If you’re in need of orthodontic treatment that doesn’t necessitate the use of fixed bracket and wiring style braces, your options are unfortunately limited. That said, there are still several choices and these include Invisalign Manchester or the Inman aligner. Cost UK is on a par with that of other countries, so here at Hulme Orthodontics we thought it was a good idea to write a post detailing the advantages and disadvantages of both, with particular attention to teeth crowding.
But why teeth crowding per se?
The prime use of the Inman aligner is to help those who didn’t successfully wear a retainer after previous orthodontic treatment. As such and over time, their front teeth have crowded once more. The issue is that many of these people don’t want to wear braces again and by having an easily removable, non-fixed, aligner style system, both Invisalign and the Inman aligner offer a refreshing alternative.
Firstly Invisalign.
Rather than being just one appliance, the Invisalign aligner is in fact a whole series of aligners made to fit the patient’s teeth. These are worn over the teeth just like an invisible plastic gum shield and the tight fit forces the teeth to move into a certain position. Once the teeth have moved to the subsequent relative position, the current aligner is discarded and a new aligner fitted. The next aligner in the series moves the teeth a certain distance again until eventually, after numerous changes and some time later, the patient has straighter teeth.
So what are the advantages of Invisalign Manchester aligners
- Enables a patient to straighten crooked teeth without the stigma of being an adult who wears braces
- They’re made from clear acrylic so once in position they appear virtually invisible
- They can be used for a wide variety of treatments.
- The aligners can be easily removed and are not permanently fixed.
While Invisalign has its advantages, it also has its disadvantages. These are:
- When compared to other orthodontic treatments including the Inman aligner, cost UK is usually higher, so they are not a cheap option.
- The aligners need to be removed every time you eat and drink anything except water
- For success, Invisalign aligners need to remain in the mouth for around 22 hours a day, so patients need to be disciplined and conditioned to doing so
So what about the Inman Aligner?
At our Hulme Orthodontics practice the Inman aligner is one of the most popular removable brace systems we have, and not without good reason. As with standard orthodontic appliances the Inman aligner consists of just one appliance that’s worn for the duration of the treatment. It works by utilising a series of springs and bows which push and pull the upper and lower front teeth back into position using gentle sustained pressure. However just like Invisalign the Inman aligner is designed to be removable.
So let’s take a look at the advantages
- It’s easily removable and easy to clean.
- It’s less expensive than Invisalign and many other orthodontic treatments
- Because it’s designed to correct only the upper and lower front teeth it works fast (typically 6-12 weeks).
What about the disadvantages?
- While discreet, unlike Invisalign, the Inman aligner consists of a a small metal bar which can be seen when patients smile or speak.
- It can appear more bulky than the plastic aligner shells of Invisalign
- It’s designed only for correcting the front teeth
As you can see both Invisalign Manchester aligners and the Inman aligners serve a particular purpose, but the Inman aligner being designed for a specific job, is less flexible in terms of what it can achieve. If you’d like to find out more about teeth straightening in general or Invisalign and Inman Aligner cost UK, then book an appointment with the Hulme Orthodontics team on 0161 660 1218 today.