If you’re looking for a discreet or ‘invisible’ orthodontic option to give you a great looking straighter smile without people noticing you’re going through treatment, then Invisalign may be exactly what you need.
Invisalign treatment consists of a series of nearly invisible, removable aligners that you change every two weeks for the next set of aligners. Each aligner is individually custom-made for your teeth. As you replace each aligner, your teeth will move – little by little, week by week – until they have straightened to the final position prescribed by your Specialist.
The Invisalign system is the clinically accepted, nearly invisible way to straighten your teeth and improve your smile – without braces. It works through a series of clear and removable aligners that almost no-one will tell you are wearing. For the winning smile you’ve always wanted, the choice is clear - Invisalign.
If you're ready for a smile that transforms your appearance, Invisalign is your answer. Although there are many choices out there, no other treatment works as comfortably as Invisalign. Invisalign is the best way to transform your smile without interfering with your day-to-day life. We are able to use Invisalign for a wide range of problems, from minor tooth movement to more complex cases.
Invisalign has been used to successfully treat more than 3 million people worldwide. The aligners are almost invisible and made of a clear, lightweight medial grade thermoplastic material, which makes them incredibly strong, discreet and comfortable to wear. There are no wires or brackets to worry about and you can take the aligners out whenever you want to eat, drink or clean your teeth. You can even remove them for special occasions.
Have a chat to one of our team to find out about our finance options.
Invisalign straightens your teeth using a series of nearly invisible aligners that are custom-made to your teeth. Every two weeks, we will give you a new aligner to gradually move your teeth towards their final position.
Invisalign aligners are made from strong medical grade thermoplastic material, which was uniquely developed for the Invisalign System. This clear material means that most people will look at you and not realise that you’re even wearing an orthodontic device; it also offers exceptional comfort.
We take impressions of your teeth using special impression trays and material. These impressions are then used to create a virtual treatment plan and digital model of your teeth. Invisalign’s ClinCheck® software carefully plans out the movement of your teeth in stages, from their start position to their final position. This will give you an idea of how your smile should look by the end of your treatment.
Once we have approved this final position and you are happy with the predicted outcome, we will make your custom-made aligners, which will follow the various stages of the treatment plan to gently move your teeth.
Yes. Invisalign aligners can be removed while you eat or when you want to clean your teeth. This makes them a convenient choice, which supports your overall oral health. The aligners can even be removed for special occasions. To achieve the best results, you should wear them for as much of the day as possible.
Invisalign aligners provide a really high level of comfort because they don’t have separate wires or brackets that could potentially irritate the soft tissues of your mouth and gums.
You may find that it takes you a day or two to get used to having the aligners in your mouth but the vast majority of patients report no effect on speech.
We would always discourage you from smoking while wearing aligners because it may stain or discolour them.
We would advise against having chewing gum while wearing Invisalign aligners because it might stick to them. You should remove your aligners whenever you eat but try to ensure this is not for a prolonged period.
You will wear each aligner for approximately two weeks. The best way to keep your aligners clean is to brush them as we advise and rinse them in lukewarm water. We will also give you special cleaning tablets. You will need to brush your teeth after meals or before reinserting your aligner to protect your oral health.
Even before your Invisalign treatment is finished, you should start to enjoy the benefits of a better smile as your teeth begin to move to their new position from the first aligner onwards.
Many patients report some minor discomfort each time they change to a new aligner but this can be managed effectively with over-the-counter painkillers and usually wears off after a couple of days. In most cases, people are surprised at how comfortable the aligners are to wear and describe the discomfort as a feeling of pressure rather than pain.
Invisalign is designed to treat a wide range of straightening issues, and is used successfully for minor tooth movements as well as more complex cases. It may not be suitable for every case but we will always be honest in our assessment of your best treatment options.
For most adults and teens, Invisalign offers an effective treatment choice for overbites. We would need to see you to assess your individual case before we can determine whether Invisalign is suitable for you.
Yes, Invisalign offers an effective treatment option for closing gaps in most cases. We would need to assess your individual case to determine whether Invisalign is the most suitable option.
A bridge that links two or more teeth together can offer significant resistance to tooth movement. If you have a bridge, we can discuss this during your initial consultation and explore whether this would be a factor in your treatment.
Generally speaking, having a crown will not impact on your Invisalign treatment. Occasionally, we may need to bond small tooth-coloured composites called ‘attachments’ to your teeth to help achieve certain movements, and it can be difficult to get the attachments to bond to a crown. In this situation, we would carefully assess the position of your crowns before advising on your treatment options.
If you have TMJ, you will know that it refers to the temporomandibular (jaw) joint. Some orthodontic devices and treatments can aggravate the problem, while others can improve it. We would need to assess your individual case before we could offer accurate advice.
During your treatment, you will need to attend occasional check-ups so that we can monitor your progress and ensure that you are finding the treatment comfortable. These check-ups will usually be every four to six weeks, which means that we will provide your aligners in sets to ensure you are able to switch to the next set as agreed in between check-ups.
The length of treatment with Invisalign varies from one person to another and will depend on the complexity of your case. You should wear your aligners consistently for the best results.
Invisalign treatment is generally comparable to traditional braces and can last between nine to eighteen months.
Invisalign compares favourably with more traditional brace systems because it has no wires or brackets and is almost invisible to the casual onlooker. This is appealing to most adults and teens who feel self-conscious about having their teeth straightened.
As you can remove your Invisalign aligners, it means you can eat and drink whatever you like during your treatment. You can also maintain good oral hygiene and take them out for big events. It’s great to be able to carry on with life as usual.
We often see people who wore braces as a teenager and have since experienced a relapse with their teeth shifting slightly from their final position. Invisalign can often be used to correct this shifting.
Some patients are treated with a combination of braces and Invisalign. We would need to assess your individual case to determine your best course of treatment.
Invisalign offers a range of treatment options for teenagers, depending on the stage of teeth development. Older teens may be suitable for the same treatment as adults, while younger teens who do not have all their adult teeth can be treated with Invisalign. We will discuss the best treatment option during the initial consultation.
Research and experience show that teeth that have been moved by orthodontic treatment will not stay in their final position without the help of a retainer. A retainer is very similar to an aligner and is made of the same lightweight, clear material. In fact, you may even be advised to wear your final aligner as your retainer.
In the weeks and months following your treatment, we may advise you to wear a retainer as often as possible throughout the day and night. Over time, as the bone density improves around your teeth’s new position, we may recommend that you just wear a retainer at night while you sleep.
Invisalign recommends Vivera retainers, which use the same state-of-the-art technology as Invisalign aligners. By regularly wearing a retainer, you can protect your new and improved straight smile.
We understand the cost is an important consideration of any orthodontic treatment. It’s hard to give a fixed price at this initial stage because the cost of Invisalign is dependent on your individual case and how long your treatment will take.
To give you a general figure, Invisalign prices typically range from £2,500 to £4,500. If only minor tooth movement is required, the cost might be lower.
More than 2.5 million people worldwide have achieved straighter teeth with Invisalign. Align Technology, Inc., the company that manufactures Invisalign, was founded in 1997, so it has a strong track record.
Invisalign is sold in over 45 countries worldwide. Our patients attend our practice from all around North Derbyshire including Alfreton, Samercotes, Leabrooks, Swanwick and Riddings.
Special training is needed to use Invisalign. At Refine, our specialists in Orthodontics have been trained to exceptional standards across a wide range of removable, fixed and invisible orthodontic systems.
Simply call the practice on 01773 830 560 or email your enquiry using our quick and easy form and a member of our team will contact you to arrange an initial consultation during which we can discuss your treatment options.
Alfreton Primary Care Centre,
Church Street, Alfreton,
Derbyshire DE55 7AH
Copyright Refine Specialist Dental Care, Alfreton Primary Care Centre, Church Street, Alfreton, Derbyshire DE55 7AH | T: 01773 830 560
