Invisalign and Aligners
If you are looking for a discreet way to straighten your teeth and don’t want to get more traditional braces then having an aligner may be an option worth considering.
Invisalign and Aligners
Aligners are clear plastic trays that you wear for around 22 hours per day to straighten your teeth. Each aligner is slightly different from the previous one and moves your teeth towards the desired position.
The process starts with a detailed scan or impression of your teeth and a skilled dental technician then uses software to create a series of steps towards the final result. Invisalign refer to this as a ‘clincheck’ which provides you and your dentist or orthodontist with an opportunity to review and comment on the final intended position of your teeth.
Once approved, each of these steps results in a separate aligner, the total number required corresponding with the complexity of your treatment. Following completion of wearing these aligners, further ‘refinement’ aligners may be made to achieve the final result.
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Invisalign is the best known brand of aligners and has proven to be very popular with now over 5 million patients. Many dental and orthodontic practices across the UK provide Invisalign and it remains a popular option for adults who want their teeth straightened without going down the traditional ‘braces’ route. There are other brands of aligners, all of which straighten your teeth in a similar way by using a sequence of trays. It will take a little time to get used to aligners and your speech may be affected at first. This soon passes and many patients are pleased with their decision to get aligners. Some patients will have attachments which are small tooth coloured ridges to help the aligner grip a tooth and to achieve a certain movement. These will be more noticable particularly if they are on the front teeth. Aligners cannot treat everyone so your orthodontist may recommend other options.
Features
Almost invisible
The aligners are almost invisible so no one will know you are wearing them
Removable
You can remove your aligners so can continue eating whatever you want, just don’t forget to put them back in afterwards
Effective
Aligners are now able to treat a wide range of orthodontic problems
Comfortable
After initially adapting to wearing them, most people describe them as comfortable to wear
Availability
Many dental practices and orthodontists offer aligners so they will be easily available
Buttons
You may have small tooth coloured attachments glued on your teeth to enable the aligner to move certain teeth
Lisping
It can take a few days to get used to your aligners so don’t give up
Range of options
There are different treatment plans depending on your budget and needs
Determination
It will take discipline to wear your aligners for 22 hours a day so some determination is required
Blog posts
8 things I wish I knew before getting Invisalign
In another great video from Lucie, she talks about her experiences with Invisalign and the 8 things she wished she knew before getting Invisalign. https://youtu.be/1vdKZij0t9g
Orthodontic special offers
In just about every other industry, you will find seasonal or product special offers and orthodontics is no exception. Every January, a time when we all like to make some New Year resolutions that we may or may not stick to, quite a few orthodontic practices promote...
Invisalign tips from Lucie
In another great video from Lucie, she provides tips and advice based on her first few weeks with Invisalign. https://youtu.be/r-K0lhJBfYo
An Invisalign blog from Lucie
Lucie has recently started getting her teeth straightened with Invisalign. She previously looked at DIY braces with Smile Direct and after reading some reviews, decided to not pursue this option and to visit a dentist to explore getting her teeth straightened with...
iTero Scanning
Whilst attending the recent BDIA dental show in Birmingham, Invisalign kindly invited to try the iTero intraoral scanner and I can assure you, it's not as easy as it looks! Once comfortably seated behind the 'phantom head' I was instructed to start scanning the...
Invisalign – weekly aligner changes
Invisalign have announced that they are now allowing dental practitioners to offer their patients one-week aligner wear instead of the previously recommended two-week changes, allowing shorter treatment time. Previously, the custom-made aligners were always...
Invisalign – now VAT exempt
Invisalign have today confirmed that following negotiations with HMRC, their aligners have been classified as a medical device and as such, are now exempt from VAT. In his statement, Jamie Morley, General Manager for Invisalign UK and Ireland said " I believe the...
Invisalign 4 million smiles
Align Technology, the people behind Invisalign, have just announced that they have started treating their 4 millionth patient and to celebrate this milestone, they are donating $1 to Operation Smile for every smile tweeted using the hashtag #4millionsmiles. They have...
The Invisalign phone app
If you are having Invisalign treatment, you can download a great app that enables you to record your progress and to review the changes between each aligner. Although I have not had Invisalign, I have downloaded this app and have tried it...
My Invisalign experience – by Anna
I'm hugely grateful to Anna who writes the great 'a whole lot of chitty chat' blog for writing this super article on her experience with Invisalign. Hello readers of UK adult braces! I'm Anna and I blog (occasionally) on my little slice online, 'a whole lot of chitty...
Invisalign impressions
In my recent post on dental anxiety I spoke about being apprehensive about impression taking. Getting accurate impressions is incredibly important for those undertaking Invisalign treatment and this video clip takes you through the whole...
Invisalign attachments
If you are undertaking Invisalign treatment, you will probably need attachments added during at some point to enable to the aligners to grip better and to achieve a range of movements that would not be possible without them. This great...
Invisalign deep bite treatment
There are so many really good video clips on sites such as YouTube which explain many different aspects of orthodontics and this is one I came across earlier which shows how the Invisalign system can correct a deep bite. If this is part...
Invisalign refinements – an update from Anna
In her blog, 'a whole lot of chitty chat', Anna has written an update on her progress with Invisalign. She has reached the refinement stage and has another nine Invisalign trays to go to finish her treatment. She also talks about the importance of keeping your teeth...
Why is Invisalign so popular?
I recently read that Invisalign has treated over three million patients so I thought I would try and find out what makes this treatment option so popular. I have not had Invisalign so can't write from first hand experience so have relied on the comments of many...
Invisalign – How does it work?
In this video, the whole Invisalign process is described giving a fascinating insight into this clever technology.
An Invisalign update from Anna
Anna, who writes the 'a whole lot of chitty chat' blog has recently updated on her progress with Invisalign. She is now on tray 15 out of 17 and her post gives an honest reflection on what she has learnt so far with Invisalign. Here is an extract from the post:...
3 Wishes Invisalign Blog
Carrie, a London based lifestyle blogger has posted a great series of posts about her time with Invisalign braces and the fantastic results she has received by having her teeth straightened this way. She writes a blog 'wish wish wish' which has some really lovely...
Gum Shield Frying Pan
I have just come across another Invisalign blog that takes a light hearted look at the process of getting and having Invisalign. For a peek of what you might expect from this blog, I have copied a great description of the process of getting impressions below: The...
Invisalign
Invisalign is a removable brace that moves teeth through the use of clear aligners which are changed every few weeks. At the start of your treatment, accurate moulds are taken of your teeth and these are sent to a laboratory which produces a series of clear aligners...