Will Invisalign work for me? Your guide to Invisalign, part two

Posted on: June 12th, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

If you are ready to be more comfortable with your smile, and you think having straight teeth might help, getting your teeth fixed with Invisalign is a great option.

The custom-made aligners are barely noticeable and removable. They are also fast and extremely effective.

You probably have many questions about how to use the aligners, who can use them or what restrictions they might bring. So, here are some answers most people are looking for when it comes to getting straight teeth with Invisalign.

  • Are there any restriction on what I can eat while wearing the aligners?

Obviously, we don’t recommend you eat while wearing them because you could damage the aligners, so remove them when you’re eating and remove them when you’re drinking, unless its cold water. Also, you may want to avoid anything that’s too hard to chew because your teeth may be a bit tender but as long as you take them off you can basically eat anything you like (not like with fixed braces).

  • Can I Smoke While Wearing the Aligners?

No, smoking is not advised. Not only can you damage the aligners because obviously they’re made of plastic, but you can also discolor them quite severely. So do not smoke, please.

  • Can I Chew Gum While Wearing Aligners?

No, that is not recommended because again, you can damage your aligners and there will be a charge to replace them.

  • What’s the Best Way to Clean My Aligners?

A good and small toothbrush that can fit into the aligners works quite well and also rinse them in lukewarm water. You should not use anything like a denture cleaner, because they have got some chemicals that may end up damaging your aligners. Also, brushing your teeth after each meal and prior to re-inserting your aligners is strongly recommended.

  • Are there Certain Dental Conditions that Could Exclude Me from Being an Eligible Patient in Leicester?

Yes, unfortunately, if your gums are not healthy and if you have had a lot of bone recession around your teeth, you cannot have any treatment with braces. However, once your condition is treated, wearing aligners should not be a problem anymore. A consultation would be able to assess whether or not you are a suitable candidate.

  • How Often Do I Need to Change My Trays?

Straightening your teeth with Invisalign is not annoying or difficult. However, it is essential that you change your trays every two weeks.

For any questions, concerns, or queries, please feel free to contact the practice and book a FREE consultation. To read Your Guide To Invisalign part 1 CLICK HERE and for part 3 CLICK HERE

How long can a teeth straightening treatment take?

Posted on: June 5th, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

Misaligned teeth can make you smile less and undermine your confidence, affecting your social and personal life. Fortunately, you now have more orthodontic teeth straightening options available than ever before to bring your smile back and perfectly align your teeth. If you are wondering about the overall duration of a given teeth straightening treatment, we must say that there is no straightforward answer. Each case is different and only when we have assessed and evaluated each case separately will we be able to set the desired time frame for the completion (and type) of the treatment a patient will have to undergo. To help you understand what can affect the duration of an orthodontic treatment, here is a small guide with some useful information.

What is Teeth Crowding and What Should I Know about it?

Teeth crowding or malocclusion is an irregularity of the jaws (upper or lower, or even both) or the teeth relationship. Teeth crowding is a complex and multifactorial subject, whose nature is classified under dental, skeletal, and soft tissue. All three of them interplay and result in a broad array of teeth crowding severity.

The dental causes include:

  • The Position of the Teeth
  • Extra/Missing Teeth
  • Incompatible Tooth Size
  • Permanent Teeth whose Eruption has been Disrupted.

The skeletal causes include a varied growth of the jaws (either one of them or both) while the soft tissue causes include lower lips, among others. Also, tooth crowding can be inherited, or it could be attributed to development disorders, such as hypothyroidism and Down’s Syndrome, to name a few.

As you can see, tooth crowding can occur due to numerous reasons that have to be carefully and thoroughly evaluated before recommending an orthodontic teeth straightening treatment. Of course, just the fact that someone has malocclusion does not necessarily mean they will benefit, either functionally or aesthetically, from undergoing treatment. Whether orthodontic intervention should be considered for an individual (that is if they make a suited candidate) is another issue that also has to be assessed.

Get Fully Informed

Just as we want to carry out a full assessment of a case, we want you to be as educated about the available options as possible. For that reason, we provide you with not only one but five different teeth straightening solutions to choose the one that best meets your needs and requirements. Making an informed choice regarding your orthodontic treatment is paramount to us, so don’t be surprised if we show you several before and after examples of our options and a 3D simulation that will allow you to visually see the final result before you even start a treatment! For your reference, you can have from invisible braces that go completely undetected and clear braces to braces with shorter treatment times and less discomfort.

Back to the initial question, a teeth-straightening treatment at Straight Teeth Suite in Loughborough can take from 2 months and up to 2 years, always depending on the case. Needless to say, each treatment is strictly personalised and will not exceed the 2-year upper limit for any reason whatsoever.

To get a better idea of the teeth straightening options available, feel free to book your first straight Teeth consultation for FREE or download your FREE Straight Teeth Guide here and claim the smile of your dreams!

4 Months with Lingual Braces. How I Learnt to Live With Them

Posted on: May 29th, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

After 4 months of living with Lingual braces, my teeth are free, and I have the smile I have been dreaming of for the past twenty years.  I can’t stop looking in the mirror to admire my new grin.  It is better than I ever expected.  For the last few months, I have been visiting the Straight Teeth Suite to have my Lingual braces fitted and adjusted, and I am so happy I did.

Day 1:  Having chosen Lingual braces because they are nearly invisible unless I open my mouth really wide, the day has come for my dentist to fit them. I am excited and nervous at one and the same time. The whole procedure lasted about forty minutes.  Firstly, my teeth were thoroughly cleaned with a water jet.  The brackets were then fixed to the reverse side of my teeth where they can’t be seen using a special adhesive.  As the dentist pressed on each of the brackets to get a strong bond, the pressure was uncomfortable for a moment, and my jaw was starting to ache from keeping my mouth open.  And last of all, the wires were threaded through the brackets. Armed with a bag of essentials including Ibuprofen, toothbrush, mouthwash and dental wax, I made my way home. I was not in any pain yet, but I will let you know how I got on.

Day 2. My first 48 hours with Lingual braces were no better and no worse than I had been warned.  I had a little pain, a lot of discomfort, I lisped a bit, and I found it hard to chew.  After taking a dose of Ibuprofen, the pain disappeared.  My tongue was sore where I had rubbed it on the brackets so I put some dental wax on the wires and brackets, and that really helped.  I had plenty of soups in the fridge and dipped my bread to soften it, so I didn’t go hungry.  I was lisping for a while but practiced using the Rainbow Passage developed by some speech therapists. I didn’t sound too silly. It was useful to practice in front of a mirror and exaggerate the words. Singing along to my favourite songs helped too. My mouth felt really dry overnight, so I kept a glass of water by my bed.

Day 31. A month after my braces were fitted and I could already see a difference in the position of my teeth.  I wasn’t expecting this so soon.  The gap between my lower incisors, right at the front had completely closed.  It is a big confidence boost to see the braces are actually working.  My lisp was much better. In fact, I only lisped when I talked too fast or had bits of food stuck in the brackets.  I brushed my teeth at least six times a day. Not only did my mouth feel much nicer after brushing but it helped with the lisp too.  I had moments when I could forget I was wearing braces which were a real bonus.It can be very tiring being conscious of something alien in your mouth all day.  When I had my braces fitted I was told to avoid biting into anything hard or chewy. Four weeks on I had devised a menu plan to make this more bearable.  Porridge, scrambled eggs, granola with yoghurt and fruit, for breakfast.  Soup, fish and mash, jacket potato with tuna, pasta and sauce, or omelette for lunch or dinner.  And puddings of chocolate mousse or ice cream made up for not being able to eat sweets or biscuits.

Day 60.  Two months later and my wires were adjusted for the first time. It wasn’t too uncomfortable and only took a little time. The best thing was my protruding tooth has now moved to connect with the wire. For the first week, my gums ached again, and I took some more painkillers.  My lisp had totally vanished by this time, so everything was great. I also visited the hygienist who professionally cleaned my teeth.  She was able to get in between the brackets and wires and my teeth felt smooth and clean.

Day 90.  More than halfway through my treatment and I had my wires adjusted again. My teeth had moved dramatically during the past three months since I first had my lingual braces fitted. I was already feeling happy to show my teeth when I smiled, something I avoided doing before.

I was prepared for another week of discomfort after my appointment but this time,  I didn’t need to take the painkillers.

Day 120. At the third adjustment for my braces, the dentist used a stronger wire. He said my teeth were moving well.  My gums were sore again for just a few days but I didn’t have any tongue pain from rubbing on the brackets, and I could eat most things. I was already more confident and actually wore red lipstick for the first time in my adult life.  I even started practicing  smiling for the camera in time for the braces to come off.

Day 143.  The end of the journey, I had my braces removed, and I felt amazing!   I hadn’t actually thought about how the dentist would remove the brackets. When I saw the clamp, a bit of panic set in. The dentist literally pulled the brackets off. One yelp and it was all over.  I had a tiny wire fixed behind my teeth to hold everything in place before my retainers were fitted.  I love my smile and any discomfort, trials and suffering were undoubtedly worth the effort.  If I have any regrets, it is that I didn’t have braces and a beautiful smile sooner.

If you are considering Lingual braces, contact the Straight Teeth Suite for a free consultation HERE

Smile with Invisalign – Your guide to Invisalign, part one

Posted on: May 1st, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

You probably heard many people talking about a method of straightening your teeth, which doesn’t have anything to do with the old-fashioned annoying braces people seem to be so afraid of. Invisalign became popular pretty fast thanks to the many benefits they bring to patients. Here are five of the reasons most people choose to improve their smile using invisible aligners in Loughborough.
1. You Don’t Have to Wait Too Long for a Confident Smile
Everything happens pretty fast around you and waiting years before being able to smile without feeling uncomfortable seems too much. This is why many people don’t even bother to try straightening their teeth. However, the new method, involving invisible aligners is different. In just a few months, you can get beautiful natural looking teeth without any effort at all.
2. Invisible Aligners Makes Straightening Your Teeth Comfy
This already famous procedure, involves a nearly invisible way to straighten your teeth. Even if people who wore fixed braces told you how awful it was for them, you should not be worried.

This method involves going through a succession of clear aligners, which you change every two weeks until your teeth are as straight as you always dreamed of. No rubbing wires like you would get with old fashioned braces and, of course, less pain and much less discomfort!
3. There is No Age Limit!
Age doesn’t matter, even if if you’re in your 60s or 70s. What matters is that your teeth and gums are healthy. However, many dentists prefer using Invisalign on young adults who have got all of the teeth present and fully formed.
4. The Treatment is Cost-Effective!
There are so many people who are afraid of prices when they hear all the information available on getting a great smile in Loughborough. But this is far from being an issue. The price really depends on the complexity of the treatment, but people say that, considering the effectiveness of the procedure, the price is more than affordable and you can spread the cost with a monthly payment plan.
5. Straightening your Teeth Doesn’t Have to Be Obvious
Nobody should feel ashamed to wear braces. However, there are many people who are uncomfortable with fixed braces, feeling like people stare at them. Well, with Invisalign all these fears are gone. Everything is close to being invisible so even if you feel conscious, your peers will have no idea you’re straightening your teeth while talking to them.

Invisalign is an effective but easy and comfortable journey towards a new life full of the confidence given by a beautiful straight smile. The invisible aligners are the proof that there is no need for too much hassle in order to get the straight teeth you’ve always wanted.

If you’re ready to find out what your options are you can contact us here. To read Your Guide To Invisalign part 2 click HERE

The Cost of Happiness: Teeth Straightening

Posted on: April 24th, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

How much it costs to get a great smile is a question the Straight Teeth Suite is frequently asked.  Modern dentistry and the skilled technicians can now achieve fantastic results for patients with misaligned or missing teeth but, until recently, this kind of dentistry was often considered the domain only of the rich and Hollywood stars bringing perfect, white smiles to the screen.  From simple techniques to keep your teeth healthy and clean,  to more complex procedures to straighten crooked or crowded teeth, to more complicated treatments to replace missing teeth, the Straight Teeth Suite in Leicester will price your priceless new smile.

What is the price of happiness?

A simple clean with a qualified hygienist can give your smile a whole new look.  Stain removal, using air flow and a professional polish can cost as little as £68 but can leave you feeling refreshed.  Teeth whitening at £200 can renew a tired, yellowing smile, leaving you beaming with pleasure.

If your teeth are overcrowded or crooked, teeth straightening with fixed braces or clear aligners can cost from £1500 for simple cases to £4000 for more complex cases that take more time to correct. The Straight Teeth Suite recommend both fixed braces and clear aligners depending on type and severity of the treatment needed.  Fixed braces are designed to be as discreet and comfortable as possible and clear aligners, a moulded clear plastic tray that fits over the teeth is invisible and removable. The aligners are changed every two or three weeks until the teeth have moved to their new position.  The best type of brace for you and the duration of treatment will be explained at your first consultation.  Dentistry is never a case of ‘one size fits all’ and all treatments have to be determined individually and costed accordingly.

Quite a lot of patients combine teeth straightening and teeth whitening treatments to achieve the smile of their dreams. When the teeth have become damaged through wear and tear, accident or injury and are chipped or uneven, we can offer composite edge bonding.  Essentially, this is a filling, coloured to match your teeth and fixed in place to improve the shape of the teeth.

Although this type of treatment may initially seem beyond your reach, by spreading the cost over time it becomes much more realistic and affordable. The Straight Teeth Suite can offer their patients a financial plan, allowing you to spread the cost on a monthly basis over one-year interest-free or up to five years. You can achieve your new smile without delay.

If you have a special occasion in mind or have been dreaming of a great new smile, contact the Straight Teeth Suite in Leicester for a consultation and a quote and take a step towards happiness today.

Are braces only for straightening teeth?

Posted on: April 17th, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

Dental braces can give you the cosmetic results you have always desired, but did you know they have many other benefits for your overall health and wellbeing? While it is true that many patients cite appearance when choosing to invest in dental braces, there are myriad other health-related reasons why you should invest in this treatment.

Here is a brief overview of the most common medical and physical reasons people elect to straighten their teeth in Loughborough – do you recognise any of your own concerns below?

Reason 1: Crowded or crooked teeth leading to decay

If your teeth are very crowded and /or crooked, it can be a challenge to keep them clean. A crooked alignment to your teeth can make effective brushing and flossing nearly impossible, and this poor oral hygiene can lead to serious health risks, including the development of caries (cavities), increased rates of gum disease and even the potential for abscessed sores in your mouth.

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In the worst-case scenarios, this has led to patients requiring extractions and needing to replace their natural teeth with a set of dentures. While dental implants and dentures are nothing to be ashamed of, you can often avoid these drastic and expensive measures if thorough dental hygiene is made possible with dental braces.

Reason 2: Bite issues and misaligned jaw

If you suffer from pain, stress and tension in your jaw and up through to your temples and skull, the problem often originates in the misalignment of your teeth. If your bite is not aligned correctly, unnecessary wear on one side of your jaw can result in permanent damage and great pain, grinding issues and stress with your entire mandibular system. These problems can often be addressed or minimised with corrective dental braces.

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Reason 3: Inability to chew food correctly and efficiently

When one part of your body is off kilter, the ill effects can spread through all of your vital organs and bodily systems. Your mouth and teeth are just two part of your entire digestive system, the series of functions that nourish and replenish the fuel you need to survive. If your teeth are not correctly aligned, you can have difficulties chewing your food properly, and this can in turn affect your stomach, intestines and other internal organs, leaving your improperly nourished and doing damage to your soft tissues.

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Reason 4: To reduce the risk of dental trauma

Protruding or crooked teeth can put you at a higher risk of dental trauma when playing sports or in the case of an accidental contact injury. Having these misalignments and protrusions corrected with dental braces will greatly reduce these risks.

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From the list above it is easy to see that the attraction of a natural looking, correctly aligned smile is only one aspect of the decision to straighten your teeth. If any of the above maladies or threats sound familiar to you, then it is best to act as quickly as possible and begin mitigating your risk for dental trauma, tooth decay or poor nutrition. If you are wondering what you can do to improve your dental health, speak to someone in person about your options, give the team at Straight Teeth Suite in Loughborough an email or a call today.

How to Broaden your Smile with Arch Expansion

Posted on: April 3rd, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

If you have a narrow arch your front teeth may appear prominent and your smile may not be as effective as you would wish.  You may think there is nothing that can be done and it is your lot in life to have a minimal grin.  Fear not. With arch expansion at the Straight Teeth Suite, you can soon broaden your horizons, increase your confidence and improve your smile.

Arch Expansion

Everyone is different and smiles come in different shapes and sizes. Celebrities, such as Julia Roberts or Angelina Jolie are instantly recognisable by their broad smiles.  But, if your mouth is too small and too narrow, no amount of trying to stretch your grin will achieve a smile like these stars. If your arch is too narrow, you may feel very self-conscious, as if your smile does not fit your personality.  Patients, with a narrow arch, show very little of their back teeth as they are covered by the shadow from the cheeks.  With an arch expansion, the teeth are repositioned to open up and broaden your smile to suit your face.  A general estimation of the right smile for you is when it reaches the centre of your eyes, in line with the pupils.

With a narrow arch, your teeth may be over-crowded and your bite misaligned.  This can lead to oral health issues, such as gum disease, as overcrowded teeth are very difficult to keep clean however meticulous you are when you brush your teeth.

Damon Braces

The Straight Teeth Suite uses Damon braces to straighten the teeth and widen the arch.  Damon braces are a fixed brace which, unlike traditional braces, use a slide mechanism to hold the wire, allowing teeth to move more freely, quickly and comfortably creating an arch expansion and a great smile.

In this case, you can see how prominent the patient’s front teeth were.  We made a full evaluation and fitted Damon braces.

The result was a broader arch, eliminating the shadows in the patient’s mouth when he smiles.

7 tips for having braces whilst pregnant

Posted on: March 27th, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

If you are planning two major events in your life, getting straight teeth and having a baby, you may be able to achieve both at one and the same time.  However, to achieve this safely and successfully, you need to be prepared.  A new baby will give you lots to smile about, and straight teeth will make that smile so special.  The Straight Teeth Suite have compiled an essential list of the points to consider when contemplating braces while you are pregnant, so you know what to expect and can factor them into your plans. You and your baby can have a photo of your first new smiles together!

  1. Plan your braces with your dentist before you get pregnant so all X-rays can be taken before treatment begins.  Although the radiation dosage in dental X-rays is minimal, we do not risk taking X-rays in pregnant patients, especially in the first trimester.
  2. Provided your teeth and gums are healthy, there is no reason not to have braces during pregnancy.
  3. The hormones released during pregnancy fluctuate and can make you more sensitive to plaque build up.  Oral health is important at all times, but you need to be extra, extra, extra vigilant with brushing and flossing when you are pregnant.  Make regular visits to the hygienist for a professional clean and be sure to follow their advice.
  4. During the early days, following the fitting of your new braces, you may experience some discomfort when eating and not be able to chew.  It is essential to keep to a nutritious diet for the health of your unborn baby and your own well being.  Keep a good selection of healthy soups in stock to get you through these days without going hungry. Scrambled eggs, porridge, baked potatoes and other soft foods are healthy ways to avoid hunger when you can’t bite.
  5. Start your braces treatment early in your pregnancy as, towards the final months, your growing bump may make it awkward and uncomfortable to lie back in the dentist’s chair for extended periods of time.
  6. If you are planning on taking extended maternity leave, this may be a good time to have your braces fitted.  In the early weeks, following the birth of your baby, you may find you have little time for yourself to keep appointments but once you have settled into a routine, you will have a little more time for yourself.
  7. Some people develop a lisp in the initial weeks following the fitting of their braces. Singing to your baby will help to overcome any speech problems.

If you would like an appointment with the Straight Teeth Suite to discuss braces, please contact us here

What To Expect During a Teeth Straightening Consultation?

Posted on: February 13th, 2018 by freshadmin No Comments

Your initial consultation is specifically designed to have your needs met, and queries answered. At the Straight Teeth Suite, we like to sit down with you and discuss your general dental health and hear all about your thoughts on the future of your mouth. This consultation is your opportunity to share your vision per your dream smile with us and see what we can do to achieve that. Acquiring a beautiful smile, but most importantly maintaining it in mint condition is paramount to your overall health, considering all the adverse conditions that can occur due to neglected oral health. That aside, a good set of pearly whites is definitely a confidence-booster and gives a sense of well-being. This makes our goal at Straight Teeth Suite a noble one, which is why we always go above and beyond the typical first-consultation services.

Standard Procedure

Phase #1: Assess your Oral Condition

The first thing we do when you come in for your first consultation is look at your dental condition. Are your teeth positioned in an aesthetic way? Is your bite function correct? Do you have trouble eating? Are you happy with the shape and colour of your teeth? All these factors will be carefully assessed before we move on to the next phase.

Phase #2: Determine whether Braces (and which braces) are the Perfect Option

Will you REALLY benefit from orthodontics? That’s our main concern. No matter the case, we need to see if braces is the right option for you. You could be a perfect candidate for Invisible or Invisalign braces rather than any other treatment that you may had in your mind. You may need orthodontic treatment for your front teeth only. Maybe you had undergone teeth straightening at an early age and have seen your teeth move again over time. Did you know that you may have your teeth perfectly aligned in 6 just months, providing you meet requirements? Or do you prefer lingual braces that are totally unseen, offering utmost discretion?  To learn more about it, take the Straight Teeth Test, here!

If you decide that braces are not the way to go, you may have other options to allow you to meet your goals, and we will be more than happy to present and discuss them to you.

Since we have a wide range of orthodontic appliances, this is generally a good non-invasive way to start. You talk through options and possibilities with the dentist and decide if braces are a viable treatment option for you. Most of the times, braces are the least expensive investment because you can correct precisely what you don’t like, get them whitened, and you are set for a long time!

Phase #3: Provide Options & Educate 

Your smile makeover is a huge deal and should be approached with sensitivity and care. In respect to your needs and goals, we provide you with all the answers you need to make an informed decision regarding your smile. If there are any dental problems, you will know of them instantly. We want to be absolutely certain that the suggested orthodontic treatment is indeed the right for you.

By the time you leave our clinic, you will know things about cosmetic dentistry procedures that will help you make up your mind.

 

Want a taste of what is being described? Why not book your first complimentary consultation and get a step closer to the smile of your dreams NOW?

A Guide to How We Straighten Just 2 or 4 Crooked Teeth

Posted on: January 30th, 2018 by freshadmin 2 Comments

A lot of patients we see only have a few crooked teeth that they are unhappy with and they do not always need lengthy or complex brace treatment to achieve a confident, attractive smile. Sometimes just a simple adjustment, concentrating on just the two or four front teeth will give you the smile you dream of.  There are many options available for braces with the Straight Teeth Suite in Loughborough, and our experienced dentists will guide you in making the best choice.

There are many options available for braces with the Straight Teeth Suite and our experienced dentists will guide you in making the best choice.

Perhaps your two front top teeth, your incisors, project slightly, or you have a wide gap in between the teeth.  A brace will bring these back in line in a relatively short amount of time and, with the help of a retainer, they will stay in place giving you a lifelong, beautiful smile.

In some cases, both the top two teeth and the bottom two teeth are misaligned.  Both top and bottom teeth can be repositioned. Sometimes the top and bottom teeth can be straightened at the same time, and sometimes it is better to concentrate on straightening each arch independently as it will be more comfortable for you.

Straightening Choices

INMAN ALIGNERS

The Inman Aligner, often known as the wonder brace, is a removable brace.  The Inman Aligner has Nickel Titanium coil springs that power two aligner bows that gently oppose each other, guiding the teeth into their new position. These gentle forces are active over a  large range of movements, which is why the Inman Aligner works so quickly. Within just twelve to sixteen weeks if worn as advised.  This brace can address and correct the front two to four teeth. We tend to recommend one jaw at a time because it can feel quite bulky.