Orthodontic Treatment

INVISALIGN

Unlike traditional metal braces, Invisalign is currently one of the most discrete types of braces in orthodontics. They are completely clear, invisible and removable, with minimal impact to day-to-day life. If you want to take them out for an important meeting, you can do.

What Are They?

Invisalign aligners are made of a thermoplastic material uniquely developed for Invisalign treatment. They are thin but strong shells that clip over teeth (similar to whitening trays) see below.

How Does Invisalign Work?

The Invisalign aligners are custom – made specifically for your teeth. Your Invisalign straighteners are replaced every two weeks, they work by applying a little pressure, bit by bit, pulling your teeth into the correct position.

FUNCTIONAL BRACES

This type of brace is used to widen the upper and lower arches or to help correct a bite or move single teeth.

What Are They?

Removable or functional braces are made from acrylic and metal. The plastic is used to make a plate to fit against your top or lower palate. Metal wires are fixed from either side. These wires grip around teeth and keep the brace in place.

How Do They Work?

These types of braces are not for procession, meaning they can move single teeth but cannot reposition multiple teeth simultaneously. This type of brace has the wire tightened as well as sometimes the plastic plate re – shaped.

METAL BRACES

These are what people usually think of when they think of braces in the traditional sense. What many people don’t know is that metal braces in modern orthodontics are a lot smaller as well as more comfortable. Metal braces are the most cost effective as well as time effective in achieving results.

What Are They?

Metal braces are made of high-quality stainless steel or titanium and are made of three main parts. These are the brackets (stuck to the front of teeth) an archwire, which is a thin metal wire going through the middle of the brackets and ligature elastics which attach to each bracket holding the wire into place.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Once your braces are fitted, the arch- wire is set so that the brace applies a constant but not painful pressure on your teeth. This pressure helps move your teeth into the proper position. It may feel tight at first but this usually wears off after a couple of days. At each appointment, your orthodontist will tighten the archwires.

CLEAR BRACES

These types of braces are nearly exactly the same as metal braces apart from instead of metal brackets, we use ceramic brackets, which match the colour of teeth. This makes them almost invisible! Using ceramic is more expensive than metal braces because of the material used, but they are as effective as metal braces and other than the metal brackets which are switched for ceramic brackets the three main parts are the same.

LINGUAL BRACES

Lingual braces, which translate to ‘tongue side’ braces, are another type of ‘invisible’ orthodontic treatment. These braces are very similar to metal braces, but the difference is, these braces are fitted behind the teeth instead of in front meaning they are virtually ‘invisible’.

These types of braces do take a little getting used to, but they have been proven to be as effective as metal braces and work by a similar method.

Crowded or misaligned teeth commonly mean that a person has a malocclusion, this simply means a misalignment or incorrect relationship between the teeth and the upper/lower jaw. What many people do not know is that having a malocclusion can lead to serious oral health problems.

Orthodontic treatment has many non – cosmetic benefits. If your teeth are misaligned, simple things such as maintaining good oral hygiene can be very difficult. Teeth that are crooked or contorted can cause ‘food traps’. Meaning, food can get trapped in areas, which are difficult or near impossible to clean. If food is not properly cleaned from teeth, this can cause plaque and tartar to build around teeth and gums. This is effectively full of bacteria, some harmful, which can cause not only oral health problems but problems to your overall health too.

Here are some of the non – cosmetic benefits of orthodontic treatment:

BITE CORRECTION

If you are experiencing nausea, try to lie down and rest as well as drink fluids high in sugar.

STRAIGHTEN CROWDING

Crowding of the teeth can create discomfort, where teeth shift and are forced forwards, backwards or even rotated. Overcrowding can inhibit oral hygiene, meaning that you are more prone to oral diseases including gum disease – the leading cause of tooth loss.

BREATHING & SWALLOWING PROBLEMS (mostly occuring in sleep)

Orthodontic treatment can realign the jaw meaning that the relationship between the upper and lower arch meet properly when closed. This can prevent headaches, jaw pain or discomfort while chewing or biting and more.

Orthodontics can also be used to treat other health problems, such as a cleft lip/ palate or cases of Sleep Apnoea.

As your smile is individual to you, your treatment will be individual to you too. At the Brighton implant clinic, we provide you with a unique treatment plan specifically for you. This will give you options on the best as well as most effective treatment for you, taking into consideration what you want as well as your lifestyle and cost. If you would like any more information or an evaluation, our talented orthodontist’s are situated at our Brighton and Worthing clinic.

What You Want To Know About Cost

Lots of our patients want to know “how much do braces cost?” Orthodontic prices can vary, as not only is each treatment plan individual, it is dependable on your wants and needs as well as the range of solutions that we offer. If you would like more information on our prices, click here.