Crooked teeth can affect your confidence. Not only that, but if your teeth are misaligned, your oral health is at risk. Crowding makes it difficult to keep your teeth clean. This increases the risk of decay and infection. Additionally, bite alignment problems can affect speech and your ability to chew while also causing jaw pain.
Teeth straightening can improve the look of your smile while minimising any health risks. At Quest Dental, we offer four treatments to straighten your teeth— Invisalign clear aligners, Inman aligners, clear braces, and Quick Straight Teeth.
The question is— which teeth straightening treatment is the right option for you?
In this guide, we’ll compare the available options so you can make an informed decision about the future of your smile.
What Causes Orthodontic Issues?
There are several ways your teeth can become misaligned. You may have crooked teeth, gaps in your smile, or your teeth may appear crowded. Additionally, your upper and lower teeth might not align when your mouth is closed.
Sometimes, issues with teeth position are caused by genetics. Your parents may have had misaligned teeth. Often, the reason is your jaw may be too small to accommodate all of your teeth, leading to crowding— or it may be too large, which leads to a gappy smile.
Habits during your early years can also impact the position of your teeth. Sucking thumbs or dummies too much can draw your jaw inwards while thrusting your tongue against your teeth could push them outwards.
Other causes include injury and infection.
How Does Quick Straight Teeth Work?
Fixed braces have long been used to straighten teeth. Traditionally, these consist of metal brackets attached to the fronts of all teeth requiring movement. A metal archwire runs through each of the brackets, and small rubber bands hold the wire in position. Tension along the wire moves the teeth in very small amounts.
The wire is adjusted during treatment to increase the tension and move the teeth further.
Quick Straight Teeth works in exactly the same way. However, instead of placing a bracket on every tooth, we just fix them to the front six. These are the most prominent. This treatment is perfect for someone who has a mild misalignment and wants to straighten their smile for primarily cosmetic reasons.
Instead of using metal for the brackets and wire, Quick Straight Teeth also uses more discreet materials. Clear brackets and wires help the appliance blend in with your smile.
Treatment with Quick Straight Teeth is quick. Most cases are completed within six months.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Invisalign is one of the most popular teeth straightening treatments worldwide. Unlike traditional fixed braces, Invisalign uses removable aligners that conveniently sit over your teeth.
Your aligner will be made from a patented clear plastic material called SmartTrack. This subtle medical-grade plastic blends into your smile while providing the right amount of force to make the necessary improvements.
Your entire Invisalign treatment is planned using the latest dental software. Your treatment journey will involve swapping to a new aligner every two weeks. Each new aligner alters the force it applies on your teeth to progress your tooth movements.
Because Invisalign aligners are removable, you can take them out at mealtimes or when brushing your teeth. This helps you maintain a healthy smile. It’s important to wear your aligner as much as possible to get the best results. You can sleep while wearing it, and you should aim for 22 hours of wear daily.
Invisalign can treat mild to moderate alignment issues and takes between six months and two years.
How Do Inman Aligners Work?
Inman aligners are removable teeth straightening appliances that use nickel-titanium coil springs to power two metal bows that create opposing forces. The design of these aligners means they work quickly.
This treatment option is ideal for front teeth adjustments. It is discreet, quick, and affordable. Many Inman Aligner treatments take 6-18 weeks.
How Do Clear Braces Work?
Clear braces are translucent aligners that discreetly sit over your teeth. They are custom-made and work quickly. The force from the aligner will create small, gentle tooth movements. You won’t feel them moving, but you’ll see the changes within a few weeks.
Like Invisalign, you will need to change your aligner every two weeks. We’ll also assess your teeth throughout treatment to ensure you’re on course for success.
This subtle treatment option is ideal for correcting mild misalignments. Treatment using clear braces will take around six months,
Teeth Straightening in Ipswich
At Quest Dental Care, we provide a range of teeth straightening treatments to suit your lifestyle, finances, and clinical needs. A full consultation with our team will help you determine which treatment option is best for you.
Call today to arrange your initial consultation.
