Teeth Straightening Options At Our Epsom Dental Practice

From minor corrections, to more complex orthodontic solutions, we are here to help….

One cosmetic dental treatment that some patients seem to shun is having their teeth straightened. This isn’t because they don’t want to have straighter teeth, but perhaps from memories of children at school who spent a significant portion of their younger years wearing those highly visible metallic braces.

Although these were very effective, few would claim that they looked nice, and unfortunately, some children were almost certainly bullied for wearing them. Given their history then, perhaps some reluctance is understandable. Fortunately, when it comes to getting straighter teeth, things have changed considerably!

Before we move on to look at modern near-invisible teeth braces that we provide at the Clocktower Dental, Implant & Facial Centre, it is worth looking at why you should have your teeth straightened. The most obvious reason is to improve your smile and there is no doubt that a smile with nice even teeth is more attractive than one that reveals a crooked set. This isn’t the only reason though, and teeth that are crooked or overlap are more likely to trap food, become decayed, and can also wear down prematurely; even breaking due to uneven pressure placed on them due to their incorrect position.

Your cosmetic orthodontic options

Having established that having straighter teeth offers many benefits, how do we manage to achieve this without the patient having to wear metal dental braces? The answer is that modern dentistry now offers a greater range of orthodontic options. The two most commonly used at our Epsom dental practice are the ‘Clear Aligner’ and the ‘Six Month Smiles’ systems. Both of these are excellent options but are usually used in different situations.

Clear Aligner

Generally speaking, the Clear Aligner system is used where more significant correction is needed, especially where the less visible side and rear teeth need straightening too. Due to the nature of our teeth, this process can’t be rushed as to do so would require the use of excessive force which could damage both the tooth and the bone holding it in place. This longer treatment period has previously been a problem as people are understandably more reluctant to wear highly visible braces for a year or more.

Enter the Clear Aligner system. This completely abandons the use of any wires or brackets and relies instead on a series of transparent medical grade plastic trays that fit directly over the teeth. These are made from impressions that we take of your teeth for maximum comfort. You will be given a series of these, with each straightening your teeth a little more than the previous one, until your teeth are in their final position.

The fact that these ‘braces’ are almost invisible is obviously one of the main reasons that people appreciate them. They do have additional benefits though.

The Clear Aligner system allows for their removal when you are eating and when you clean your teeth. This is excellent news as you can more or less carry on with your daily life as before and makes it much easier to keep your teeth clean than if you wear traditional braces. You should not remove your aligners for other reasons though, as removing them too often will prolong the treatment time.

Six Month Smiles

As you might guess from its name, this particular system is aimed at teeth that are not so significantly crooked and uneven and can be straightened in a shorter period of time. In fact, the six months mentioned is an average time and more minor corrections may take much less time than the name suggests. The dentist at the Clocktower Dental, Implant & Facial Centre will advise approximately how long it will take to straighten your smile during your consultation.

Unlike the Clear Aligner system, the Six Month Smiles does use the wire and bracket system to straighten your teeth, Unlike traditional teeth braces though, these are made of much finer wiring and brackets that are made in a shade of white to blend in well with the natural colour of your teeth. This particular orthodontic system is usually used to provide cosmetic improvements to the teeth that are visible when we smile. For example, where two teeth have slightly overlapped, this system is an excellent option to restore them to their natural even state.

Although teeth straightening is a longer treatment than most other cosmetic ones, it is a great way to really give your smile a boost. Many patients also decide to have a whitening procedure following this treatment, to get the maximum benefit from their new smile.

If you have crooked or uneven teeth and would like to discover how we can help you, please give our Epsom dental practice a call on 01372 720136 and we will arrange an initial consultation for you. Your journey to straigher teeth is just a call away!