When most of us think about orthodontics we may still be picturing a grinning teenager with a full set of metal ‘train tracks’ smiling up at us from their school photographs. However, the orthodontic industry has come a long way since then and there are various, more discreet ways for teens and adults alike to adjust their teeth to make a more pleasing smile. We at Clapham South Dental Centre can offer you clear braces in Clapham that are far more appealing than the traditional ones you may still be picturing, allowing you the confidence that a straight smile brings, even during treatment.

The brief history of traditional orthodontics

People have been trying to straighten their teeth for centuries, and we mean way back to the ancients; like Aristotle who contemplated ways to straighten crooked teeth and fix orthodontic problems. There has even been archaeological evidence of mummified individuals with numerous metal bands around their teeth which have been confirmed to have been an attempt at straightening them.

It was only in the 18th century that dentistry really began to come into its own; it is commonly agreed that a French dentist who published a book on straightening teeth was the first to officially explore this specialist side of dentistry, but it wasn’t until the 19th century that the birth of orthodontics was marked with the use of a wire crib and elastics to pull the teeth into position.

The new orthodontics

In the 20th century the different classifications of malocclusions were identified and the perfection of the metal tracks used to pull the teeth into position was finally settled upon, but since then we have come a long way with what you can expect from orthodontics in terms of clear braces in Clapham.

This is the 21st century and with it comes options for just about everything, including braces. With clear braces in Clapham you can control how the world sees your smile and what treatment best fits into your lifestyle.

Invisalign – this is a clear aligner that can offer results from as little as 4 months to just under a year. They are completely invisible and removable, allowing you to eat and clean your teeth as normal without any damage. The aligners are custom made to fit you and need to be changed in the comfort of your home every 1-2 weeks, thus making them a convenient treatment that fits into your lifestyle easily. There are no gooey moulds that need to be taken of your teeth, only a 3D digital scan which is quick and easy.

Damon System – offers a similar solution to traditional braces, but instead of metal tracks and wires being fixed to the teeth to pull them apart, this system uses clear brackets that are far less noticeable than the old metal ones. The length of treatment depends on each individual case, but it is very effective. In some seriously difficult cases, it may be required that you first have a course of traditional braces before switching to clear braces.