Teeth Straightening
Do you have lovely front teeth without fillings, which are a perfect colour and shape, but are just crooked? Such perfect teeth can often be straightened in few months using simple alignment. The confidence that you will gain from a perfectly aligned smile is beyond compare. Everybody can have straight teeth and a beautiful smile. You may never have had orthodontics as a child, or if you did and your teeth have become crooked over time.
Benefits
This easy treatment can correct your front teeth and give you a beautiful natural straight smile without changing your tooth structure.
Orthodontics can also often be part of the process to start creating your new smile. Crooked teeth are very difficult to clean, making them more prone to decay and gum disease. Although we can align your teeth with crowns and veneers, Your Dentist may suggest some initial straightening to ensure that your porcelain work will last as long as possible without any potential complications.
Initial straightening may also be necessary if you want to replace a missing tooth with a dental implant. You may have also lost a tooth a while ago, causing surrounding teeth to drift and move into the gap. In order to place an implant, there needs to be enough space between the teeth. Orthodontics can easily regain the space that you need to place your implant and restore your mouth back to its full potential.
The procedure
The most common techniques used are:
Invisalign
Many adults do not like the idea or look of permanent fixed braces on their teeth. Invisalign is a very individualised technique which has been used by many people around the world to straighten their smile without the cosmetic restrictions of braces.
It works by using a sequence of clear, well fitting ‘aligners’, which each slowly move the teeth into their desired position. These aligners are barely noticeable when they are worn, making it a very discreet option for many adults.
The aligners are constructed for each individual patient using highly specialised software, called Clincheck. Your dentist may use the software program to make your personal ‘prescription’, which you will be able to see on the Clincheck simulation.
The number of aligners you need will depend on the initial position of your teeth. Treatment may last for as little as 4 months, up to 24 months, depending on how crooked your teeth are. However it is important that you wear each of your aligners for the required duration as advised, otherwise your teeth will not move.
Because these aligners are removable, there are no problems with maintaining your oral hygiene and gum health. It is easy to keep your teeth clean and without stains over this period.
The aligners will place a light constant pressure on your teeth, to slowly move them to the correct position. You will change your aligners every 2 weeks to continue this gentle movement, until you have reached your final aligner and perfect new smile.
Cfast
Often the best option to straighten teeth is braces, however as an adult, metal braces can be an issue for some patients.
Cfast is a system that uses clear brackets and white wires to align your front 6 teeth in as little as 3-9 months. They can straighten your teeth with good results yet without you feeling self-conscious about your appearance during your treatment.
This treatment is much quicker than traditional orthodontic treatment because it is for aesthetic alignment of your front teeth only. There are no changes to your bite or function of your back teeth. Treatment can be quite straightforward and quick for adult patients. If, however, you have issues with your jaws or muscles or are not happy with the alignment of your bite, then we will be happy to discuss other options with you.
Straight teeth will lead to healthier teeth, as you will be able to clean and maintain your oral hygiene with much more ease. Cfast may be used to initially align your teeth before whitening and/or other cosmetic preparations for your front teeth. Your newly-straightened teeth will benefit from being simple to clean and your new smile will be healthier for longer.
Lingual Braces
You may have had braces before as a teenager, or just notice that your teeth are becoming a little more crowded as you are getting older. There are instances when only a small amount of straightening needs to be done, in a short period of time.
Lingual braces, or ‘inside braces’, are attached to the inside surface of your front 8 teeth. You may choose to have just your top teeth aligned, or just the bottom, or both. Lingual braces work much the same as conventional braces, but from the opposite surface of your teeth. No one will be able to see the braces as your teeth slowly align back to their correct position.
Lingual braces are used for small amounts of correction and only take 4 months to align your teeth. However, if you have larger amounts of crowding, Dr Berera may suggest other options in conjunction with lingual braces to perfect your smile.
Conventional Braces
Straight teeth will give you the confidence of a beautiful smile with the benefits of a healthy oral environment. Crooked teeth are much harder to clean than straight teeth, and can often be traps for food, plaque and bacteria. This will lead to gum disease and dental decay.
The confidence that you will gain from a perfectly aligned smile is beyond compare. There may be times when traditional metal braces can do a better job, in a shorter amount of time. After a thorough assessment of your bite and smile, your dental surgeon will suggest which option will suit you best, and tailor a plan according to your dental aspirations.
Risks
- Decalcification due to poor oral hygiene. This is the white/brown residue that can be left after brackets are removed.
- Root resorption Periodontal issues
- Temporomandibular joint problems (joint clicking, popping or pain) Relapse
- Treatment time
Key facts
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Invisalign is a very individualised technique which has been used by many people around the world to straighten their smile without the cosmetic restrictions of braces.
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Cfast is a system that uses clear brackets and white wires to align your front 6 teeth in as little as 3-9 months.
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Lingual braces, or ‘inside braces’, are attached to the inside surface of your front 8 teeth. You may choose to have just your top teeth aligned, or just the bottom, or both.
-
There may be times when traditional metal braces can do a better job, in a shorter amount of time.
Important to know
Good dental hygiene is critical in keeping infection at bay. Non-?smokers and patients with good oral hygiene habits put themselves in a much better position for a full and fast recovery. Smokers will typically be encouraged to stop smoking beforehand to improve the odds of successful surgery.
