although new, have become quite popular, much more than traditional braces. This is because they are invisible and not easily noticed.
It is common knowledge that sometimes people can be unsatisfied with the way they look. Misaligned or overcrowded teeth can be embarrassing to show in public. For adults, it is not a very acceptable idea to wear metal braces to correct such problems. This is why they go for invisible braces instead.
Wearing metal braces as an adult can leave one feeling stigmatised and less confident about themselves, probably because metal braces are usually associated with school children and younger teens. Because of this, adults can feel like they cannot be taken seriously if seen wearing metal braces, as opposed to invisible braces that no one can see.
Also, some situations, professions and environments do not accept metal braces. So this makes invisible braces a highly sought after option for people.
Clear aligners are customised treatments. This means your braces can only be used by you as it was made specifically for your use. The entire process begins with our dentist Harley street London collecting the impression of your teeth. It can be by the use of a mould, which takes impressions of your teeth and is used to make a digital scan, or by a scanner that uses latest imaging technology to scan your teeth directly. It is this scan that is used to create the step by step treatment plan with the help of a computer program.
The plan is usually in 3D, and it shows the different stages of treatment, from the beginning to the end. The end product is what your teeth will look like after treatment has been completed. This makes it possible and easy for any adjustments to be made or for any other treatment plan to be considered.
You should understand that there may be situations where your teeth can be filed along the sides. This is all part of the treatment plan and is merely done to create spaces for the teeth to move. As mentioned earlier, the aligners are customised and designed to apply pressure in the right places to straighten them into alignment. The aligners come in trays and will have to be changed every two weeks or less.
It all depends on the severity or minority of your case, and also on the recommendation of our dentist at Harley street London. Having your aligner trays changed often does not necessarily mean you will have to be checked by the dentist that often as well, the progress of the treatment will only be checked by the dentist or orthodontist every 4 – 6 weeks.
With invisible braces, treatment is usually completed from about 9 months to about 18months, or even more. It depends on how severe the problem is. The cost of the whole treatment and the braces is understandably higher in cases of more extended treatment than in shorter treatment time.
Once treatment has been completed with invisible braces, the next thing would be to wear retainers. This prevents your teeth from slipping back to its original position after treatment, and you may possibly have to wear them for the rest of your life. At first, you can be advised by your dentist to wear the retainers during the day, but after the first six months, you may have to wear them at night only.
There are different retainer types to choose from. One good example is the Vivera retainers. Vivera retainers are removable retainers from the manufacturers of Invisalign braces. They are designed to be almost invisible, much like the braces, and are unnoticeable. Other types of removable retainers include Hawley retainers and Essix retainers. There are also fixed or permanent retainers that cannot be removed.
Invisalign braces are widely known as one of the most suitable and popular brands of invisible braces. Invisalign is produced by the company “Align Technology”. Upon the release of Invisalign, it was backed up by a persuasive marketing strategy, and it hit the market with full force.
Before the release of Invisalign, traditional braces were the only option to teeth straightening and alignment, with very little innovations except for the production of lighter and whiter materials. The system of wires and brackets were everywhere.
Invisalign braces started with just Invisalign Full, but ever since then, there have been further improvements and more types produced for different cases.
Ever since the production of Invisalign clear aligners in 2000 with just one product; Invisalign Full, other types of Invisalign braces have been produced for different problems. The different types of Invisalign clear aligners include;
This is the first and most popular type of Invisalign braces. It is also the most common type of Invisalign used for treatment. Invisalign full is used to treat or correct teeth alignment problems that are complicated and more serious. With Invisalign full, treatment can be completed in about 12-18months. However, if the desired result is not achieved at this point, treatment can be extended until the result is achieved.
Invisalign Lite is used for milder cases. Invisalign Lite is one of the two treatment options that are completed in a short time. Invisalign Lite completes treatment in about seven months and is mostly used for minor dental corrections only.
Invisalign I7 is another type of Invisalign clear aligners that completes treatment in a short time. In as little as three months, with just seven sets of aligner trays, minor dental problems are corrected with Invisalign I7.
Teenage years is the appropriate time to take care of any dental problem. This is because, at this point, the jaws are still in development, and there is still room for changes. Because of the constant changes and growth, it is not usually easy to find a suitable aligner brace to accommodate the growth. For this reason, Invisalign teen was produced.
Invisalign Teen was produced specially for teenagers with teeth alignment problems. The Invisalign Teen is unique to teens because it has features that accommodate the growth and development of the teenage jaws. These features include;
The cost of Invisalign clear aligners are dependent on the dentist you contact or book appointments with. The cost of Invisalign differs according to type. Invisalign Full and other types cost more than Invisalign Teen. However, you must know that the longer the treatment time, the more expensive the treatment will be.
To get good and quality treatment for your money, you should get in touch with our dentists today at Harley street London on 02071830903.
The use of Invisalign clear aligners has brought about different reports due to various experiences that people have of Invisalign. There have been reports of ulcers, mouth sores and bleeding gums in the first few days after use, as their mouths adjusted to the trays. However, they did get used to them after some time.
There have been complaints of constantly having to remove the aligners whenever there is the need to eat or drink. It is essential, however, to read the reviews before you choose the appropriate invisible braces to use.
Without argument, Invisalign is regarded as the most popular and first option when it comes to invisible braces. However, it is not the only invisible braces brand available. There are other brands of invisible braces available and also of good quality. Some of them have been around for a while, and others are new to the market.
This should also be put into consideration when making your choice on the brand that is most suitable for you. Other brands of invisible braces include;
Clearcorrect braces is the next in line after Invisalign in aligner orthodontics. Clearcorrect braces released their first product in the year 2006. With their company in Texas, and all their products shipped out, Clearcorrect braces are similar to Invisalign in several ways.
To produce these aligners, the impressions of the teeth are taken using scanners. These impressions are used to create treatment plans. Treatment with Clearcorrect braces is completed in about a few months, or some years. It all depends on how severe the case is, and provided the braces are worn for at least 22 hours daily.
Smilelign braces are good quality braces that provide the same treatment as Invisalign braces. With the production of these aligners, various teeth alignment problems are corrected.
Smilelign braces have one unique quality, and that is the production of pre-aligner. The pre-aligner is there for one primary purpose, and that is to confirm that the impressions taken were correct. The pre-aligner is made to fit the teeth before treatment begins. With the help of the pre-aligner, patients have an idea of what and how the treatment is going to be. This will help them decide whether or not they wish to go ahead with the treatment using invisible braces.
This is a slightly different type of invisible braces. Unlike other types of invisible braces, Inman aligner works only on the front teeth. This means it is not a complete orthodontic treatment.
Inman aligners utilise a spring-loaded system to apply pressure to the front and back part of the front teeth. Unlike other braces that have to be worn for about 22 hours daily or more, Inman aligners are only worn about 16-20 hours daily. Treatment is completed with Inman aligner in about 6 -18 weeks only.
Inman aligner is not invisible. Although the bow spanning the front teeth is made from clear plastic, there is a wire that runs through it. When you smile, there are metal springs and clasps attached to the teeth, and these are visible.
Clearsmile braces and Clearsmile aligner are adults braces produced by Clearsmile company. While Clearsmile brace offers treatment to the whole teeth, Clearsmile aligner only focuses on the front 8 – 10 teeth. With the aligners, the whole treatment begins with taking impressions of the teeth, after which they are analysed with Archwize software. This produces a report that allows the patient to see the before and after pictures of treatment in 3D.
This method combines both moulding and 3D printing to ensure comfort for the patient. Further impressions can be taken to ensure that the treatment is going as planned.
Besides the brands mentioned above and types of invisible braces, there are many more invisible examples include Clearpath aligners and Eon aligners
Before making your choice on the exact brand to choose, you need to have a discussion with our dentist at Harley street London. The dentist will help you make the right choice on the brand to choose. Based on your comfort, preference and budget, you should be able to get a good quality aligner to correct teeth alignment problems.
Invisible braces cost much more than traditional metal braces in most cases. Notwithstanding, people are willing to pay such price for their comfort and confidence.
As we know, the cost of invisible braces is dependent on the severity of the problem, and the time it will take for treatment to be completed. Also, charges can include the fees of the dentist and their location. For instance, Invisalign costs are ranged between £1,500 – £5,500. Although this may not be entirely correct, it comes within this range.
Cost Of Invisalign Vs Other Braces
Costs, among other things, are one of the most important things to consider before choosing a particular type of braces. The prices of braces differ according to brand names. Here are some examples.
Type of brace | Approximate price |
---|---|
Invisalign | £1,500 – £5,500 |
Lingual(incognito) | £2,000 – £10,000 |
Ceramic | £2,000- £6,000 |
Self -litigating, eg. Damon | £1,500 – £6000 |
Traditional metal | £1,500 – £3,000 |
Often, the cost of invisible braces is a discouraging factor for people who wish to get treatment. The good news today is, there are payment plans that can be beneficial for you. There are several Invisalign dentists all over London that offer an Invisalign payment plan to patients who need them, with free consultation as well. This payment plan allows you to make a deposit up-front, and balance up the remaining amount during your treatment.
Payment might not be a problem if you are covered by insurance. However, orthodontic treatment is not completely covered by dental insurance, and it is applicable for people under the age of 18. Adults are not likely to be covered by insurance; however, some people have begun to expand dental insurance to include orthodontic treatment as well.
Another option can be to pay part of the cost through insurance, and complete with a payment plan. This has been the most affordable way to pay for Invisalign treatment. There are still other finance options for getting invisalign braces. You can as well talk to our orthodontist or dentist at Harley street London about these options.
Retainers come into play after your treatment has been completed. You wear them to prevent your teeth from slipping back to its former position after treatment. There are retainers produced by Invisalign brand, such as Vivera retainers. These retainers can last for a long time, depending on how you maintain them.
Vivera retainers costs differ according to different dentists. However, the price range should be around £250 for a set of three trays for one jaw, and about £450 for a full set of three. There are other types of retainers that are much less expensive than Vivera retainers. A good example is the Hawley retainers and the Essix retainers.
The main thing to consider before choosing a retainer is the lifetime cost that comes with it. This is because your achieved dental results will recede once you stop using a retainer.
There are benefits associated with invisible braces like Invisalign over traditional braces or fixed braces. Before making a choice of Invisalign braces over metal braces, here are a few things to consider.
This means that skipping a day or two of treatment can place the entire process at risk, making it take longer than intended. Our dentists at Harley street London advise patients to pay attention to oral hygiene when wearing braces as it is quite easy for gum disease, staining and tooth decay to set in.
There is no doubt that Invisalign braces have gained worldwide recognition since it was first produced. There are also lists of elite personalities and celebrities that have used invisalign to correct their smiles.
The effectiveness of Invisalign is not disputed, as it has been used to treat over 90% of teeth alignment problems. Several researches and developments have been invested in Invisalign over the last twenty years to ensure its continued effectiveness.
How long the treatment lasts is dependent on the severity of the problem and your dedication to wearing the braces. For minor cases, treatment should not take so long as opposed to severe alignment cases. Your dentist, however, can give you an estimated treatment time during the consultation.
There are other types of clear braces that one can choose from, if, for some reason , you do not want to go with Invisalign or other invisible braces. There are good examples like Ceramic braces and Clear braces like Damon braces that use the same mechanism as metal braces. The difference however, is that the brackets and wires are made from materials that are tooth coloured or white. This makes them less noticeable, especially from a distance, but the discomfort remains.
There is also the lingual braces, which is even less noticeable because they are fixed with wires and all behind the teeth. Lingual braces are usually the most expensive, and can also be uncomfortable to wear.
Clear braces are also an option for people who are not eligible for aligners but wish to have their teeth straightened. Before making your choice, however, whether it is for yourself or your teen, consult with an experienced dentist beforehand.
Invisible braces have been chosen by many as a more acceptable and less obvious way of getting their teeth straightened. There is a confidence that is associated with invisible braces, and this makes them highly sought after. Invisalign clear aligners are the most popular brand of invisible braces and with good reason. With an effective rate of 90%, Invisalign has made a name for itself.
If you wish to have that perfect smile you deserve, try an invisible brace today. Contact us at The Harley Street Dentist London for recommendations and getting the right choice for you. Call us today on 02071830903, or visit our clinic at Harley street London. We will be glad to help!
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