Are you unhappy with the alignment of your teeth? Or maybe you had braces as a teenager and are underwhelmed with how your teeth look now.
If you ever had braces as a teenager, you’ll probably remember having to endure them for 1-2 years accompanied with the pain staking task of choosing what colour your train tracks should be next. However, you’ll be pleased to hear that braces come in all kinds of discrete forms and in many cases can straighten your teeth in around 6 months which make them a lot more appealing to many adults!
There are many options to straighten your teeth as an adult including three options we provide at Shifnal Dental Care – Cfast, Invisalign and Smile TRU.
Cfast
Cfast is a non-invasive, short term treatment that corrects alignment issues with the top and bottom front 6 teeth or the ‘social six’. This option is ideal for moderate overcrowding, gaps and crooked teeth which is visible when you talk, laugh or smile.
Cfast gently moves teeth through a combination of traditional orthodontic techniques, modern materials and tooth coloured nickel titanium wires. This typically takes around 6 months to straighten teeth with regular visits every 4-6 weeks to make adjustments.
More and more adults are now choosing Cfast because it provides excellent results in a short period of time when compared to traditional braces or aligners. Cfast treatment is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a quick fix and don’t like the idea of wearing highly noticeable traditional metal braces.
Benefits
. Offers a quick fix to straightening teeth.
. Virtually invisible to others.
. Cfast braces are comfortable to wear as the nickel titanium wires are a lighter material than traditional fixed braces.
. It is an affordable treatment as the shorter treatment time dramatically cuts the cost.
Limitations
. Not suitable for teeth that require a lot of movement or complex issues such as an entire arch or the bite.
. Can’t be removed when eating or teeth cleaning, so a higher level of oral hygiene should be maintained throughout the duration of the Cfast treatment.
. Only works on the front teeth only so if there are problems with other teeth a different orthodontic treatment will need to be considered.
Invisalign
Invisalign is another type of orthodontic treatment we provide here at Shifnal Dental Care. Teeth are straightened through a series of clear, removable aligners which are custom made especially for your teeth.
Your dentist will create a computerised treatment plan which will show you how your teeth move during the treatment, along with what your teeth could look like post treatment. If you decide that invisalign is the right treatment for you a series of aligners can then be made that will be used throughout the duration of the treatment.
The aligners are made from a smooth and comfortable plastic which sits over your teeth. Your teeth will gradually move into their desired position through replacing these aligners every 2 weeks.
For successful treatment, it is important to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours a day to allow teeth to be moved effectively to their desired position. The aligners should be worn day and night and only taken off to eat or drink and when you are cleaning your teeth.
The length of the treatment varies from patient to patient, depending on the complexity of each case, but typically takes between 9 and 15 months. During this time you will have regular assessments to monitor your progress.
Invisalign can treat a range of malocclusion including overcrowding and spacing.
Benefits
. Nearly invisible
. Aligners can be removed for eating, drinking, brushing and flossing
. Comfortable to wear
Limitations
. Have to be committed to wearing the aligners for 22 hours a day for the most effective treatment.
. Advised to brush teeth after each meal to avoid staining.
. More regular visits to the dentist than Cfast braces.
Smile TRU
Smile TRU is similar teeth straightening option to Invisalign. Both Invisalign and Smile Tru are effective at moving teeth and are comfortable and easy to wear and come without the complications of fixed braces.
As with Invisalign, Smile Tru aligners are custom made for your teeth after an impression has been made during a consultation with your dentist. After this impression has been created an individual treatment programme can then be developed.
Smile TRU also works by a step by step process where different sets of aligners are worn when the previous starts to feel loose.
The main difference between Smile Tru and Invisalign is that with Invisalign, the entire treatment programme can be monitored via a computerised treatment plan where tweaks in the teeth movement can be made. This provides a useful guide for both the dentist and patient to be able to see clearly how many aligners will be required to gain the desired smile right from the outset.
Invisalign is usually recommended for more complex cases, whereas Smile Tru is designed for more minor movements. For example, if you have previously worn braces as a teenager and now your teeth have been to move back to their original position.
Smile TRU and Invisalign are both popular choice for many adults to straighten their teeth who prefer not to wear the wire and brackets used in traditional braces. As these aligners are practically invisible, teeth can be straightened without anyone knowing you are actually wearing a brace!
Benefits
. Ideal for adults who have previously worn braces as a teenager and require small teeth movements.
. Generally offers minimal discomfort.
. Virtually invisible to others.
. Minimal impact to daily life.
. Good oral hygiene can be maintained.
Limitations
. Smile TRU is not suitable for everyone – in some cases other orthodontic treatments may need to be used.
. Affects speech.
. The process of straightening teeth is longer than other alternative methods.
If you are interested in straightening your teeth, make sure you book your free consultation with Katherine who will help you find which treatment is best for you.
