Are you planning to undergo Invisalign in London? It’s an ideal way to get a desirable, straight and confident smile. The use of advanced technology and removable aligners make Invisalign a preferable choice amongst teens and adults, who seek a smooth orthodontic treatment experience.
London is the destination of leading Invisalign providers in the UK and we are one of them. We have state-of-the-art clinics and bespoke treatment plans to customise your teeth straightening journey using 3D scanning and dental impressions.
This blog is meant to be a guide for you through the whole Invisalign process starting from consultation to treatment and aftercare instructions. If you are keen to obtain a stunning smile transformation without any disruption to your existing lifestyle, then keep reading this blog. We have the correct solution to your problem!
Why should you choose Invisalign over traditional braces?
This is a never-ending debate! But as a dental patient, you must go through it to make the correct informed decision for your overall oral and dental health.
Here are the top 5 benefits of Invisalign braces over traditional braces:
- Appearance – Invisalign is always clear and transparent making it hard to notice whereas metal braces are full of unsightly metal. Not only they are prominent on the teeth but food can also get trapped between making it tough to clean.
- Comfort – You can remove Invisalign anytime you want for brushing, flossing, drinking and eating. But once you get the metal braces, they will be there until you remove them professionally
- Safety – With Invisalign, there is little-to-no risk of damage to gums and teeth. However, conventional braces comprise metal wires and the protruding bits can scratch and puncture in the gums and inside of mouth. It may cause demineralisation causing decaying of teeth.
- Treatment duration – In contrast to traditional metal braces, Invisalign can straighten your teeth faster. While Invisalign clear aligners can take up to 1-1.5 years to fix your orthodontic issues metal brackets can take up to 5 years to deliver the final result.
Expected progress – Clear braces like Invisalign are free from surprises as you will see the outcome of your treatment on a computer before you start the treatment.
Psychological Impact of a Straight and Beautiful Smile
A beautiful smile is not only straight teeth but symbolises approachability, confidence and happiness. The alignment of teeth encourages how people perceive an individual and how they perceive themselves. Often, straight teeth are linked to positive mental health and confidence. How? Let’s find here:
Boosted confidence and self-esteem
- Improved self-esteem – A straight smile will transform peoples perception about themselves.
- Empowerment through change – With successful orthodontic treatment, you can have a sense of empowerment and accomplishment reinforcing confidence and self-worth.
- Visible sign of health and care – Straight and beautiful smile symbolises overall good health and improved oral hygiene. Proper dental health increases self-esteem and can let you feel comfortable and confident about yourself.
Enhanced social interactions
- Increases approachability – A gorgeous and confident smile makes you more friendly and approachable. You will feel good to engage with others and in social connections.
- Alleviation of social anxiety- People who are self-conscious regarding smiles can get social anxiety. However, it can be dealt easily with a straight smile resulting in positive social interactions.
Positive impact on mental health
- Reduction in depression and anxiety – Anxiety will be relatively low if you have improved dental aesthetics. This heightened confidence will mitigate feelings of embarrassment and shame associated with dental flaws.
- Improved well-being and mood – Smiling releases endorphins (natural feel-good chemicals of the body). Hence a stunning and perfect smile will boost overall mood.
Opening doors to personal relationships
- Increase attractiveness – Physical attributes along with straight smile have an important role in romantic attraction. Confident smile will make people more attractive to others.
- Strengthen existing relationships – Straight smile gives you confidence and results in honest and open communication with existing relationships. It will nurture mutual trust and deep connections.
- Better social support – You can get necessary social support from strong personal relationships. It is necessary for emotional and mental well-being.
Role of perceptions and first impressions
- The Halo effect – This cognitive bias of an individual will influence other traits of other persons like kindness and intelligence. People with straight and beautiful smiles are more favourable.
- Cultural influences – A dazzling straight smile is linked to youth, beauty and health.
- Long-term perceptions- An impressive smile will leave a lasting positive image that can create enduring impact on both professional and personal relationships.
How can you determine if Invisalign is suitable for you?
Smile Invisalign is the ultimate solution to straighten your teeth in a discreet and flexible way. But there are certain aspects you must take a review to decide whether it is suitable for your orthodontic issues. Here are some considerable factors:
Compliance to put on aligners
To ensure the efficacy of Invisalign, you need to put on the aligners for 22 hours a day. Frequent removals and forgetting to wear them can hinder the treatment progress. Inconsistency will compromise the treatment and you may need additional clear aligners to continue the treatment.
Oral hygiene regime
You need to keep your aligners and teeth clean to make most of Invisalign. Brush and floss right after each meal before you put the aligner back into your mouth. It will stop the accumulation of decay-causing bacteria.
Stain and cavities can occur if you don’t practice a good oral care routine. The aligners will be stained and discoloured over time severely affecting your dental health.
Healthy teeth and gums
In order to make invisalign a huge success, it is necessary to have healthy gums and teeth. If there is any dental problem including gum disease or cavities you have to treat them beforehand.
As Invisalign braces in London exert gentle pressure on teeth to shift their positions, they must be strong. You can visit our clinic to address any dental problems before getting Invisalign.
Treatment duration and expectations
The treatment duration of Invisalign varies on individual case. Some patients can notice outcome within 3-6 months whereas some need to wait for 12-18 months for desirable results. Depending on the severity of the condition and unique preferences, our dentists will offer you a timeline. However, consistency is the key to attain magnificent outcome.
Non-smoker and those willing to quit
Smoking and having other tobacco products significantly affect the efficiency of Invisalign treatment. Smoking will stain the clear aligners alongside heightening the risk of severe oral issues including gum diseases. As a result, the desirable result can get compromised.
Plus, the immaculate design of Invisalign makes it discreet, transparent and near-to-invisible and smoking can affect the cosmetic perks by staining them. Although it will not fully disqualify you from getting clear aligners but it is advisable to quit using tobacco products and smoke prior to the treatment.
Correct age and maturity
Invisalign has no age restrictions. Adults and teens who want to straighten their smile using clear aligners must adhere to the dentist’s instructions strictly.
For young kids, conventional braces are ideal. Invisalign’s removable nature requires the discipline to wear them for a significant amount of time in a day.
Dental issues it can fix
Invisalign is popular for addressing a number of alignment problems, such as:
- Gaps between teeth
- Mild to moderate crowding
- Mildly crooked or rotated teeth
- Crossbite, underbite and overbite
Remember, for severe bite or misalignment issues you may have to undergo alternative treatment or traditional braces. But before making up your mind, you should consult an experienced orthodontist at our clinic and get exciting Invisalign offers.
What are the other alternatives available for Invisalign?
Over the years, orthodontic options have evolved remarkably providing an array of solutions to meet your dental health needs, preferences and unique lifestyle. Invisalign is the biggest leap in the world of orthodontics to offer a fast and discreet treatment. But if you are not suitable for it, other alternatives are:
- Traditional braces – Made of ceramic or metal brackets, these braces need wires to attach them on your teeth. This option is highly effective for every kind of orthodontic problems including complicated misalignments. Compared to metal braces, ceramic braces are less prominent as they make use of tooth-coloured brackets.
- Lingual braces – It is identical to conventional braces but attachment takes place at back of teeth making it almost invisible from the front. Even the efficacy is similar to that of conventional braces while serving as discreet teeth straightening option. You may find slight discomfort at the beginning but it will be comfortable with time.
10 Mind-Blowing Invisalign Hacks for You
1. Carry Invisalign case
Invisalign case is your true friend. You must carry it along in your bag, pocket or hand. Whenever you need to, pop the aligner out of your mouth and store it in the case safely!
2. Invest in Nail file
Sometimes, new aligners may have unwanted edges and sharp spots that can cut your mouth, gums and tongue. You can file the edges or visit the dentist to seek professional help.
3. Say ‘no’ to chewing gum
Having chewing gum while undergoing teeth straightening treatment is the worst decision you can make. It can loosen the braces. You must avoid it till the treatment is over!
4. Put on matte lipstick
Once people start their Invisalign journey, they refrain from applying lip-gloss and lipsticks.
5. Switch the aligner before bedtime
Always change the aligner and switch to next in the set before bedtime. As your mouth remains undisrupted in this period aligner can make the teeth shift in better way. Invisalign will exert pressure for 8 hours straight in this time without any disturbances.
6. Avoid coloured sweets
Coloured lollies and lozenges are not healthy at all for your oral health. During Invisalign treatment, avoid having sweet items it may trigger cavity-causing bacteria alongside staining the aligners.
7. Keep an emergency dental travel kit
It is recommended that you carry an emergency dental travel kit especially when you are under teeth straightening treatment. Brushing and flossing after having food and drinks will really help a lot in the treatment.
8. Use the outie
You can make use of an outie, a dedicated tool to pop out the clear aligners from the mouth.
9. Soak the aligner during eating
This hack will help you to keep the aligner clean. Just soak it in the denture solution while you are having any meal or cleaning your mouth as it will wipe off the excess gunk from the clear braces.
10. Don’t forget to smile
Most people think others will notice the aligner, so they avoid smiling. Whenever get a chance flaunt your teeth and let everyone adore your gorgeous smile.
Which is better: Invisalign or braces?
Depending on the requirements, Invisalign offers several benefits. Such as:
- Flexibility – Removable feature makes Invisalign a freedom option for oral hygiene and eating.
- Comfort – The use of smooth plastic will mitigate the irritation from wires and brackets.
- Discretion – Clear aligners are close to invisible.
But braces are excellent in dealing with complex conditions such as severe rotations and crowding. Although Invisalign treatment has been advanced yet it deems extra attachments or tools for severe treatments.
Can Invisalign be faster than the braces?
Orthodontic treatment time varies greatly depending on the cases’ complexity.
- Invisalign – It can deliver outcome within 6-18 months for mild to moderate cases. However, complex conditions take more time mainly when patients are not compliant with the aligner.
- Traditional braces – Based on severity of alignment it can take 18-36 months for desirable outcome.
- Lingual braces – It can take a similar time to traditional braces but may be slightly longer because of precise customisation.
Our orthodontist will recommend you to wear the Invisalign for long 20-22 hours daily for rapid results. Regular checkups, proper dental care and switching to the next set on time will keep your treatment journey on track.
Due to the removable feature, the success rate relies on your consistency.
Cost comparison: Invisalign vs. braces
The cost of traditional braces and Invisalign cost in London, UK is a vital aspect to select the preferable orthodontic treatment. Both options aim to correct misalignment and enhance overall oral health. But the price can vary greatly due to multiple factors like treatment duration, complexity of the misalignment, your requirement, additional expenses and follow-ups.
Here is the the cost of braces and Invisalign for you to compare:
- Invisalign- Cost will range from £1,800-£4,500 based on number of aligners and complexity of the misalignment required.
- Traditional braces- Metal brackets can incur you about £2,000–£4,500, while the ceramic braces cost from £2,500–£5,000.
- Lingual braces- Being the most pricey option, it can cost you around £3,000-£7,000 for discreet and customised features.
You should consult with an orthodontist for affordable Invisalign in London and get to know about insurance coverage, flexible payment and finance options.
What are the factors to consider while choosing an Invisalign provider in London?
When it comes to select one of the most reputed and reliable Invisalign providers in London, you need to consider the following aspects:
- Invisalign certification – Make sure to verify the certification of the orthodontist before you undergo the treatment to ensure that you are in safe hands.
- Invisalign provider level – Invisalign possesses various provider levels (Diamond, Platinum, Gold and so on) reflecting the clinic’s experience and number of successful Invisalign cases.
- Experience of the orthodontist – Experienced orthodontist with years of dealing with complex cases can treat you professionally and seamlessly.
- Clinic location – It’s better to select a clinic close to your location or you can visit conveniently anytime.
- Online reviews and ratings – This is something you must keep an eye on. Check the positive number of reviews, ratings and what previous patients said about the clinic and orthodontist. It will help in making informed decisions.
- Invisalign options – The provider must introduce you with various options to choose from including Invisalign Express, Teen, Lite and Full as per your preference.
- Long-term support – Always make sure that your Invisalign provider will offer extended and ongoing guidance and support for long-term success of the treatment.
Final Thoughts
Invisalign is the most preferable orthodontic treatment for people with misalignment, crooked and rotated teeth.
If you are looking for a ‘dentist near me for Invisalign’ online then we are your trusted destination. Being a popular dental clinic in London, UK we offer orthodontic solutions to our patients at a competitive cost. Whenever you want a straight and gorgeous smile, schedule an appointment with us to embark on this seamless teeth straightening journey!