Aligned with the times
Historically, getting braces was often the cause of a great deal of anxiety and stress for those told they had to have them. Many patients, especially younger ones, dreaded the fateful day when their braces would be installed, due to fears of how the treatment would affect their outward appearance. This often led to those who required orthodontic treatment avoiding seeking it, which, in turn, often led to their teeth developing poorly or crookedly. Today however, there are record numbers of people – from all age demographics – seeking out orthodontic treatment to achieve a straighter, healthier looking smile. That said, there are still a proportion of us who still do not do so, due to misconceptions as to how treatment will affect the way they look. These patients often conjure up imagery of large, unsightly headgear or lisp-inducing metal braces, whereas, the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Today there are a number of discreet forms of orthodontics such as clear braces in Birmingham, which allow patients to undergo essential dental realignment, without attracting any unwanted attention or scrutiny.
Clearly on to something
Clear braces, such as Invisalign, are a relatively new form of discreet, cosmetic orthodontics which has forever changed what was previously considered possible. The Invisalign system is the brainchild of Zia Chishti, a Stanford University graduate who, in 1997, after personally witnessing how negatively the orthodontics of that time could impact on a patient’s outward appearance, decided to take matters upon himself. Despite having no orthodontic training or education, he launched his company Align Technologies, along with his friend and graduate Kesley Wirth, from which the Invisalign method was sold. Since its initial launch in 2001, the Invisalign method has helped restore the smiles of over 7 million patients worldwide, with over 2.5 million being teenagers.
Visibly different
The fundamental difference of the Invisalign process is to replace the traditional orthodontic brace, with a plastic and removable retainer. This is made by using a plastic known as SmartTrack – employed for it’s uniquely durable consistency, which is also flexible enough to mould around a patient’s teeth. The retainer makes use of deliberately placed pressure points on the inside of it to slowly move the patient’s teeth into their correct specifications. One of the most common appeals of Invisalign, compared to more typical methods of orthodontics, is the discretion of the procedure. As each retainer is custom made around the unique shape of the patient’s mouth, and as the plastic is transparent, when worn, the retainer fits so perfectly around their teeth that it is almost impossible to detect. This may explain the process’s popularity with teenagers and young adults, who may be somewhat more open to scrutiny – as Invisalign allows them to undertake much needed orthodontic realignment, without anyone suspecting a thing. Another benefit to this form of orthodontics, is the removable nature of the device. This allows the patient to decide when they carry out treatment, such as opting to only wear the retainer when at home or asleep. Those who opt for clear braces, can often find them to have a largely positive impact on their overall sense of self-esteem and confidence, as it gives patients the ability to achieve a straighter, healthier looking set of teeth, whilst simultaneously tackling life head on, with a confident smile.
