The true price of a smile? Priceless! It can make you more appealing, it can help you get a job, it can boost your self-esteem, it can change people’s opinion of you in a flash. How do you put a price on all that? Impossible! The wonder of modern dental science and the magic of technology has helped create an array of equipment and techniques that combined with the skill of the dentist can change your life for the better. Misaligned teeth equate to a condition that is graded into class one, two and three. The average mean prevalence in the UK is around 50%. The development of dental braces and aligners over the past decades has led to some amazing equipment. Dental practices which use Invisalign in Glasgow have the experience, knowledge and expertise to help patients create broad, confident smiles. Using the latest technology they can create a virtual image of what your smile will look like after treatment.
Straighter teeth more than just about your smile
Misaligned teeth can cause a variety of medical and oral health problems. When you are unable to reach certain places in your mouth with a toothbrush or by flossing, bacteria builds up. Your gums start to deteriorate and small pockets form around the base of your teeth. The sugars in the food that we eat and drink are turned into acid by the bacteria in our mouths. This acid and plaque will slowly cause your teeth to decay. Misaligned teeth can be hereditary or can be caused by thumb sucking or drinking from a baby bottle for too long. Dental braces and aligners like Invisalign can help to straighten your teeth allowing for proper oral maintenance leading to healthy teeth and gums.
Dental braces and aligners
Traditional dental braces employ a system which consists of blocks, wires and bands. The blocks are fitted to the outside of your teeth and wires and bands are attached. These are slowly adjusted from time to time to move your teeth into alignment. In the early days dental braces were made of metal and were an efficacious but uncomfortable appliance. Over time the original metal brace has been transformed and is now far more efficient and comfortable and also made from other materials. Other braces have been developed, some of which adjust automatically and some which fit onto the inside of the teeth rather than the outside. Invisalign introduced a different concept which immediately had a special appeal, because of the fact that it was inconspicuous.
Invisalign, the cutting edge
The concept that Invisalign uses is radically different from dental braces. Where dental braces are attached to the teeth, Invisalign fits over the teeth, resembling a gumshield. Invisalign is made from a flexible thermoplastic, clear material, which they call trays. Highly sophisticated software and hardware have been created which allows dental teams to take thousands of pictures of your oral cavity. Using this software, a series of trays is created designed to straighten a patient’s teeth. Because everything is digitised they are able to liaise quickly with the laboratory and create these trays without the need to use goey, dental putty.
Teeth straightening invisibly
Because the Invisalign aligners are clear, the treatment is virtually invisible. This system appeals to young and old alike. The aligners must be worn for at least twenty-two hours per day, but can be removed to eat and drink and to brush your teeth. The duration of the treatment is based on the condition being treated. At the end of the treatment, it is necessary to wear a final aligner while your teeth settle into their final position.
Get out that smartphone
Once treatment is completed you can get out that smartphone and send your friends and family the broadest and most confident smile you can muster!
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