Aligners

Aligners are orthodontic devices, very much like retainers, which are used to reposition or straighten teeth. They are a popular alternative to fixed metal braces as

they are nearly invisible when in use and are therefore a very discreet option

they can be removed for eating and drinking meaning you do not have to avoid certain foods or drinks

they can be removed for cleaning which means that it is easy to keep on top of your normal oral hygiene regime with no areas more difficult than usual to keep clean

Aligners can be used to straighten crooked, overcrowded or gapped teeth and to treat overbites, underbites or crossbites. They are also suitable for recorrecting teeth which have moved after having fixed braces.

Your treatment will involve wearing a series of aligners over a period of weeks with each new aligner moving your teeth gradually into the desired position. Typically you will wear your aligners around 22 hours per day and you will change aligners every 7-10 days. Your treatment will be regularly reviewed, typically every 6 weeks, to make sure things are progressing well, address any concerns and provide you with your next set of aligners. You may need temporary attachments added to your teeth which make sure that your aligners are creating the right direction of pressure on your teeth. These are made out of tooth coloured filling material and are easily removed at the end of treatment.

If you would like to discuss how aligners would be used to enhance your smile, please get in touch and we can talk you through the process and the suitability of this treatment to help you get the smile you want.