Tag Archives: clear view braces

The Top 10 Interesting Facts about Manchester Invisalign

With orthodontists in the UK reporting a 75% increase in adults receiving braces, why don’t we see more people wearing them?

The answer?

Because many people are opting for Invisalign. Manchester patients, for example, are choosing more discreet options of teeth straightening such as Invisalign, because it doesn’t disrupt their lifestyle. As a result, clear view braces like Invisalign are a popular choice among patients today. With this in mind let’s dive right in and take a look at the top 10 facts you need to know about this particular brace system.

1. They’re discreet

For many of our patients in Manchester, Invisalign is chosen because they don’t want anyone to know they’re wearing braces. Invisalign works by using a series of clear, plastic aligners that are custom-made and worn over the top of your teeth. Compared to traditional braces using metal wires and brackets, these clear view braces are barely noticeable and most patients can complete treatment without anyone knowing.

2. Easy to maintain

Invisalign is easy to care for and only takes just a few minutes a day to maintain. The aligners have to be removed whenever you eat or drink. During this time, you simply store them in the container provided, or a glass of water in order to prevent saliva drying on them. Each night before bed, simply clean the aligners to keep them looking fresh and clear.

3. It’s affordable

Braces of any kind usually require a financial investment. What’s interesting to note though, is that Invisalign aligners are very similar in cost to conventional metal braces and can be worn from as little as £29 per month. Here at Church Road Dental and Cosmetics, we offer a no-obligation free consultation. This way, you can learn more about Invisalign and decide if it’s suitable for you before committing.

4. Comfortable to wear

Wearing braces shouldn’t have to impact your life. Invisalign aligners are made with comfort in mind so that your life can continue as normal. They’re custom-made and trimmed to your exact gum line, enabling you to comfortably wear your brace for the recommended 22 hours a day without any disruption.

5. Quick Appointments

During your treatment, you’ll need to visit us approximately once every 6-8 weeks so we can give you the next set of aligners and also check the progress of your treatment. With Invisalign, Manchester patients will find that their appointment times are quicker than traditional braces because no adjustments need to be made to wires or brackets. This means less time will be spent in the dental chair means less impact on your schedule.

6. No dietary restrictions

With metal braces, patients are warned to stay away from a few different types of food. This is because they can get caught in the braces, are hard to clean or even damage the wires and brackets. That’s not the case with Invisalign. Manchester patients can continue to enjoy all their favourite food because the aligners are removed when eating and drinking. Of course, it’s still important to brush and floss your teeth after each meal or before inserting your clear view braces again in order to maintain good oral hygiene.

7. Provides great results

We treat many patients who get the results they’ve always wanted with Invisalign. It really works. In fact, from day one it’s boasted a 96% satisfaction rate. It gives people a renewed sense of confidence and happiness in their appearance.

8. Founded in 1997

Align Technology (the company that manufactures Invisalign) was founded back in 1997 by Zia Chishti and Kelsey Wirth in California. Before Invisalign was invented, wearing traditional bracket and wire braces were pretty much the only option available to get straighter teeth.

9. Retention is needed

In order to guarantee a lifetime of straight smiles, you must be committed to wearing a retainer, whether fixed or removable, to hold your teeth in their new position after your treatment is complete. Unfortunately, roughly 25% of patients who’ve worn braces end up undergoing treatment a second time because they failed to wear their retainers as instructed!

10. BPA free

Invisalign aligners and retainers don’t contain bisphenol-A. Instead, they’re made with medical grade polyurethane resins. They pass all the tests for biocompatibility and regulatory requirements which make them totally safe for dental wear.

If you’d like to find out more about clear view braces such as Invisalign, Manchester residents are encouraged to make an appointment with our team here at Church Road Dental and Cosmetics. Remember, if it’s total discretion you’re after, Manchester, Invisalign might just be the option for you. To find out, book an appointment with us by visiting our website www.clearviewbraces.com or contacting us directly on 0161 660 1218.

Lingual Braces Manchester – Your Best Kept Secret!

Want to improve your smile, but don’t want anybody to know about it? Well, lingual braces Manchester might just be the solution you’re looking for. Maybe you’ve researched many different types of teeth straightening from fast orthodontic treatment to fast orthodontic treatment because you want your treatment to be both as quick and invisible as possible. But did you know that lingual braces are even less noticeable than clear aligners and include all the benefits of traditional braces too? Let’s take a closer look and find out more.

So what are lingual braces and how do they work?

We all know that wearing a traditional brace means a mouth full of metal brackets and wires that are on show every time you smile. Well, imagine hiding that same appliance behind your teeth? That’s exactly what lingual braces offers our patients. In fact, the word ‘lingual’ in dentistry means ‘near to, or on the side towards the tongue.’ So by attaching the brace to the inside surface of your teeth instead, they’re completely hidden from view when you smile, laugh, or talk.

This means that aside from being completely discreet, they still have all the advantages of traditional braces and work in the same way. By applying gentle and continuous pressure, your teeth will begin to move slowly into their desired position; and just the same as with most braces, you’ll need to come and see us every 6-8 weeks so that we can check your progress and make the next adjustments to further assist the straightening process.

With lingual braces, Manchester patients have the appliance digitally designed and custom made for their mouth. This ensures that they not only fit the inside of their teeth discreetly but are comfortable to wear and will achieve the best results possible.

Main benefits and differences of lingual braces

Depending on your circumstances and lifestyle, you may find lingual braces suit you more so than other brace appliances that are available to you. For instance, clear view braces such as Invisalign, are designed to be removable when you eat and drink. This means there is always a chance that your aligners might be misplaced, or even unworn if they are forgotten. If so, this will ultimately affect the results and length of your treatment. With lingual braces, Manchester patients have the brace fully fixed to their teeth, so they are working 24/7, which eliminates the stress of losing aligners, forgetting to wear them, and also the hassle of having to remove them before each meal. So put simply, if you like to regularly eat out at restaurants or maybe just aren’t sure if you’ll be diligent enough in wearing clear view braces then lingual braces may be a better option for you.

Also, unlike many types of fast orthodontic treatments, lingual braces are able to treat the full arch of teeth, including straightening tooth roots and issues with bite alignment. The reason fast orthodontic treatments are quicker is because they work mainly on the upper and lower front 6 teeth that are most noticeable when you smile. This is great if you’re looking for a gentle, effective, and speedy way to improve your teeth, however, it won’t be suitable for you if you have more complicated dental problems.

Of course one of the main reasons people choose lingual braces is because they are invisible. This means they are particularly suited to anyone who doesn’t want to be seen wearing braces, whether this is for professional reasons because their job involves talking to or meeting with clients regularly, or maybe due to self-confidence issues that wearing obviously noticeable metal braces won’t help with.

Anything else should I know?

Yes…

As with every orthodontic option, there are small disadvantages. In this case, one of these is the cost. Lingual braces are slightly more expensive, but that’s because they are individually customised to fit your teeth and specific requirements. Another downside is that it can often take a little longer to adapt to and may affect your speech slightly at first because they are fitted to the inside of the teeth. Don’t let this put you off though because most of our patients are completely used to them within 2 weeks and as with most braces anything new in the mouth can take some getting used to. Also, regardless of whatever type of brace you decide on, maintaining a good oral hygiene routine is always very important.

So the bottom line is that lingual braces can offer the perfect solution to getting a straight smile but in a totally discreet way. If you are still deciding on lingual braces, Manchester patients before and after photos will help you to see the outstanding results that can be achieved with this method. Whether you’re interested in clear view braces, fast orthodontic treatment, or lingual braces, we would be happy to book you in for a consultation with Dr. Shi Karim and the team to discuss all your options and any further questions. Call us on 0161 660 1218 or fill out the contact form found on our website. On behalf of the team, we looking forward to meeting you and creating your dream smile.

Clear View Braces – Are They Better Than Invisalign?

When it comes to orthodontic treatment in Manchester, Invisalign aligners are often considered the ultimate in adult brace systems; but are they really better than more conventional clear view braces? Let’s take a closer look.

Let’s face it, even those adults who would benefit greatly from the type of fastest orthodontic treatment never go through with it because they are put off by the way that braces look when attached to the teeth. Now however, patients have the option of Invisalign.

Prior to 1998 when Invisalign burst onto the scene, the only alternative to metal style braces were fixed clear view ceramic braces or lingual braces, which were worn on the inside of the teeth. Although more discreet than say the metal variety, they could still be seen when the patient smiled or spoke. Now for the first time patients could have their teeth straightened without any unsightly wires or bracketing. Utilising a series of clear plastic aligners, each Invisalign aligner is designed to be worn over the teeth just like a gum shield. What’s more, unlike traditional style orthodontic treatment, each invisible aligner is designed to be easily removed.

So the question is…. Why then do dentists still use clear braces when on the surface of it, Manchester Invisalign appears to be so much better?

The main reason is that despite all the advancements in technology, Invisalign are arguably bio-metrically inferior to more traditional types of clear view braces. Some dentists suggest that it’s more difficult for plastic shells to create the complex forces of movement needed to properly align both the tooth and the tooth root. For this reason many dentists still prefer to use conventional brackets and wiring to correct more complex or severe cases and/or those requiring the fastest orthodontic treatment.

So to sum up…

Manchester Invisalign is radically different from any other type of orthodontic treatment and has revolutionised the way we think about adult braces. In most mild to moderate cases it presents the perfect longer-term solution for those people who want a better looking smile, but don’t want to go through the hassle of having a mouth full of metal. For this reason, Invisalign is very popular. However for those with more severe orthodontic problems, or those looking for a quick-fix solution, then traditional metal style braces or ceramic clear view braces are arguably the better option.

To find out more about the right type of orthodontic treatment for you, why not book a consultation with the team at Church Road Dental and Cosmetics. To make an appointment call us on 0161 660 1218 and take the first steps towards achieving a great looking smile.

Clear View Braces – What Are They and How Do They Work?

If you’re looking for a truly discreet form of adult orthodontic treatment then you have two real options; lingual braces Manchester and Invisalign. Manchester orthodontic practices tend to offer both but in this particular post we’re going to focus on the latter.

Otherwise known as clear view braces, Invisalign is an aligner style form of orthodontic treatment. Where lingual braces are attached to the rear of teeth using a traditional fixed bracket and wiring system, Invisalign works using a series of pre-programmed clear plastic trays known as aligners. Each aligner is custom made to fit over the teeth and moves them using continued physiological forces. The arch-wires of conventional braces also use physiological forces but instead of pulling, the aligners gradually push the teeth into the desired position. Force is generated by the flex of the plastic pushing on the teeth. Let’s just say that at the beginning your teeth are at position zero. The first aligner will allow your teeth to move to position one. Then the second aligner moves your teeth to position two, and so on and so forth until the final position (and indeed, straighter teeth) has been achieved.

Similarly to lingual braces, Invisalign Manchester braces are considered a full term treatment because they have the ability to treat a wide variety of dental problems. This means that typically treatment takes anywhere between 12-18 months to complete.

Fully removable brace system

We’ve already touched on the fact that Invisalign Aligners are fully removable but what exactly does this mean?

Unlike other bracket and wiring type systems which are permanently fixed to the teeth for the duration of your treatment, Invisalign braces are designed specifically to be easily removed by the patient. Although they need to be worn for between 20-22 hours a day, it’s necessary to remove them when eating, drinking, and cleaning the teeth. Right away this means that food particles and debris which can otherwise become lodged in between conventional braces can easily be removed. The only downside, if you can call it that, is that teeth should be cleaned after every meal. That said Invisalign braces are one of only a few orthodontic treatments which give you full control over when and where you wear them.

The bottom line is that not only are clear view braces invisible, they achieve the same results and more besides as conventional ‘bracket and wiring’ style treatments. For this reason they’re extremely popular amongst adults looking to take action against their less than perfect teeth.

To find out more about lingual braces Manchester or Invisalign Manchester come and talk to our orthodontic team right here at Church Road Dental and Cosmetics. Led by Shi Karim we have the experience and the skills necessary to help you restore your great looking smile. To book yourself a free, no-obligation consultation contact us on 0161 660 1218 today.

Clear View Braces – Why The Need For Discreet Brace Systems

Teeth straightening, known in the dental industry as orthodontics, traditionally uses metal brackets and wiring to correct the positioning of teeth. By contrast, more discreet options are emerging and one such type is clear view braces. Clear fixed braces Manchester carry out the same task as conventional ‘train track’ style brace systems in that they move teeth back to their original position using gentle applied force. However, they’re far less likely to be noticed when you smile or speak.

So why the need for discreet braces?

In the 21^st century, people are seen to be spending more of their disposable income on cosmetic treatments including getting straighter teeth. However many adults don’t want to be seen wearing a mouth full of metal. For this reason the discreet brace system was born. Now you can get a wide variety of orthodontic treatments ranging from cheap clear braces Manchester, through to the high end treatments such as Invisalign.

So just how discreet are they?

In a word, very! Most clear fixed braces in Manchester are made from polycarbonate, whereas removable aligner style braces such as Invisalign are generally made from acrylic. Both are a type of plastic derivative. Many ‘bracket and wiring’ style clear view braces also come with ceramic tooth coloured brackets and thin nickel/titanium wiring, all of which are hard to spot unless you are looking close up.

Conversely, removable acrylic aligner style braces such as Invisalign are even more discreet because they don’t use brackets and wires. Instead they rely on a series of trays (aligners) which are worn over the teeth just like a clear gum shield – the idea being that each aligner gently moves the teeth a certain distance. When a specific position is reached, the current aligner is removed and the next aligner is put in place. This continues until the teeth have reached their final position. Invisalign braces are normally kept in a brightly coloured case because just like a contact lens, when an aligner is taken out and placed on a counter top, it can be very hard to spot. Now that’s discreet!

So do clear view braces have any down sides?

In a word no! Most systems can do anything conventional metal bracket and wiring style braces do. The only difference is that they’re just not so obvious. If we’re going to be picky, the only downside is that even cheap clear braces Manchester are fractionally more expensive than traditional metal style brace systems. Also, because discreet braces are more of a cosmetic choice, they aren’t usually available from an NHS dentist.

If you’d like to find out more about clear fixed braces Manchester then come and talk to Shi Karim and the team at Church Road Dental and Cosmetics. Why not book yourself a free, no obligation consultation where we can discuss what type of clear view braces would suit your needs. To make an appointment you can either visit our website or contact us directly on 0161 660 1218. Remember you don’t have to suffer with less than perfect teeth. Start the ball rolling and talk to our experienced team today.

Fast Orthodontic Treatment – What Is It And How Does It Help?

If you’re in need of Orthodontics, Manchester-based Church Road Dental and Cosmetics can help. With a wide selection of adult brace systems to suit your requirements and needs, patients can rest assured that there’s a treatment type to suit them. From traditional metallic style braces through to incredibly discreet clear view braces, patients have the choice of either conventional longer-term treatments or fast orthodontic treatment.

While the majority of people have a relatively good understanding of how conventional long-term orthodontic treatments work, I want to focus more in this post on fast or accelerated treatments; in particular, what they are exactly and how they can help. So without further ado, let’s take a closer look.

Similarly to longer-term brace systems, fast orthodontic treatments can fix a variety of dental problems by applying gentle continued pressure to move teeth. This can be done using traditional fixed bracket and wiring style systems, or in the case of the Inman Aligner, a removable brace that’s taken out when you eat. Also like longer-term clear view braces, accelerated brace systems can also be discreet. Although not as invisible as a treatment such as Invisalign per se, they’re usually made of ceramic with clear brackets and tooth coloured wiring, so they blend in seamlessly with your teeth from a distance but are a little more visible close up.

Where they differ however is in terms of time. As an example, if you were going to have long-term orthodontics, Manchester–based practices might suggest treatments such as conventional metallic style brace systems or Invisalign. These can take anything from 12-24 months to complete depending upon the degree of correction needed. On the contrary with fast orthodontic treatment, it’s possible for teeth to be straightened in as little as 6-12 weeks.

Sounds like a bit of a no-brainer right? Well not exactly…

The reason accelerated treatments work is because they concentrate their efforts purely on the top and bottom six teeth which are visible when you smile. Because of this they can correct basic dental issues such as slightly crooked, flared or gapped teeth. What they can’t do however is to correct more extensive issues such as overbites, underbites, cross-bites, tooth root alignment and more severe tooth overcrowding. In fact you could say that fast orthodontics in Manchester are ideal for those concerned with the aesthetics of their smile rather than overall bite function. It’s also fair to say that for many people this is sufficient, especially if they have an important event in the pipeline like a wedding or job interview and want their teeth to look their best. Conversely for those in need of a more complete dental makeover, longer-term brace systems are usually more beneficial.

So to sum up….

Fast orthodontic treatment is ideal for those looking for a quick-fix aesthetic solution to their dental problems and are more suited to correcting mild teeth issues. On the contrary if you’re looking for a more complete solution to your orthodontic problems then longer-term brace systems using either conventional or clear view braces will offer a better outcome.

If you need orthodontics Manchester, why not come and talk to our team at Church Road Dental and Cosmetics. We’ll talk to you about your needs and requirements and tailor a treatment based around these. To book a consultation contact us on 0161 660 1218 and start the ball rolling towards a healthier smile and a happier you.

What Are Clear View Braces And Why Are They So Popular?

When we hark back to orthodontic Manchester treatment of old then the first thing that may spring to mind is those metallic ‘train track’ style braces that many of us wore as children. They were uncomfortable, cumbersome, and unattractive. Thankfully things have moved on somewhat and nowadays adults looking to have braces have far more options open to them. One of these options is clear view braces. So what exactly are they?

Even though orthodontic treatments are more comfortable, lightweight, and varied than their predecessors, many still remain noticeable. For adults who would normally be expected to wear braces for 12 months or more depending upon the severity of their condition, it’s often enough to stop some from even considering it. However clear view brace systems such as Invisalign braces UK are different.

As the name suggests, because they’re made from clear plastic rather than metal, they are difficult to see when you smile. For many adults who already feel pretty self conscious about their appearance, it means that they can now happily undergo orthodontic treatment knowing that what they’re wearing is about as discreet as orthodontic Manchester treatments get.

But that’s not the only way that clear view braces such as Invisalign braces UK differ…

Orthodontic treatment such as Invisalign uses an aligner style treatment rather than the conventional bracket and wiring system. This means that instead of using brackets which are secured to the teeth with wiring running though them to push or pull the teeth back into position, they utilise a series of bespoke trays known as aligners. As the aligner is placed over the teeth it gently coerces them into a pre-planned position after which it’s time to swap that aligner for the next in the series. Each aligner is sized differently and after 9-18 months the teeth should be perfectly straight.

The advantages of wearing clear view braces such as these are plentiful. Firstly unlike the conventional bracket and wiring style they’re completely and easily removable. In fact they’re designed to be removed when eating or cleaning the teeth to avoid any food particles being caught. Secondly, because they’re made of a clear plastic and not metal, there are no sharp pieces that can wear away at the gums and tongue. Finally, because each aligner has to be custom made, patients get to see what their teeth will look like using computer aided design. In other words they’ll have a snap shot into the future of their brand new smile.

So are clear view braces for everyone?

In a word yes and no! Invisalign braces UK are designed to treat many orthodontic problems and as a result they’ll suit a wide range of patients. However because each aligner has to be custom-made they don’t come cheap. In some cases they can be 2 or 3 times the cost of conventional brace systems and what’s more, they can’t be purchased on the NHS.

That said, many orthodontic Manchester practices operate flexible payment systems where treatments can be paid for over a period of time rather than one upfront payment, so it might be worth speaking to your dentist if cost is the only stumbling block.

If you’d like to find out more about how clear view braces such as Invisalign braces UK can change your life then come and talk to Church Road Dental and Cosmetics. Our experienced team of orthodontists will make sure that you have the right treatment to suit your needs and requirements. To book a consultation contact us via our website at www.clearbracesmanchester.co.uk or contact us directly on 0161 660 1218 and take the first steps towards restoring your great looking smile once and for all.