Invisalign London is an effective method of straightening your teeth which is discreet and convenient and requires very little time at the dental practice, rather the majority of the procedure is carried out in the comfort of your own home. If you are thinking about straightening your teeth then you need to speak to your dentist and find out about Invisalign. This treatment can be used by patients of all ages and is ideal for adults who avoided orthodontic treatment when they were younger or have been reluctant about getting braces because they did not want to draw unwanted attention to their mouths.
Invisalign aligners
Invisalign is very different to traditional braces. Traditional braces use metal brackets and wires that are fixed to the surface of your teeth and tightened at regular intervals to push and pull your teeth into a neater formation. Invisalign works using a series of clear thermoplastic aligners that are designed to fit your mouth accurately and apply pressure to the teeth to push them into a neater formation. Rather than having the components tightened regularly you move onto the next aligner in the series. In this way you change aligners once every two weeks until your teeth have achieved a neat formation. This can take between 6 and 12 months for mild or moderate misalignment issues and for those with more complicated orthodontic needs it can take between 12 and 18 months.
How do the aligners work?
You will be given the full sequence of aligners at the beginning of the treatment. It is important that you adhere to the protocol because the success of the procedure is literally in your hands. When you take out the aligners it is important that you keep them off for the minimum time necessary. During this time you can eat and drink as you wish, enjoy your favourite foods after which you need to thoroughly clean your teeth by brushing, flossing and using a fluoride mouthwash where necessary before putting the aligners back in your mouth. Altogether the aligners need to be in your mouth for approximately 22 hours of the day and this will help you achieve optimal results. If you do need to keep them out for a special occasion or an important meeting then that’s fine, but at the end of the two week period you should wear the aligners for a little bit longer, maybe a few hours, maybe a whole day, depending on how long you had to keep them out. The procedure itself can be monitored by your dentist online. You can upload weekly photographs and show them how you are getting along and they will be able to provide you with feedback or answer any questions if necessary.
Invisalign retainers
Once you have completed the whole sequence of aligners, you can speak to your dentist and find out about Invisalign’s retainer system. Your retainer will be designed in the same shape as the last aligner in the sequence and this will need to be worn overnight whilst you sleep. By making sure you wear your retainer correctly, maintain good dental hygiene practices and visit the dentist on a regular basis you can enjoy your brand new, neatly aligned smile for the rest of your life. Speak to your dentist sooner rather than later and achieve a smile that you are happy with and proud to show off to the world.
