Teeth Aligning
Does the position of your teeth bother you?
Is your smile something you've always wanted to improve, preferably without metal 'train tracks'?!
We can help you get closer to that dream smile without metal braces!
At Wellington Road Dental Care, we appreciate that you don't want to tell the world that you're having your teeth aligned. It's kind of personal and important that you can clean your teeth easily and quickly. That's why we offer clear aligners. You can have straighter looking teeth without all that metal hardware!
Okay, so what exactly are clear aligners?
Clear aligners are a clear, almost invisible plastic covering that fits very closely over your teeth. How much movement is required will determine how many aligners you need. You change to the next aligner in your sequence every two weeks and your teeth move progressively with each new aligner. At a conversational distance most people won't even notice you're wearing anything on your teeth!
What you need to know about teeth aligning/teeth straightening
Before we get to work on your new smile, consider this:
- You need to wear your aligners for a minimum of 22 hours per day! This means only taking them out to eat, drink and brush your teeth. If you're the kind of person who loses their keys and wallet all the time clear aligners may not be the best choice for you. If you only wear them sporadically, or lose them it will slow down your treatment. You have to wear them if you want them to work.
- Teeth aligners are adults only! Compliance to wearing your aligners a minimum of 22 hours per day is so important it means they're not the best solution for little mouths.
- Teeth moving can be a little uncomfortable. When you move to the next aligner and there is more pressure on your teeth they can feel a little tender. As you progress through the two weeks they will get more comfortable.
- You may develop a temporary lisp, but don't worry - your lips and tongue adapt and you will be speaking properly again in no time.
- You will probably need little tooth coloured buttons ('attachments') on your teeth. These act like little handles and give your aligners something to grab onto. These buttons are made out of white filling material and get polished off at the end of your treatment.
- Your smile will look different and your bite will feel different too. Moving your front teeth can alter the way your back teeth fit together
- Retention is key. Once your active sequential aligners have finished it is crucial to stick to a retention protocol for LIFE! That's right - you need to have some sort of retainer for as long as you want your teeth to stay in the new position. Our teeth are crooked because that's where it's comfortable for them to be - if we move them and don't do anything to hold them in their new position they'll just gradually drift back to where we worked so hard to get them from. This returning movement is called 'relapse'.
If you think sequential clear aligners may be the right choice for you then contact us to book an assessment.
At your appointment, we will take moulds of your teeth and a record of your bite. We'll also take some photographs and radiographs to help us formulate the best plan for you. Sometimes, to get the best result you may benefit from a combination of clear aligner therapy and whitening or conservative veneers.
Clear aligner treatment is ideal for the movement of your front teeth. If you have issues with how your jaws fit together, or any problems with the way your back teeth bite together, a consultation with a specialist orthodontist may be the best way to go. We can direct you to some excellent practitioners - just ask!