Straight Talking

Created on 31st July 2008

A new dental treatment to hit the UK means you can have a beautiful smile without having to wear a traditional metal brace. Jenny Pitt finds out more

If you have always felt awkward and embarrassed about your teeth, but thought your only option to correct them was to have metal braces, then take heart as an innovative dental approach could be the answer. Instead of the dreaded metal look that you have spent most of your life avoiding, plastic aligners called Invisalign can now straighten your teeth, and are removable and virtually invisible. They are also comfortable to wear, compared to the metal brackets and wires of old. The state-of-the-art plastic moulds are custommade to fit your teeth with advanced computer technology - and what's more you can have an indication as to how long the treatment should take, which is generally between eight to ten months, depending on your teeth.

Your dentist can set about ‘designing' your smile on the computer, planning your tooth movements, while you'll be able to see a ‘before' and ‘after' image of your teeth. Many top dentists have embraced the technology because of its excellent results, and awardwinning dentist Paul Humber of Hopvine Dental Practice is one of them. "The patient is able to see the proposed treatment plan on the computer screen, and as a result have a ‘hands on' chance to help design their own smile, make changes, and decide what they truly want to look like. We can even estimate to the nearest week exactly when treatment will be complete," he says.

How does it work?

It's a gradual process and is very precise. You wear each set of aligners for about a fortnight, only taking them out when you're eating and drinking, or when you're cleaning your teeth. Your teeth will begin to move slowly, week by week, and your dentist will replace the aligner as needed - you will probably need between eleven and thirty aligners during your treatment. It's a great step forwards for people who really think there is no option, as Paul Humber explains: "It has been my experience that the result is nearly always more comfortable, more accurate and more satisfying than the traditional techniques teenagers and adults around the country have been putting up with for decades. It usually takes less time, too."

Straightening your teeth isn't purely cosmetic, it can have far-reaching health benefits, too. For example, over crowded teeth and crossbite (where upper and lower jaws are misaligned) can cause dental decay and sometimes gum disease, while widely spaced teeth can bring about the onset of periodontal disease - a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth, the mildest form of which is gingivitis. Correcting an overbite, where upper teeth bite over lower teeth or vice versa for an underbite, can prevent painful jaw and joint problems.

For that perfect smile, straightening alone might not be enough, and many dentists offer teeth whitening too as standard in a treatment package. Other correction work may also be necessary. "A smile often needs a number of little details nudged in the right direction to become a truly great smile," explains Paul Humber. "Orthodontics can make teeth straight, but can't make a small tooth larger or a dark tooth lighter. We may need to add a little porcelain to the occasional tooth or change the shape of a tooth that is too prominent."

So if you're forever hiding in the background when anyone takes a photo and you just refuse to smile, then an easy option is now available to you. No more angst or stress about the way you look and a much more relaxed you. Paul Humber agrees: "Our hearts sink when we see photos of a friend's wedding as we think, ‘Is that really what I look like these days?' I take digital photographs at a number of specific stages throughout treatment and discuss how to improve anything that catches the eye or detracts from an otherwise great smile. The little details can mean everything."
CSMUK