The majority of adults who have misaligned teeth are looking for a simple way to straighten them.
If you grew up in the 80s or 90s, you have probably been told that the only way you can have your teeth straightened in adult life is to use metal braces. While this may still be the case for some people who have complex cases of dental misalignment, many can use more discreet methods such as invisible aligners to get the smiles that they want.
At Chelsea and Fulham Dentist, we are always happy and eager to meet with adult patients who want to have their teeth straightened. We will assess your case and in the majority of instances suggest using Invisalign Chelsea. This clear aligner has changed the face of orthodontic care in adults, and we are always happy to guide you through the process.
But before you rush off to contact us about this remarkable orthodontic option, you will likely have some questions. In this article 5 common queries relating to Invisalign Chelsea are answered, so you can learn more about this orthodontic tool.
How do the aligners work?
The first step in using Invisalign Chelsea is to attend a consultation with our team. At this, we will assess your suitability for these aligners and if we deem that you have a mild to moderate dental misalignment, we will use an intraoral scanner to take an image of your teeth. This will then be sent to a dental laboratory where it will be uploaded to a computer simulation, which will digitally move your teeth using vector points. These vector points will then be printed using the 3D printer in the shape of each aligner required to move your teeth from their current position to the new one.
How long will it take?
This will depend on the severity of your clinical presentation. For the majority of orthodontic adult cases who are using invisible aligners, you will notice that your smile will usually straighten in between 3 to 6 months. If you have a more complicated case it may take slightly longer, but we will be happy to discuss this with you at your initial consultation.
Is the treatment uncomfortable?
Although there is no tightening or adjustment required, it would be slightly unfair to state that the process of moving your teeth with this aligner is completely comfortable. There will likely be some pressure and a bit of soreness, especially when you change between the aligners, however, this is normal and should be manageable with over-the-counter pain relief. If it isn’t, you need to contact our team.
Will it work with an overbite?
In some cases, yes, you can use invisible aligners to correct an overbite depending on its severity. If your overbite has an extreme protrusion, there are issues with your molars or one of your teeth requires rotation, then we will probably suggest that you wear a fitted brace.
Do I need to attend tightening or adjusting sessions?
As mentioned before, there are no adjustments or tightening requirements when you wear an invisible aligner. You will need to send our team photos of your smile once a week via the associated app so we can assess how well the treatment is working.
