Invisalign in Weybridge is a relatively modern alternative to braces; not surprising when you consider that the metal orthodontic brace has been in clinics for more than a century. The clear aligners are a set of 3D printed, UV light-cured forms which are worn on the teeth to progressively straighten them. They are both lightweight and see through, making them very subtle and extremely easy to wear.
How do you get clear aligners?
An assessment has to be performed; there is a good range of conditions clear aligners can help with and few restrictions on using them, but an orthodontist will still need to check if they are appropriate for you.
If you decide to proceed, a 3D model of your teeth is made. This used to be done by producing a dental mould, but now we use an intraoral scanner and construct the model directly from your teeth.
The scans are uploaded into a specialist piece of software, ClinCheck, and an orthodontist digitally moves the tooth positions and orientations until they are aligned. ClinCheck then uses the final tooth position and the original tooth position to calculate the required forces and directions of those forces, the vectors, to achieve the planned alterations.
Only then can the aligners be designed to apply the correct force vectors to the teeth. Each aligner can only apply force dependent on its elasticity, which is only effective over very small distances. As the teeth move, the aligner must be replaced with the next one in the sequence, pushing the teeth to their final positions.
How to get the most from aligners
The aligners must be worn as often as you can, except when eating, up to 21-22 hours per day. The presence of the aligners will prevent the natural flow of saliva over your teeth, so it is important to brush your teeth after eating before you replace your aligners to prevent cavities.
For most people, wearing aligners becomes second nature and it’s easy to forget you’re wearing them. They are very thin and are unlikely to affect your speech. Most of the time Invisalign Weybridge is just overlooked.
Does Invisalign hurt?
Using Invisalign Weybridge on many patients, we have noticed that the way these aligners constantly apply force to the teeth causes much less discomfort than a metal brace. This seems to be due to the more giving nature of the plastic, and the way the minimum forces are being applied to move the tooth. This is dictated by computer modelling which is used to design the aligner.
Virtual visits
If you’re interested or wondering if a clear aligner might be right for you, we are offering virtual visits and consultations with our orthodontists. These are free and no obligation, which can be helpful for nervous patients or those who are self-isolating during this difficult time.
To find out more you can call us or refer to our website where there is more information on how we can help you with Invisalign Weybridge.