As an adult, you want and deserve to look your best.
And, if you have misaligned teeth, you may be concerned that this will mean you must have braces fitted. While good at what they do, they can sometimes be a little obtrusive, meaning that you may avoid seeing an orthodontist or specialist dentist out of worry that they may suggest a fitted brace.
But there is a solution. In recent years, orthodontic care has changed, and now, if you have a minor misalignment, you can have it corrected using an invisible aligner.
At Chelsea and Fulham, we are always happy to meet with patients who want to straighten their teeth and can offer a range of treatments, from standard braces to Invisalign Chelsea. So, whether you have a lot of spacing or only want to move a tooth at the front of your mouth a bit, we have a solution for you.
So, with that in mind, what happens when you approach our team about having Invisalign Chelsea fitted?
Consultation
First we will need to assess your suitability for Invisalign Chelsea. As mentioned before, this means that you will have to have a mild to moderate case of dental misalignment, which we will assess. We will also need to check that your overall dental health is in good condition, so you should have no cavities or signs of gum disease. If you do, we will need to treat this before moving forward.
If we deem you suitable for invisible aligners, we will use an intraoral scanner to take an image of your teeth, which will then be used to create the initial shape of the first aligner.
The aligners
Usually, when working with invisible aligners, they will be made with a set of around 12 to 14 being created.
As before, the original aligner will be created from the original scan of your teeth. Then, using computer technology, this scan will be used and moved, with each step representing a different aligner.
Once this is completed, the final aligner shapes will be printed using a 3D printer.
Wearing the aligners
Once they arrive, you will need to wear them in the set order and for around 2 weeks at a time; if it is time to change your aligner, then they will feel loose.
Ideally, you will be wearing them for around 22 hours per day. It would help if you only were taking them out to eat food, to drink beverages that are not water, or to brush your teeth. It would be best if you aimed to send our team photos of your smile via the associated app once a week, so we can assess how well your treatment is going.
Aftercare
Whether you have worn the aligners for 2 months or 12, once they are no longer needed and your smile is corrected, you will need to wear a retainer. This will prevent your teeth from moving back to their original position.
If you would like to know more about using invisible aligners, call our team today for more information.