New style orthodontics allow patients much more discreet wearing.

As part of having an attractive smile, straight and even Teeth are essential. Teeth can be made whiter through the use of cosmetic dentistry, but if they are uneven, having them whitened will only serve to highlight this fact. For many years, the procedure for straightening teeth was a highly visible one in the form of metallic dental braces. Thankfully, this no longer has to be the case.

There are now a number of orthodontics available which offer a way of straightening your teeth without people really noticing. Systems such as Invisalign and Damon Clear manage to achieve this and are sometimes referred to as ‘invisible braces’. In today’s Blue Sky Dental blog, we will take a look at this recent dental phenomenon.

Old style braces – a deterrence?

Before we move on to modern braces, it is worth asking why older type braces are no longer the most rounded solution for straightening uneven teeth. The truth is that these braces do work well and achieve their aims, but they aren’t without problems and their high visibility for our Chelmsford patients is just one of them.

Having to wear very visible braces certainly deters some people from having their teeth straightened, simply because of their appearance. Traditional braces such as these can sometimes cause issues with the patient’s oral health as well.  The wires and brackets that are used can make cleaning of the teeth more difficult, whilst at the same time making it easier for food and bacteria to collect. A combination of these factors can mean that decay is more likely if you wear dental braces of this type. Modern clear braces can help to avoid this problem as we shall see shortly.

Invisible braces

To answer the question in our headline ‘can dental braces really be invisible?’, the answer of course is no, not strictly speaking. If they were, you wouldn’t be able to see them to put them back in after cleaning (more of that shortly). They are however very transparent and use a high grade medical plastic which gives them a transparent appearance and also offers a good level of strength. Generally speaking, when your braces are being worn, they are very discreet and it is likely that only those who are really close to you will notice them at all.

These ‘invisible braces’ are different from traditional ones as they do away with the need for wires and brackets altogether. They are made instead, into ‘trays’ that fit directly over the teeth. The patient will be given a series of these, each one working to progressively ease the teeth towards the correct position. These discreet trays are not only transparent, and therefore barely noticeable, but can also be removed by the patient too.

Healthier teeth

We have said before that traditional braces allow food and bacteria to collect in them as well as making cleaning of the teeth more difficult. The system of using these trays counteracts that on two key points. Firstly, whilst food can become trapped between the teeth and the trays, this is only temporary and will last only until you have cleaned your teeth. Secondly, the trays are designed to be removed by the patient for essential cleaning as well as when you eat. The ability to remove them yourself means that you can continue your usual brushing and flossing regime.

Making sure that you brush and floss your teeth well, as well as keeping the trays clean, as instructed, means that there is no reason why you should be at a higher risk of tooth decay than anyone else. Of course, if you fail to clean them, then decay is quite likely as it would be anyway.

It is not only during the treatment period that this orthodontic system can help you keep your teeth healthier, but also once completed. The reality is that straight and even teeth are much easier to keep clean than those that are crooked or overlapping. For example, where teeth overlap it is almost impossible to completely clean in the area where this happens. Despite the fact that the bristles of the toothbrush or dental floss can struggle to get into these spaces, the microscopic bacteria that can cause oral problems do so easily. Having straight and even teeth means that cleaning is more effective and you are less likely to suffer from tooth decay or gum disease if you clean your teeth correctly.

Our Chelmsford patients that have these treatments will also end up with a more attractive smile; perhaps one of the main reasons why this treatment is so popular.  As with any orthodontic treatment, you will need to wear retainers following your treatment and we will discuss this with you before you make a final decision to proceed.

Finally, with your teeth now beautifully even, why not ‘top up’ that new smile with our effective teeth whitening treatment to give you the best looking smile possible?

For more information about ‘invisible braces’ or any other cosmetic dental treatment, please contact Blue Sky Dental on 01245 211070.