How Long Do You Have to Wear Braces?

One of the first questions people ask when their dentist tells them they need braces is: “How long will I have to wear them?”. They understand the importance of straightening their smile and fixing their teeth, but no one wants to wear uncomfortable brackets and wires on their teeth for a long time. Unfortunately, the average length of time for braces to be worn is about 1-2 years.

Now, it’s not going to be the same for everyone. How long you have to wear braces will depend on a few factors, but primarily it depends on how severe your case is. If you have a lot of teeth that are far from where they should be, you are probably looking at two years or a little more. If you just have a tooth or two that needs correcting and the corrections aren’t extreme, then you could only have to wear the braces for about six months.

You’ll have to talk to an orthodontist before you can know for sure how long you will need to wear the braces. Just keep in mind that the estimate can change mid-process. If something happens to your braces and they become damaged, then you may have to wear them for a bit longer as repairs are made. If your teeth are not cooperating with the process, then the orthodontist may have to make some adjustments and give you a new estimate for when you will be able to take the braces off. There may even be times when your teeth move faster than anticipated, and the braces can come off sooner than you thought.

If you want to be sure that there are no problems and that nothing stops your braces from doing their job, then you need to make sure you are taking care of your teeth and braces. That means you have to follow your dentist’s and orthodontist’s instructions carefully. They will tell you not to eat very hard or crunchy foods and to avoid sticky and overly sweet foods. You also need to floss and brush your teeth regularly to make sure your teeth don’t stain while wearing braces and to keep your braces clean from substances that can cause them to deteriorate.

Even when your braces come off, the process of giving you the smile you want won’t be complete. You will likely have to wear a retainer for a while afterwards, as that will help the teeth stay where they are supposed to until the bone and tissue around the teeth solidify. Even once the teeth are in position, the braces still have to stay on for a short while because of the way the surrounding tissue and bone can behave. They become softer while the teeth are moving into position, so the braces keep the teeth from shifting around while your body sets them in place permanently.

Invisalign – The Pros & Cons

There has been a flurry of articles recently about the risks associated with cosmetic dentistry treatments, and our thanks go to Dr Ferakh Hamid  for the following piece on Invisalign braces which strikes us a well balanced discussion on the pluses and minuses of this treatment.

Invisalign Leeds patient

The Pros and Cons of Invisalign Braces

If you want the best smile possible, it’s essential you consider all your options. While there are more treatments  than ever before, each comes with its own pros and cons. You need to be familiar with them so that you don’t end up spending good money and lots of time using a solution that actually ends up leaving you with unsatisfactory results. One very popular method out right now is Invisalign braces—let’s take a closer look.

What Are Invisalign Braces?

Put simply, this product is meant to mimic the results you get with braces, but without being visible—hence the name. They’re for people who want straight teeth without all the hardware showing. Over the past five years or so, they’ve steadily grown in popularity too.

Let’s now look at the pros and cons of using Invisalign braces.

Practically Invisible

Like we just mentioned, no one wants to advertise that they’re having dental work done. Most of us associate a certain stigma with being an adult and needing a product like braces, which we generally think is something to give up as teenagers.

Whether or not this is fair, with Invisalign braces, you don’t have to worry that anyone is thinking it about you. They have see-through bodies that are made of a flexible form of plastic .Up close, people may be able to tell, but Invisalign braces are so unobtrusive that it won’t be something you’ll get embarrassed about.

You Can Take Them Out

Invisalign braces must be worn throughout the day for no less than 22 hours. However, you are permitted to take them out for the remaining two hours you have left, which is something s a great relief. With traditional braces, you never get a rest from them. Not only do they have to stay in, but you couldn’t take them out if you wanted to.

With Invisalign braces, you’ll mostly just be taking them out so that you can eat, but it can still make a big difference and help ease the discomfort that usually comes from wearing dental hardware.

They Get the Job Done

Make no mistake, despite the fact that Invisalign braces definitely make life a lot easier for the wearer, they still do a great job of realigning teeth exactly as you’d want. While there are some types of dental problems they won’t be good for fixing, those of us who just want our teeth straightened or better aligned will not be disappointed by what this popular product can do.

Limitations

However, this is probably a good time to bring up these specific limitations. Invisalign braces will not be much good at turning teeth back once they’ve reached a certain angle in your mouth. A dentist will be the final judge, but there are definitely some dental problems that only traditional braces can really address successfully.

Expensive

Invisalign braces can be quite expensive too. You have to remember that these are considered an elective procedure, so your insurance won’t be pitching in for them either. This means you’ll be paying for everything on your own. Compared to traditional braces, they’re definitely the more expensive option.

Regular Upkeep

You’ll need to return to your dentist’s office every two weeks to get an updated Invisalign insert. This is how they continuously bring your teeth closer together. With traditional braces, you usually only have to see an orthodontist once or twice a year, but that’s not the case with this specific kind.

Getting straighter teeth is easier than ever before thanks to Invisalign braces. However, it’s important to consider both the pros and the cons before you invest any time or money in this option.

 

The Differences Between Invisalign and Traditional Braces

Thanks to Dr Chudasama of DentalKind in Essex for the following information which explains in layman’s terms the increasingly popular dental treatment called Invisalign braces.

In a perfect world, when your baby teeth ended up fell out they would have been replaced by picture-perfect adult teeth that were as straight as an arrow and aligned exactly as they should be.

However, according to dental studies published in early 2010, the overwhelming majority of adults just aren’t getting to enjoy that kind of good fortune. In fact, a significant amount of people end up having to take advantage of teeth alignment tools and technology (like traditional braces and Invisalign, in more recent years) just to straighten out their teeth and enjoying a picture-perfect smile moving forward.

But how do you know that you actually need to have your teeth aligned?

How do you know that braces are the way to go, especially in your adult years?

And what about newer technology like Invisalign (and other Invisalign-like alternatives) that promise the same results as braces without all of the headache and hassle of dealing with a “metal mouth”?

Well, you’ll be able to get all of the answers that you’re looking for in this easy to read guide.

How important is it to have your teeth align perfectly?

Believe it or not, perfectly aligned teeth aren’t just important for cosmetic reasons – though there’s nothing quite like a picture-perfect smile!

Your teeth provide a very important utility in your day to day life, allowing you to chew your food and protect your mouth. If your teeth are perfectly aligned (exactly as they should be, and exactly as Mother Nature intended) you are going to find it to be very easy to eat, super easy to chew, and incredibly easy to breeze – not to mention talk, laugh, and live a headache free existence!

If, on the other hand, your teeth aren’t perfectly aligned (which happens to a tremendous amount of people all over the world) you’re going to be dealing with some pretty serious hassles I day-to-day basis – hassles that can grow into more serious problems over time.

On top of that, your teeth just aren’t going to look right, and then you’ll have to deal with all of the psychological and social pressure that this situation will place squarely upon your shoulders.

It makes a world of sense to have your teeth aligned if they aren’t already, but then it all boils down to picking and choosing the right solution to get the job done.

And that’s an entirely different bag of issues!

Why are braces so popular?

The overwhelming majority of people out there are going to end up relying on traditional braces (or a more modern spin on braces) to get their teeth back into alignment, mostly because of these solutions have proven to be so incredibly effective over time.

Braces have been used for decades to help people straighten out, align, and readjust their teeth over time, helping you to enjoy a more natural and picture-perfect smile than you would have been able to otherwise.

Sure, they aren’t exactly the greatest thing in the world to look at (and few people would argue that point), but they are incredibly reliable and has a proven track record quite unlike any other cosmetic dental solution out there.

The cold hard truth of the matter is they get the job done better than just about anything else, even if they end up looking more than a little bit unobtrusive (and some would say downright unappealing).

On top of that, braces are relatively inexpensive when compared to some of the other alternatives out there for aligning your teeth.

Sure, they aren’t cheap by any stretch of the imagination – especially if you need to have them readjusted, realigned, and “tweaked” over time or are going to be expecting to wear them for more than a year – but compared to a lot of the other options that are available for this specific purpose they are budget based there

Is Invisalign an effective alternative to traditional braces?

Invisalign has come along though, and flipped over the applecart, so to speak.

Operating almost on the exact same principle as your braces would, they provide you with an almost invisible piece of dental technology that will help you to straighten out and align your teeth without the “metal mouth effect” that braces bring to the table.

Using incredibly powerful computers and imaging technology and software, a properly trained cosmetic dentist is going to be able to take very detailed 3-D models of your teeth and then work with Eddie Invisalign technology to custom mold a dental tool that will bring your teeth into alignment over time.

This dental tool is going to be as invisible as any physical object can be, and while it will be a noticeable for those that are paying extreme attention, for the most part it is going to fade into the background while giving you the exact same results that braces would.

It’s real easy best of both worlds, so long as your dental alignment issue can be solved by the Invisalign solution. There are a number of situations where Invisalign just won’t work nearly as effectively as braces would, but your dentist will be able to advise you in those circumstances and let you know whether or not you should move forward with either option.

How to I make the right decision when it comes time to straighten out my teeth?

When it all comes down to the decision-making process, you’re not only going to want to think about the short-term (how you will look and how quickly your teeth will come into alignment with either option), but you’re also going to want to look at the big picture.

After all, it doesn’t make a world of sense to spend a year or more in braces or Invisalign and not end up with the perfectly straight and perfectly aligned teeth you’re after.

Speak to your general dentist, your cosmetic dentist, and do a bit of research and due diligence online about both of these solutions and you should be able to navigate this situation without any real effort at all.

Best of luck going forward!

Choosing an Orthodontist

We are often asked about the difference between a dentist and a specialist orthodontist. The distinction is subtle yet profound as your smile and those of your family will be decided by this decision. With this in mind we have written a handy little guide that will help you choose the correct dental professional for you.

What is the difference between an Orthodontist and a Dentist?

An orthodontist specialises in disorders that relate to misaligned jaws and teeth and the solutions that can rectify these, such as some type of brace. A dentist on the other hand, is more of an all-round dental professional who provides expertise in restorative dentistry like crowns, bridges, whitening, fillings and implants. Dr Sunil Chudasama of Dental Kind in Essex explains that there are a couple of things to consider when making your decision and doing your dental research.

Just ask to find out whether your dentist is a specialist Orthodontist

One of the best ways to find the right orthodontist is simply to ask.  You may already have a dentist but ask them if they are a qualified orthodontist or whether there is a dedicated member of their staff that provides orthodontist advice. They don’t offer this service then they are best placed to recommend a orthodontist in the Bristol area.  If your dentist does not offer a specialist orthodontist service they we would recommend that you speak to family, friends and co-workers about their experiences with local orthodontists. They are sure to give an unbiased appraisal of the treatments they received and with which orthodontist they would

Make sure your Orthodontist has the latest technology

The more advanced an office is, the more likely that the dentist is constantly investing and upgrading their dental practice to keep it at the forefront of modern orthodontics.  This will mean that they have digital x-rays which allows for better communication with other dentists which allows them to access your patient information effortlessly. It is also imperative that the Orthodontist is abreast of and using the latest technological advancements in braces.  The newer brace treatment go faster and usually have less discomfort for the patient.

Are you considering having Invisalign treatment?

Most Orthodontists will state that they offer the latest Invisalign Essex. Most Orthodontists have been trained in braces but perhaps have not spent time in the needed continuous professional development to learn how to use the Invisalign system.

You may be aware that invisalign system of tooth movement involves clear, removable aligners that are worn 22 hours a day.  The patient gets a new set every fortnight and each new system gradually moves your teeth into the prescribed position.  Many patients believe that Invisalign does all the work, but this is not the case, they just provide the software. The real key to success lies with an experienced Orthodontist – as they are what really transform your smile.

Cosmetic Dental Braces in Demand

An interesting trend seems to be developing for cosmetic dental braces . Dr David Cashel has reported an upsurge in the number of clients visiting his practice and actually asking for dental braces using the brand name of the company involved.

Gone are the days when clunky bits of scaffolding attached to teeth turned patients into embarrassed mutes. Today’s range of cosmetic braces work much more quickly than before, are much less intrusive than before, are easier and less painful to put in place, are much more comfortable for the patient to wear and are practically invisible to other people.  This is why they are often described as “invisible braces”.

Dr Cashel, of Cashel Daisley Dental, advises people to take their dentists’ advice on the correct treatment for straightening teeth. Looking for Invisalign in Glasgow may seem like a solution to a patient’s problem, but there may well be other more efficient ways to get the job done and straighten your teeth using a different product. With so many different manufacturers and products in the marketplace, the sensible thing to do is have a consultation with a dental expert and be advised as to the best way forward.

Also, try to understand that any timings the dentist gives you are a best estimate. Cosmetic dental braces like Invisalign and Inman Aligners are state of the art products, but they require discipline from the wearer. You need to commit yourself to follow the treatment regime properly or the original timings estimated by your dentist may prove to be over optimistic.