While there is certainly a wider range of orthodontic braces to choose from nowadays, we at Clapham South Dental Centre like to make our patients aware that not all treatments types may be suitable for every patient. One of the clear braces in Clapham treatment types most frequently asked about at our dental clinic is Invisalign. The ease of use, comfort and discreteness of this dental device are the top factors for the treatment’s popularity.

Crooked smiles Invisalign can fix

One of the major factors in determining a patient’s suitability for this type of clear braces in Clapham is the severity of your crooked smile. The dental device is used for a myriad range of teeth and bite issues, but may not be suitable if these issues are severe or complex. Generally, the following dental conditions can be treated:

• Spaces between teeth

Gaps between teeth are a cause for concern as food can easily become trapped in them and lead to other dental issues like tender gums and advanced gum disease.

• A crowded mouth

Overcrowding does not leave sufficient space in the dental arches to accommodate teeth comfortably. This is worrying for a number of reasons. Firstly teeth and gums become more difficult to clean and as a result, a patient can quite easily accumulate plaque build-up. Other reasons include teeth becoming encouraged to overlap or forced out of position.

• Overbite

This is a common malocclusion condition where the upper dental arch overlaps the lower arch. Patients usually experience jaw pain due to teeth putting undue pressure on the jaw.

• Underbite

Another bite issue that causes difficulty in chewing and speaking is the underbite. An underbite is defined as the front teeth in the lower dental arch jutting out in front of the front upper teeth.

• Crossbite

Patients with a crossbite find that their upper teeth are sitting in the unusual position of inside the lower arch as opposed to the outside of the lower teeth. The damage caused by this condition include chipped teeth, gum recession and bone loss.

• Open bite

When you close your mouth, it is normal for the teeth on the upper and lower arches to touch. Sometimes this does not happen and this is referred to as an open bite. The condition can present chewing difficulties when biting into hard and crunchy food types.

Other influential factors include:

• A patient’s willpower or determination to commit to our dental practitioner’s guidelines on wearing Invisalign retainers.

Whilst the most commonly known fact about the device is that it is removable, many of our patients are surprised to find out that they are only allowed to remove them for a limited number of hours.

• Age

The thermoplastic aligners are able to be fitted for older teenagers and adult patients.

Only a dental practitioner can evaluate a patient’s case accurately and determine their suitability for clear braces in Clapham. If you have one of the teeth or bite problems mentioned above and want to know if Invisalign can help you fix it, then please contact us at Clapham South Dental Centre.

With more and more of us using social media everyday the way we look starts to become ever increasingly important. We start to notice all the little flaws and imperfections that on the outside are small but inside cause a lot of anxiety and feelings of low self-confidence.

But there are options at your disposal for improving your image a little. One method is to make an appointment for clear braces in Clapham to give your smile a little boost.

What these braces are

As we mentioned above, these braces can help your smile. What we mean by that is, this treatment is primarily used by our patients to straighten up crooked or misaligned teeth.

We manage this by providing you with a custom fitting dental brace that you will need to wear for a short period. Then over time we will replace this with other aligners that will help to apply a gentle amount of pressure on your teeth to reposition them to a nicer looking angle or spot in your mouth. At Clapham South Dental Centre, we will make sure the fitting process is fast, pain-free and we’ll advise you on the best way to look after your brace when you leave.

The procedure

The process of being fitted for clear braces in Clapham is relatively quick, not particularly invasive and is pain-free. It involves your dentist using a sophisticated piece of scanning equipment to create a 3D image of your teeth that they will use to show how your teeth will be realigned in the future.

Then your dentist will provide you with the custom-made braces we mentioned previously which will realign your teeth. The entire treatment time can be fairly lengthy with most patients generally taking around 12 months to finish with positive results, so you need to be patient.

How we scan

Generally, when you come in for a scan you can expect one of two methods. Either your dentist will use blue LEDs to map out the topography of your teeth, or they will use a series of laser scans to collect measurements. Both are painless and tend to be fairly quick options for scanning.

Advice for wearing braces

After taking your aligners home there are a few practices you should pick up to make sure the treatment goes smoothly.

As an example, when removing the brace for brushing your teeth or eating, try to not keep it out for too long. Generally, you should be wearing it for at least 22 hours a day. Also, there is probably going to be some discomfort from the pressure being placed on your teeth, we recommend painkillers to counter this when it is appropriate.

You may remove the appliance very briefly if the discomfort is too much, but if you do then we suggest you place it in a hard container to keep it sterile and prevent accidental damage from occurring.

Hopefully some of this has helped clear up a few things about the braces. They’re a great way to realign those crooked teeth, so if you’re looking to straighten up that smile of yours then contact your dentist at our practice and see what we can do for you.

If you have been told by your orthodontist that you require brace treatment, it can feel quite distressing, as images of large, metal braces are the standard image people carry around for this type of orthodontic treatment.

However, while metal braces are still used in dental practices, there are many other types of braces that are becoming commonplace in dentistry, that can offer more precise and delicate alternatives to the traditional metal brace.

One of the braces we are able to offer our patients at Clapham South Dental Centre is the clear brace. If your dentist thinks you are a suitable candidate for clear braces in Clapham, you may be puzzled as to how this type of brace will work or may have other questions about this treatment.

What are clear braces?

Not to be confused with invisible braces, clear braces come in two separate types; removable and non-removable.  The set of clear braces in Clapham you will be fitted with will depend on factors such as the extent of misalignment, the overall condition of your teeth and the final result you and your dentist want to gain from your treatment with them.

We use different types of clear braces in Clapham, which include those requested most by patients.

Clear ceramic braces

although this type of braces is called a ‘clear’ brace, it actually isn’t made from a clear material. The brackets that are attached to the teeth are made from a colour matched ceramic material, that holds the moveable wire to the front of your teeth. Due to the colour matched nature of the ceramics to your teeth, this creates the illusion of a clear brace. The moveable wire adapts as the teeth in your mouth move throughout your treatment, so it is a more discreet and more comfortable option than metal braces.

Clear bracket braces

similar in design to the ceramic braces, the clear bracket brace is comprised of both a clear plastic bracing and a thin wire. Depending on the treatment you will undertake with this, your dentist may be able to varnish the wire with a white colour, to minimise the outward appearance of this brace.

Once again, the wire in this brace is designed to move as your teeth realign and is described as being very comfortable.

Benefits of clear braces

Although they are not removable, clear braces have the advantage of being minimalist and can provide patients with a strong alignment option for their teeth.

As they are attached via small brackets to the teeth, the impact on the hygiene of the teeth is minimal, and discomfort experienced when using clear braces is also minimal. If you experience excessive amounts of pain when wearing your clear braces, please see your dentist as soon as possible, to ensure that the brackets are placed in the correct position on your teeth.

Want to know if clear braces are for you? Contact our team at Clapham South Dental Centre for more information.

Uneven or crooked teeth can be a problem, not only for your confidence but also for your bite. When trying to straighten crooked teeth, dentists will often recommend having braces fitted.

Of course, the first image that jumps to mind are the traditional ‘metal braces’, which can cause confidence issues with your smile. These do tend to be a little obvious.

Luckily, dentistry has evolved and now, there are a range of different braces available to help realign your smile. With technologies becoming more available to a wider range of people, you may be thinking about trying a less visible approach to teeth straightening.

What are clear braces?

The hint is in the title. Clear braces are almost invisible to the naked eye and come in two different types, removable and fitted.

Fitted braces are attached to your teeth, just as traditional braces would be, whereas removable ones are custom made to fit in your mouth. One of our  clear braces in Clapham are a brand called Invisalign, which aims to straighten your teeth with maximum comfort.

Clear braces are used to correct moderate to mild alignment issues and therefore may not be suitable for everyone.

Will wearing them hurt?

We have all heard that braces are sometimes uncomfortable for some people, especially just after having them fitted or tightened. This discomfort is because traditional braces are working to straighten severely misaligned teeth, so they have to pull them with a fair bit of force to gain the desired effect.

Our removable brand of clear braces in Clapham, Invisalign, does not pull teeth but rather pushes them with ease in to their correct position by using pressure points, fitted within the brace. This is achieved gradually, so should not create any discomfort at all.

Do clear braces work?

Generally, the simple answer is yes.

If a member of our dental team feels you are a good candidate for clear braces, then you will certainly see an improvement in your teeth’s alignment over the first few months of wearing them.

Remember, that clear braces are only used to straighten mild to moderately misaligned teeth, so may not be suitable for you straight away. If your dentist feels that you need pre-treatment before getting clear braces, you may have to initially have traditional braces fitted. But don’t worry, this is temporary, and you will soon be wearing those clear ones!

As with all dental fittings, our team at Clapham South Dental Centre want to make the experience as pleasant as possible for you. If after you have had you clear braces fitted, you are in severe discomfort, we advise you to contact us straight away. However, it is worth noting that a mild amount of discomfort should be anticipated after having them fitted and our dental staff can advise you on how to manage this temporary side effect.

Think you are a candidate for clear braces? Contact us today for more information about clear braces.

Are misaligned, crooked and gappy teeth blighting your look? Do you long for straight teeth, but are put off by the image of traditional gun-metal bracket and wire braces? If so, clear braces in Clapham could be the answer for you.

Over the last 20 years, dental techniques and means of straightening have developed dramatically, creating a range of discreet braces that can enhance your teeth without compromising your smile. At Clapham South Dental Centre, we offer a selection of clear, discreet braces that can provide solutions for almost any mild to moderate misalignment issue.

How do clear braces in Clapham work?

In Clapham, clear braces are created using a variety of different apparatus. They come in both fixed and removable types, so that the right fit can be found for you. Fixed clear braces utilise clear plastic brackets and tooth coloured wires to blend into your natural teeth. Some varieties are targeted to the front teeth to reduce treatment times, while others need longer to correct more complex issues.

Removable braces are not even technically braces, they are clear plastic bespoke aligners designed to fit your teeth exactly. These offer the ultimate in flexibility, especially for one-off occasions when you need to remove your brace.

The advantages of discreet braces

The main advantage of clear braces is discretion. Being able to straighten teeth discreetly means you can have the smile you’ve always wanted without damaging your confidence. The added advantage, of course, is the improvement to the health of your teeth. Teeth straightening improves your oral health in a number of ways. Firstly, misaligned teeth are more likely to harbour bacteria due to all the tiny spaces in between teeth that can’t be cleaned easily. This creates the perfect place for decay to take hold. Secondly, wonky teeth can place strain on the jaw and surrounding teeth. This leads to a number of issues from tension and headaches, teeth grinding and even damage to surrounding teeth over time.

What’s the next step?

Come in and see us. We need to fully assess your teeth, have a chat about what you would like to achieve, and then discuss the correct straightening option for you.

Even though you think it could help, does the thought of braces put you off? It’s understandable you might feel that way, but braces have come a long way in their development and there are options that provide far more comfort and ease than before. Depending on the condition of your teeth and what you need, there are both metal and clear brace options available.

About braces

Did you realise that there are a few different types of clear braces in Clapham available to use? They’re all in slightly different forms providing help with solving the issue, whether it’s overlapping or teeth that need straightening.

Who can wear clear braces?

As well as children, adults in need of having their teeth adjusted or realigned can get clear braces in Clapham. They aren’t only offered to children and, more commonly, adults are turning to clear braces in Clapham as a way of improving problems experienced in later life.

At Clapham South Dental Centre, we have a team of experienced dentists available to take you through the process of getting clear braces in Clapham and offering a type of brace to suit your preferences.

What are clear braces?

As the name suggests, clear braces are made of almost transparent material so that they’re much less noticeable to other people. These can include fixed braces that remain on your teeth as well as removeable braces.

About clear aligners

Invisalign are made up of custom-made plastic aligners that fit over your teeth. These are made from dental impressions taken of your teeth.

These aligners must be changed every 7-10 days, with the teeth adjusting gradually over time. Clear aligners provide a comfortable and lightweight option for people who don’t want to opt for metal braces.

How long to wear braces for

Overall, braces need to be worn over a relatively long period of time; between 9-18 months for the problem to be resolved. With a removable clear brace, this needs to be worn for most of the day, taking it out at mealtimes.

Cost of clear braces

The prices can vary with braces in general. With us, prices start from £125 a month, with an interest-free period of 12 months.

Sometimes you might find yourself wanting a change. You might look in the mirror at your teeth and wonder if there is anything you can do to make the adjustments that you want. You might be almost at the point of contacting us at Clapham South Dental Centre to ask about clear braces in Clapham and then you ask yourself – ‘do I really need this?’. That’s the nature of our inner chatter. We might be almost at the point of deciding then something holds us back. What will take you across the threshold when it comes to improving the appearance of your teeth?

It’s not just about need

It would be a dull world if all of our decisions were motivated by need alone. Do we need to have lovely meals, for example, or a beautiful new piece of clothing?

While some desires may seem frivolous, we don’t think that’s the case when it comes to clear braces in Clapham. Cosmetic dentistry can make a significant improvement to your smile. This leads to higher self-esteem, more smiles and happiness all of which are essential for an enjoyable life.

Why clear braces in Clapham?

One of the reasons why you might hold off making the decision to go ahead might be because you are concerned about the look of your braces. If you don’t really need the treatment, why change your appearance for the duration of your procedure? When it comes to clear braces, the impact on your teeth is limited by the fact that the equipment is designed to blend in with the surface colours in your mouth.

The health of your teeth

The primary benefit of any treatment with clear braces is usually cosmetic. Fortunately, you may also get some health benefits thrown in. Typically, straight teeth are easier to clean. This means that your standard of dental hygiene will naturally be higher. Also, for the duration of your treatment, you’ll be getting far more frequent dental checks to keep an eye on your teeth. We’ll also check they are in top condition before we start treatment. If you are the type of person who needs a practical reason to go ahead, you have these.

What’s one of the most important requirements for teeth straightening among adults, apart from straighter teeth, of course?

It’s being able to still look like a sensible adult as you go about your business. Unfortunately, wearing metal braces has a strong association with being a teenager and many adults would rather stick with their misaligned teeth than spend several months reliving their teenage years.

That’s why clear braces in Clapham from us at Clapham South Dental Centre are a great solution for many of our adult patients. Clear braces in Clapham allow adults to maintain their professional and responsible image as they fix their misaligned teeth.

There are 2 types of clear braces in Clapham: fixed and removable.

Fixed clear braces in Clapham

These look like traditional metal braces, but they have brackets made out of clear ceramic, and just one slim, tooth-coloured wire strung between them. These braces pull the front 6-8 teeth into alignment. They work best on mild to moderate misalignments.

Removable clear braces in Clapham

These braces don’t have brackets and wires. Instead, they look like invisible mouth guards that go over the teeth. Pressure points inside press on the teeth to gently push them into alignment. Whereas the wires on traditional braces are tightened every few weeks to keep up the pressure, treatment with aligners is progressed by wearing a series of devices, each with slightly different pressure points. The average treatment time for removable clear braces is around one year.

These aligners are transparent and removable, making meal times as easy as ever, and teeth brushing is simple too.

Removable braces work best on mild to moderate alignment issues. They don’t work well on teeth that have not descended properly as these need a pulling pressure to bring them into place.

For severe misalignments

You will probably need to start off with traditional metal braces and then move onto clear braces in Clapham part way through your treatment.

To find out more, come into Clapham South Dental Centre for a consultation. You can use our online form or ring us up for an appointment.

If you can’t wait to straighten your teeth, but feel uncomfortable at the prospect of wearing metal braces for months or even years, then you needn’t worry. With clear braces, you can align your teeth and smile at the same time. Keep reading to find out how’s this possible.

At Clapham South Dental Centre, we offer clear braces that are either tooth-coloured or can be removed occasionally, compared to metal brackets and wires which are constantly attached to the teeth. Clear braces in Clapham are designed to deliver results efficiently and, above all, discreetly.

Exclusive benefits of clear braces in Clapham

Most people opt for clear braces, because they don’t want to wear metal braces. Clear braces are almost invisible, but that’s not their only benefit.

Some types of clear braces are designed to straighten teeth more quickly than traditional braces, starting from as little as 6 months (i.e. Six Month Smiles braces). More importantly, clear teeth-straightening solutions such as Invisalign aligners are more comfortable than traditional braces because they put less pressure on the teeth and are less likely to harm your gums, since they are made of plastic. Finally, Invisalign aligners are not attached to the teeth – you can remove them any time you want to brush your teeth or eat your food.

Can I have clear braces?

Sadly, clear braces cannot fix all types of teeth-straightening problems. As long as your teeth are moderately misaligned and you don’t have any serious bite problems, then you can benefit from clear braces in Clapham. Otherwise, your dentist may recommend an alternative teeth-straightening method. It’s not unusual for patients to switch from metal braces to clear braces once their teeth do not require substantial movement.

Do clear braces hurt?

Clear braces do not hurt because they usually put less pressure on the teeth. Moreover, Invisalign aligners are made of smooth plastic and they cannot hurt the inside of your mouth, no matter how hard you try.

Learn more about our range of braces

At Clapham South Dental Centre, we strive to offer our patients discreet and affordable teeth-straightening solutions. If you would like to schedule a consultation for clear braces in Clapham, get in touch.

If you have decided that braces are the only way to improve your smile, you may wish to consider clear braces. Unlike regular braces, clear braces are very discreet and can be even be removed.

At Clapham South Dental Centre we firmly believe that your lifestyle shouldn’t change because of teeth-straightening treatment and for this reason we offer clear braces in Clapham. These braces can either be fixed or removable and are very effective at addressing various dental problems – from mild and moderate misalignment to bite issues (i.e. underbites, crossbites, overbites).

Why is straightening your teeth important?

No matter how you decide to straighten your teeth, teeth-straightening treatment can prevent gum disease, cavities, tooth loss, jaw problems and abnormal wear to your tooth enamel. Moreover, teeth straightening with clear braces in Clapham can restore your speaking and chewing ability. No more lisps or digestion problems because of crooked teeth.

How long do I have to wear clear braces?

In general, treatment with braces can usually last from 18 to 24 months, with the average treatment with clear braces in Clapham taking up to 18 months. Treatment with the Inman Aligner, however, will only take a few weeks. Length of treatment depends on the severity of your problem, the proposed treatment plan, your age as well as other factors which are not identical for each patient.

Are clear braces painful?

Clear braces are very comfortable to wear and you won’t feel any discomfort, especially if you opt for Invisalign. However, some patients may feel slight discomfort for a few days after having their braces initially fitted, but this will go away soon.

What should I expect on the first visit to the dentist for clear braces?

When you come in for your consultation appointment, we will examine your teeth carefully and determine whether you are a good candidate for clear braces in Clapham. This can be achieved with the help of x-rays and other diagnostic tools. We have great experience with clear braces and we can’t wait to help you transform your smile. To find out more about clear braces in Clapham, call us today.