Wish you’d worn braces when you were younger? Do you think they’re only for teenagers and you’ve missed the boat?
Think again.
Here at the Harley Street Smile Clinic, we’re pleased to inform you that you’re never too old for braces! And – offering a safe, gentle and long-term solution for a straighter more radiant smile – they could be the ideal treatment for you.
What do braces do?
Braces are custom made to suit each individual and the issues being corrected – such as an overbite, crooked teeth, or both!
They work by putting constant pressure on teeth to encourage them into the right position. This pressure is monitored regularly over time to ensure that – as teeth move – the correct level of tension is maintained.
Straighter teeth not only look more attractive, but they’re also easier to keep clean too. With less awkward nooks and crannies in your mouth, food debris and plaque are easier to remove, which in turn reduces your chances of tooth decay.
What type of braces are there?
Options for braces have advanced hugely over recent years. Yes, the traditional ‘train track’ braces are still very much in use, but you may be relieved to hear there are plenty of other, more discreet choices out there too. These include:
- Self-ligating – based on conventional orthodontic treatment, self-ligating braces use the traditional brackets and archwire associated with metal braces. However, rather than using metal to form an attachment to each tooth, clear ceramic brackets are used instead. This, combined with clever clips to hold the brace’s wire in place rather than elastic bands, makes their appearance far less conspicuous, whilst still offering impressive results. Worth noting though that ceramic brackets are far more delicate and can break more easily than metal. They are usually more expensive too.
- Lingual – this type of brace fits to the back of your teeth (the tongue side). Completely hidden from view it’s a great choice if you’re feeling self-conscious about wearing braces. Just be aware, that whilst any type of brace will feel strange at first and will take some getting used to, lingual braces can rub more than most as your tongue has to adapt.
- Invisalign® – this is perhaps the most popular option available today. A practical, removable brace that works around you – with no metal wires or brackets. Instead, Invisalign uses a clear ‘barely there’ aligner, custom made for your mouth, that simply sits over your teeth to gently encourage them into position.
To work properly the aligners must be worn for 20 hours each day – but that gives you 4 hours to play with! Meaning if you’re heading out or have an important meeting and would prefer not to wear them, you have that flexibility…although we’re confident no one would notice if you left them in!
Start your journey to a straighter smile today
Whether you’re in your 40s, 50s, 60s or beyond, the reality is you’re never too old to improve your smile. So, if braces are something you wish you’d considered sooner – better later than never!
At Harley Street Smile Clinic, as leading cosmetic dentists we’re all about boosting smile confidence and believe Invisalign braces offer a great way to do this. Why not take a look at the recent smile transformations we’ve helped to achieve using Invisalign or get in touch with the team to find out more about how we could help you.