Dental Blog - Clapham South Dental Centre

Braces – the latest in modern techniques

Many dental techniques have been around in some form or another for centuries. Egyptians excavations have revealed examples of tooth replacement, for example, and teeth straightening seems to have been a thing as far back as Hippocrates in 400BC.

However, the equipment that is used to achieve the perfect smile has changed significantly since then and we’re now venturing into new and almost futuristic methods that have changed the way that people think about realignment. At Clapham South Dental Centre, we are proud to work with some of these techniques, like clear braces in Clapham, to offer our patients the kind of experience that fits neatly into their lives.

What are the differences when it comes to clear braces in Clapham?

The main difference when it comes to clear braces in Clapham is an aesthetic one. They are transparent. The components differ from method to method but they all share the common trait of having as little impact as possible on your look. The two main methods are:

Fixed – when clear braces in Clapham are fixed to the teeth, you will be able to sit back, relax and enjoy the benefits in a relatively short space of time. You won’t have to worry about they way that they look because the brackets and wires are sensitively designed to have the minimum amount of impact on your appearance;
Removeable – the look of these clear braces in Clapham can come as a real surprise to those who haven’t encountered them before. They are a totally different shape and concept to old-style braces. This method employs aligners which, when out of the mouth, look like ultra-thin cases shaped like your arch of teeth. They fit snugly over the tops of your teeth and slowly change their positions. They are completely see-through so, if you care for them correctly, they are almost unnoticeable to everyone else.

The method that you choose depends on the results you want. You can make a choice based on the advice of your dentist at Clapham South Dental Centre. They will go through the benefits and instructions that accompany each method, so you can decide which works best for you.

Super, straight teeth with Invisalign in Clapham

Going for straighter teeth treatment means having to think about how you are going to have to adjust your life to fit around your treatment. Or, how about getting a treatment that fits around your life? With Invisalign in Clapham, with us at Clapham South Dental Centre, you don’t have to make so many changes to the way you do things while you are getting your teeth straightened.

Meals

Invisalign is a great way to get your teeth aligned because you don’t have to adjust your diet to fit around having braces. For a start, you don’t have braces, you have aligners. Instead of brackets and wires, you get very thin plastic aligner trays that are completely transparent. They snap on over your teeth and become pretty much invisible. You snap them off and put them in a little storage box whenever you want to eat. Because you have nothing in the way when you are eating, you can continue to eat whatever you want. After eating, you give your teeth a good clean, and also your aligners, and then put them back in again. All you have to do is make sure you are wearing your aligners for at least 20 hours a day, preferably 22 hours. You need to do so in order to keep on schedule with your treatment.

Appearance

If you thought you might have to give up certain social activities while you are wearing braces, or that they might interfere with your job because they would be so obtrusive, then you will be delighted with the invisibility aspect of Invisalign in Clapham. The plastic aligners are only 0.3mm thick and they become pretty much unnoticeable when you are wearing them. This is great news for people who have to present a mature image in their work: managers, people who work with the public, those in broadcasting, for example.

Treatment with Invisalign takes about a year on average and afterwards you will need to wear a retainer to keep your teeth aligned while the jawbone settles down again after dissolving and rebuilding itself to move your teeth.

Sensations associated with Invisalign in Clapham

If we were to compile a list of the general concerns that people have when they visit the dentist, the sensations they are likely to feel during and after treatment is likely to be somewhere near the top. When you have a teeth-straightening treatment, you will need to have some sort of equipment in your mouth to achieve the results you want. This is a long-term commitment and is accompanied by various physical experiences that need to be considered.

At Clapham South Dental Centre, we provide plenty of information before you go ahead with a treatment like Invisalign in Clapham at our clinic. Once you know all the sensations you are likely to feel, we think you will be happy to go ahead.

Fitting

Getting fitted for Invisalign in Clapham is a relatively simple process. The treatment uses removeable aligners, so they do not need to be fixed in place. This makes the start of the treatment process much easier than it is for regular braces.

Wearing Invisalign

When you start your course of Invisalign, you will be given a series of aligners to wear. As you work your way through the sequence, your teeth gradually move into their new positions. Each aligner slots into place and sits snugly against the teeth. It should feel comfortable in the mouth. You might be aware of it against your tongue and the inside of your cheek to begin with even though the profile of the aligner is low. As the body gets used to the new equipment, this awareness will fade.

The outside of an Invisalign aligner is smooth so it should not cause any discomfort against the inside of your cheek.

When you first start wearing your aligners, you may notice some discomfort in the first few days. This is when the pressure that moves the teeth is strongest. As they begin to shift very slowly, the pressure releases bit by bit. You may notice new sensations each time you change aligner. They shouldn’t be too troublesome but, if they are, you can take a mild painkiller to help mitigate the effects.

Invisalign is a discreet and comfortable treatment that we recommend at Clapham South Dental Centre.

Invisalign in Clapham – the right tool for the job

One of the teeth straightening options that you can choose when you visit Clapham South Dental Centre is Invisalign clear aligners. We think these are a great example of a highly adapted dental treatment.

When you begin to understand how Invisalign looks, feels and works, we hope you will see how it perfectly meets several patient needs. If these match the ones you are looking to have taken care of, Invisalign in Clapham might be the right treatment for you.

Removable

For some people, the fixed nature of conventional braces is off-putting. They may feel like this kind of 24/7 commitment is something that they want to avoid. While a treatment with Invisalign in Clapham still comes with a certain level of discipline and guidelines that need to be followed, the equipment can be taken out at any time without professional help. The aligners simply slot over the teeth and sit snugly in place for 22 hours or more in the day. To remove them, all you need to do is pull gently on the aligner and it will come out. You need to do this for cleaning your equipment and teeth, and to eat.

Clear

The appearance of teeth-straightening equipment has been an important factor in its development in recent years. More adults want to get their teeth straightened and they don’t want to sport metallic train track style braces in the meantime. Invisalign aligners are completely see through, thin and low-profile. This is the perfect combination to ensure that they are not detrimental to your look.

Effective

All the benefits of Invisalign aligners do not lead to any compromises when it comes to their effectiveness. Invisalign aims to improve the cosmetic appearance of the smile in as short a time as possible. The average treatment length is around a year, but the exact time is something that we can advise you about when you have a consultation with Clapham South Dental Centre.

Invisalign works in the same way as conventional braces in that the equipment applies gentle pressure to the teeth to get results. Each aligner moves the process on just a little further. To find out more about how Invisalign works, contact us today.

Botox for rejuvenation of fine lines and wrinkles

Have you ever wondered about cosmetic surgery? Does surgery seem too drastic, taking time and money you don’t have? If you think so, you could try Botox. In Clapham we offer this treatment alongside our cosmetic dentistry treatment range.

Botox in Clapham Fine lines start to appear around the eyes and mouth when people are in their 20s. Over time, these fine lines increase and deepen becoming wrinkles, and can start to affect the way we view ourselves. So, why not put off the ageing process and look at alternatives to stay that little bit younger?

Reasons to consider Botox

It improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles within only a few days
It’s long-lasting, but not permanent and will fade 3-6 months after treatment
It is quick and painless and you can easily fit treatments into a busy schedule.

Is Botox safe?

Having looked at the reasons to have Botox, it’s an easy yes if you want to have an almost instant effect on crow’s feet, frown lines, eye and brow wrinkles, forehead lines or smokers’ wrinkles. But why go to your dentist for Botox in Clapham, with us at Clapham South Dental Centre?

Highly trained in facial anatomy, our dentists provide a reliable professional service. We offer a range of cosmetic procedures including teeth whitening, straightening and Botox. In Clapham, these cosmetic treatments result in successful smile makeovers for our patients.

Botox is the purified form of botulinum toxin. It has a track record of safety and purity through clinical study and it can only be administered by a certified health professional. It temporarily paralyses the muscles that create facial expressions, thereby relaxing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Once you’ve had your in-depth consultation your treatment is performed very easily. It takes approximately 15 minutes to make several small injections in and around the areas of your face you would like to see improved. Once completed, you will see noticeable changes within a day or so.

Botox in Clapham couldn’t be easier and can effect real change in the way you look. We will provide you with accurate information, financial packages to suit you, consultation to ensure desired results and a quick, painless, non-surgical procedure that really works.

Investigating invisible braces in Clapham

It’s perfectly natural to have lots of questions in your mind when you first consider getting invisible braces in Clapham, especially if you have never come across this term before. The key to a good treatment is laying the proper groundwork. If you gather all the knowledge you need before proceeding, then you are more likely to feel comfortable and certain of your decision to give yourself a straighter smile with invisible braces in Clapham.

Invisible Braces in Clapham At Clapham South Dental Centre, our experienced staff are skilled at helping patients build trust in all sorts of dental procedures and we’re here to help you get the service and experience you want, as well as the right results.

Why are people drawn to invisible braces in Clapham?

Invisible braces in Clapham are the answer to a historically tricky issue with teeth-straightening equipment. Many adults have been put off the idea of fixing their smile in the past because they were justifiably concerned about how they would look during the process. What the dental industry realised and responded to was that, if braces could be more discreet, more adults would consider getting treatments that would benefit the cosmetic quality of their teeth. That’s when invisible braces were born.

How can braces be invisible?

‘Invisible braces’ is a bit of an umbrella terms for any teeth-straightening process where the equipment is less obtrusive than it would have been in the past. This is achieved in different ways depending on the method.

Either braces are fixed as per traditional equipment and the components are coloured in such as way as to blend in with the teeth or we use clear aligners. The latter are made from see-through plastic. Once they are in place, it’s hard to discern whether the user is wearing braces at all.

At Clapham South Dental Centre, we can walk you through the pros and cons of each method and see if any of them are suitable for your issue. Once you have a made your choice, we support you throughout your teeth-straightening process, from fitting to aftercare. Please feel free to ask any member of our team about invisible braces.

Understanding why you might need clear braces in Clapham

Self-acceptance is one of the keys to a happy life. Sometimes that means accepting things the way they are. Other times, however, it means getting to know your needs and recognising that they are ok too. If you want to have a more refined smile, for example, but you also want to protect your look during your treatment, both these things are ok. It’s possible to meet these requirements with modern dental treatments like clear braces in Clapham.

One of the goals we have at Clapham South Dental Centre is understanding what kind of support our patients need and providing it using our skills and technology. If you need more information about clear braces in Clapham and whether they are for you, we are here to help.

Who needs clear braces?

As with traditional braces, clear teeth straightening equipment is used to adjust the positions of the teeth. This is usually to bring them into better alignment, but they are also used to close gaps and perhaps fix small rotations. There are some issues that cannot necessarily be solved using clear braces in Clapham alone, but one of our team can discuss your options once you have had your initial consultation.

Clear braces are typically for people who want to make cosmetic adjustments to their smile. They can often achieve results in under a year, depending on the severity of the issue.

Some people choose clear braces that come in the form of aligners. These are for people who want complete control over their treatment and who have the discipline to follow the guidelines that come with their equipment.

Other forms of clear braces are attached to the teeth. These are suitable for people who just want to have their equipment fitted and then forget about it till their next check-up. Modern equipment is low-profile and designed to be aesthetically sympathetic.

Different methods suit different types of patient. If you are unsure about the method you want to use, we can guide you with more information when you visit Clapham South Dental Centre. Whichever you choose, you can look forward to a beautiful smile after a comfortable, successful treatment with us.

The value of a smile

How do you use your smile? It is the way you connect with family and friends? Is it how you brighten up a stranger’s day? Perhaps it’s just for you, when you recognise something joyful or a happy memory pops into your head. Or it could be how you make your way in the world. Perhaps you have a public-facing job, or one that involves a lot of networking.

Invisalign in Clapham Whatever your smile means to you, it’s the one tool we all have freely available to us every day, it’s a powerful method of non-verbal communication and how we use it can have far-reaching effects on our lives. Which is why not feeling that it’s okay to smile can be disastrous. Anyone with crooked, crowded or spaced out teeth will tell you that being self-conscious about your smile can put a real dampener on how you relate with others, and how you feel about yourself.

Is this you? Do you believe that, as an adult or a teen with a mild to moderate misalignment of the teeth, that there’s no point in getting braces? After all, who wants to go through 2 years of having metal fixed to their teeth? If you want to feel less afraid to smile, it doesn’t seem the best way to go.

That’s why we offer Invisalign in Clapham here at Clapham South Dental Centre. We want our patients to start feeling better about their smile from day one of treatment. And with these discreet, clear aligners, it’s possible.

Invisalign in Clapham is a different kind of braces system than you may be familiar with. Instead of metal brackets and wires pulling the teeth into position, it uses thin, clear mouth guards to gently nudge the teeth into place over time. Each pair of aligners is custom-made and specially designed to move your teeth.

As the aligners are clear, Invisalign in Clapham is almost invisible: only a professional (or perhaps your mum) would notice you are wearing them. They are taken out for eating and cleaning, so are easy to maintain and to fit into your lifestyle.

Give us a call today and find out how you can benefit from these wonders of modern dental technology.

The lowdown on Botox in Clapham

We’ve all seen the celebrity Botox fails: too many injections and the face freezes up, taking on an unreal, permanently startled look. It’s clear to all that ‘work’ has been done, and the hoped-for youthful boost hasn’t been achieved.

We don’t want that for you. We want you to get the most natural-looking treatment possible, so you get the lift without the freeze.

Which is why we offer Botox in Clapham here at Clapham South Dental Centre. As dentists, we are ideally qualified to offer this non-surgical face lift. We spend years studying the intricate anatomy of the face, so we know just where to place the injection to give you your desired result. We also give injections every day, so you’ll get a steady hand for your Botox in Clapham. And once we’ve given your teeth a clean bill of health and a polish and shine, what better way to showcase that new smile?

What is Botox?

It is the brand name of botulinum toxin type A, a purified protein that has been modified for medical and cosmetic applications. It was first used as a treatment for excessive sweating. It was then noticed that it had the effect of making wrinkles temporarily disappear, so was developed for the cosmetic market.

How does it work?

The protein is injected into various facial muscles, temporarily paralysing them. It does this by blocking the signal from the nerve to the muscle that tells it to contract. Without receiving this message, the muscle relaxes, and the wrinkle goes away.

What is it used for?

Botox in Clapham is most commonly used to reduce frown lines and crow’s feet around the eyes, and sometimes lines around the mouth and on the neck.

How long does the treatment take?

It is a very quick and low-pain treatment, taking no longer than 30 minutes, and you will be able to go about your daily business straight afterwards. It takes a few days for the effects to be seen and they last 3-4 months. You can book in for a top-up after three months.

Find out more

Call in today and talk to our cosmetic dentist about how Botox in Clapham could work for you.

Now you see them, now you don’t

Invisible braces sounds like a contradiction. After all, aren’t braces meant to be glinting metal contraptions cemented onto the fronts of your teeth for all to see? Maybe a couple of decades ago, but not today. At Clapham South Dental Centre, we love telling our adult patients all about invisible braces in Clapham and seeing their surprise as we reveal just how discreet teeth straightening can be.

To prove our point, let’s take a look at some of the options you can discuss with our dentists when you choose invisible braces in Clapham.

Incognito

At first glance, if you saw the brackets and wires that make up Incognito braces, you might think they are just the same as traditional fixed metal braces. But take a closer look and you may notice that each of the brackets is very slightly different. That’s because every Incognito bracket is custom-made to fit against the back of a specific tooth. These are lingual braces and once they are fixed in place, you won’t be able to spot them when you check out your smile in the mirror. They are safely hidden from view behind your teeth.

Invisalign

These invisible braces in Clapham are a far cry from fixed metal braces. Invisalign is not fixed, but removable. Not metal, but plastic. Not really braces, but aligners. You’ll get a series of aligners, each of which you wear for 7-10 days before moving onto the next in the set. They will gradually nudge your teeth into straighter positions. You take them out to eat, brush and floss and in 12-18 months you can enjoy the results of your teeth straightening treatment.

And that’s not all

For speedy results that still maintain a level of discretion, there is the Inman Aligner. Two spring-loaded bows push your front teeth into alignment over the course of just 6-18 weeks.

Quick Straight Teeth are fixed braces that have undergone a makeover. There is no shiny metal in sight, just clear brackets and tooth-coloured wires.

Find out more

With so many options to explore, it’s well worth coming in to see us. We’ll clue you in on what is available and what will work best for you.