Harley Street Dental Clinic

Young or old, rich or poor, the impact of wearing a brace weighs heavily on the mind of any patient considering orthodontic care in their adult years. Let’s talk about how we’ve transcended the problem with our clear braces W1.

Grown up orthodontic care

Orthodontic care is no longer wedded to teenage and adolescent patients as it once was and more adults are looking to correct minor misalignments later in life. This puts a lot of pressure onto clinics to adapt and meet the needs of this new group, a challenge that we have happily risen to with clear braces W1 at Harley Street Dental Clinic.

Breaking the cosmetic taboo

There has long been a taboo associated with cosmetic procedures, having been seen as superfluous, vain, unnecessary or somehow less than other medical procedures. Caring about your appearance and feeling good because you physically look good is somehow seen as shallow.

We’re beginning to see these ideas change, to crack and fade. The truth is that confidence and a higher quality of life, whether it comes from an aesthetic treatment or the relief of a medical condition, is still highly enriching and is well worth the time and effort, this is something that we firmly believe at our practice.

Maintaining a lifestyle balance

The challenge that many adult patients struggle with is mixing the demands of their lifestyle, career and interpersonal relationships with the disruption that treatment brings. One solution that patients have adopted is taking medical holidays for treatments to occur outside of their normal social circles.

This does not work well for orthodontic care, as the treatment is long term, somewhere between 4 to 12 months depending on how significant the misalignment is. This is what makes low-impact orthodontic care so valuable to our working, professional patients, allowing it to simply fly under the radar and allow treatment with minimal disruption.

Low impact orthodontic options

Lingual braces

These are streamlined versions of traditional braces, attached to the backs or the inside of the teeth making them practically invisible to all intents and purposes.

Clear aligners

Clear aligners are translucent plastic forms. They gradually realign the teeth by applying consistent pressure over the entire surface of the tooth; because they are so close fitting and crystal-clear, they can go unnoticed even during the most intimate conversations.

Ceramic translucent braces

Ceramic braces sometimes called glass braces, invisible braces or clear braces W1 are glass polymer composite braces. They share many of the structural properties of traditional metal braces but they’re see-through!

Minimal brace systems

Minimal braces systems use very high strength metals to have the same mechanical properties as a traditional brace whilst being as minimalistic as possible. There are two wires made using titanium nickel or tungsten composites and their brackets are narrower.

Dental cost and financing options

We don’t think that your cash flow should limit your access to the highest quality of dental care. We offer 0% finance  and low interest options allowing you to distribute the cost of your care over the long haul, which is up to 5 years.

By eliminating upfront costs, people are more engaged in the treatments most appropriate for them, rather than trying to cut corners or economise on their care by selling themselves short.

Clear braces W1 are a fantastic option if you want an effective yet discreet way of straightening your smile. Here at Harley Street Dental Clinic, our dentists are very experienced and knowledgeable when it comes to providing this treatment, and will do everything they can to help give you the smile you have been hoping for.

What are clear braces and why would I need them?

This treatment is aimed at our patients who are struggling with a range of imperfections. Whether you have gappy teeth, crooked teeth, crowded teeth or an overbite, our clear braces W1 can help. They work in the same way to traditional fixed braces with the use of brackets and a wire, but instead of using coloured brackets, they are clear. This means that they are less visible to others, which our patients have really loved.

The process

To start off, we will firstly invite you to our practice for a consultation appointment. This is crucial as it allows us to get to know you and your needs. We will also examine your teeth and take scans such as x-rays to get a clear image of your smile. They will also be used by us to carefully plan your result.

To begin the clear braces W1 application procedure, we will firstly apply dental cement to the front of each tooth and attach the brackets, one on each tooth. After this, we will attach the wire, which is the part that provides the tension to move your teeth into their new, straighter position. And that’s it! Once this is done, your teeth have started their straightening journey.

During your time with the braces on, you will visit us every month or 2 so that we can make any needed adjustments to further straighten your smile. This also gives us an opportunity to have a chat with you and make sure you’re happy with everything.

After the treatment is over and we have taken your braces off, we will highly recommend that you use a retainer. This is a dental appliance that you will wear at night, and it will stop your teeth from shifting back to their original position. Your teeth will naturally try and move back, no matter what teeth straightening treatment you get, so it’s really beneficial to use a retainer.

Advantages

Fixed appliance

The first advantage that you can enjoy when you have these braces is that they are fixed to your teeth. This is useful as it means that you won’t have to remove them every time you eat or drink. Using a fixed appliance can also help to deliver better results than some other options out there.

Less visible to others

One of the most obvious advantages about this treatment is that the braces are a lot less visible than some other types. You can enjoy the effectiveness of fixed braces, but still maintain a more natural look throughout due to the clear brackets. This is great if you have a social lifestyle and/or professional career and don’t want to draw unwanted attention to your teeth.

Have you recently tried to obtain treatment with a clear aligner like Invisalign, only to be told you aren’t suitable? Does the idea of wearing a standard metal brace concern you?

Luckily, there is a way that you can have the discretion of a clear aligner while also wearing orthodontic tools that can manage more complicated cases of misalignment. Welcome to the world of the Incognito or lingual brace!

At Harley Street Dental Clinic, clear braces W1 like the lingual brace are one of our most popular treatments for adults, teenagers and children alike! These discreet braces can provide you with all the power needed to realign your teeth discreetly, while also being easy to fit into everyday life. Great!

Want to know a bit more? Here, our dentist answers the most common queries that we receive about these clear braces W1, so you can ascertain if they might be right for you.

How do they work?

Clear braces W1 work in much the same way as regular braces, except they are attached to the back of the teeth.

Through tightening and adjusting, they pull the teeth into their desired positions.

Are they bulky?

These braces are made from metal and are composed of brackets and an archwire, so they may feel a bit bulky, especially as they are fitted to the inner teeth and will take space away from your tongue.

But, adapting to them is fairly quick and should not take longer than about 2 weeks.

Will they be uncomfortable to wear?

There is no such thing as a totally comfortable brace and this type of brace will need adjusting and tightening to move your teeth.

You may also have concerns surrounding how this brace will impact your tongue; after all, it is attached to the inside of the teeth, and so it will have more contact with it. The good news is that you will adapt fairly quickly to it being there and soon, you won’t even realise it is there!

If you are struggling with the placement of this brace to the extent that your dental hygiene is affected, our team may be able to offer you a different kind of brace.

How long will I need to wear them?

This type of brace is indeed more versatile with the issues it can combat with misalignments, such as more extreme cases of overbite underbite and spacing. But, along with that, it also has to be worn for longer than the standard invisible aligner.

So, when you begin wearing a lingual brace, it is likely that you will need to wear it for between 2-3 years to get the desired effects. However, as this brace is attached to the back of your teeth, it won’t be noticeable and will not cause any issues with your appearance.

Are they expensive?

OK, so we are aware that one of the main concerns adults undertaking orthodontic treatment have is the cost.

And when you come to our practice, we have a way to help. We can offer our suitable patients financing options, which can help break down the final amount due into affordable monthly repayments, so you can show off your new and improved smile worry-free. Great!

At Harley Street Dental Clinic, we are proud to be at the forefront of adult orthodontics. And we can offer you clear braces W1, or Invisalign, to help you straighten your smile. Let’s look at a brief guide about what wearing this aligner entails.

Initial consultation

At your initial clear braces W1 consultation, we will assess the severity of your misalignment to see if these aligners will be of benefit to you. If you are suitable to have them, we will take an intraoral scan of your mouth and this will then be sent to a dental laboratory to have the aligners printed.

Wearing

The aligners that you will be given need to be worn for about 22 hours a day; that means they will need to be worn in bed and throughout the day.

If you do not wear your aligners for the prescribed time, your teeth may be slower to move and can even revert to their former positions.

Wearing your aligners should not cause extensive discomfort, but the sensation of pressure is likely; remember, they have to move your teeth and the first few days of wearing a new aligner will probably be the most uncomfortable.

Care

Each aligner you wear will need to be worn for around 14 days. That means that, while their lifespan isn’t overly long, they are powerful and will need to be taken care of to work.

One way you can care for your aligners is to keep them clean; remove debris from them using cold water and a toothbrush. Never clean them with hot water, as it can cause them to warp.

You will also need to keep them in the carry cases provided, and shouldn’t drop them into a bag or pocket when you aren’t wearing them, as it can cause them to become damaged.

If you lose an aligner, please let us know and we will aim to order a replacement as soon as possible.

Retainer

When you finish wearing the aligners, our team will likely suggest that you wear a retainer.

This is to ensure that your teeth don’t move back into their former positions.

It will be custom-fitted but, depending on how likely reversion is (your teeth moving back), we will provide you with an individual prescription time.

You will need to wear the retainer until your teeth settle in place, which will take between 3-5 months. If you have any discomfort with your retainers, please let us know.

Potential complications

There are few serious issues that can occur when you are wearing invisible aligners.

But, if you smoke cigarettes, you run the risk of not only staining the aligners, but may inadvertently heighten the chance of developing gum disease. In turn, this can cause your teeth to become loose and fall out, so our dentist will always advise against this when you are undertaking orthodontic treatments.

Similarly, you will also need to keep an eye open for signs of gum disease when you are wearing aligners, such as bleeding gums, tooth movement or bad breath. If you notice any of these signs while wearing an aligner (or at any other time), please call us right away!

If you would like more information about clear braces W1, then please contact the team at our practice today.

Do you have a more complicated case of dental misalignment that you want to correct, but are not eager to sport the standard brace?

Luckily, there is a way that you can get the straighter smile you want without needing to wear an obvious orthodontic brace.

At Harley Street Dental Clinic we can offer many of our adult, teenage and even younger patients clear braces W1, to help them achieve an aesthetically pleasing smile without putting a temporary dent in their self-esteem.

Here, we answer the most common questions that our patients have about the ever-popular clear braces W1.

Clear braces; what are they?

It may seem like an odd statement as it stands; to have nearly invisible or clear braces W1.

However, these types of braces are becoming more common, especially if you are a patient who has an alignment problem that requires something a bit more sturdy than invisible aligners, but is also not so complex as to require a full orthodontic brace.

In short, these braces are made primarily of metal, but the archwire is thinner overall and the brackets that are used to hold them to the teeth are made from either clear plastic or enamel coloured plastic.

This allows them to be tightened or adjusted but also helps them to remain discreet.

Are they only for cosmetic issues?

No, they aren’t.

As these braces are fitted to the teeth, they can be used to treat more complex cases of dental misalignment.

And as we mentioned earlier, these types of braces do need to be adjusted and tightened, so they can offer more personalised treatment for severe dental misalignments or protrusions.

Can anyone have them fitted?

Unlike invisible aligners, clear braces do not have such a restrictive age limit, provided adult teeth are through. Children and teenagers can have them fitted if they wish and if our team deems it appropriate.

But as these braces are fitted, we have to make sure that those who do wear them will be able to care for their teeth correctly, as wearing braces can get quite fiddly, and we of course want your teeth to remain in good condition while you have them straightened.

Are they uncomfortable?

In simple terms, many orthodontic tools can cause a bit of discomfort.

And as these braces are fitted, they are designed to manage more complex cases of dental misalignment and will require tightening. So, while they are physically unable to use the same amount of force as standard braces to move teeth, they still have a bit of strength on their side and can cause a bit of a twinge following adjustments.

But if you find these braces uncomfortable after having them adjusted, we recommend using over-the-counter pain relief such as ibuprofen or paracetamol. And if you find yourself experiencing intense discomfort due to these braces, please book yourself in for a check-up with our team so we can assess the issue!

How long is the treatment time?

With clear or nearly invisible braces, the treatment time isn’t set and depends on the severity of the misalignment being treated.

But, as an average, these braces can take anywhere between 3-9 months to straighten your teeth.

Our team at Harley Street Dental Clinic are proud to offer our clear braces W1 treatment, which can really help to straighten your teeth both efficiently and discreetly. If you have a professional career and/or a busy social life, you may not want to affect your appearance whilst straightening your teeth, and this treatment can be perfect for that.

How do they work?

Our clear braces W1 work in a way that is similar to traditional fixed braces, but instead of being attached to the front of your teeth, they are on the back. This allows for a near-invisible look whilst you have your braces in, which can really help to maintain your self-confidence throughout the process.

The braces work by the use of brackets and wires, one bracket attached to each tooth, and wires connecting them, which gradually straightens your teeth over time. This method can be very helpful with problems such as overcrowding, bite problems, gaps and more.

At our practice, we use the Incognito Appliance System, and offer two different types for different levels of severity. Our first choice is the standard system, which covers more of your teeth, giving a more powerful straightening experience. The second is the Incognito Lite System, and this mainly focuses on your front teeth, which is great if you are getting the treatment for more aesthetic reasons.

What will happen?

When you decide you want to look further into getting clear braces W1 with us, we will have a consultation with you to discuss the full details of the treatment, what your options are, what you want the results to look like and more. Secondly, we will take x-rays, models and photographs of your teeth so that we can carefully plan out the process. This is when we will also determine whether you are having the standard Incognito Appliance System or the Lite Appliance System.

The second step of the process is attaching the braces to your teeth, and you can rest assured knowing that our dentists are highly-qualified in performing this treatment, so you will be in good hands. We will start out by doing a deep clean of your teeth to prime the area for the braces, and to make sure that there is minimal bacteria. Next, we will attach the brackets to your teeth and add the wires. We may also slide in some bands at the back of your teeth to anchor the braces.

Once this is done, you will only have to come back for dental appointments with us every month or 2, so that we can check your progress and tighten the braces if needed. The treatment time can massively vary depending on your needs, and we will make sure to lay this out in the consultation before beginning the treatment. It could take as little as 8 weeks if you have a very mild case, or can go up to around 18 months for more severe cases, it all depends on your individual case.

Once you have completed the treatment and are enjoying your new, straighter smile, we can provide you with a fixed or removable retainer which we highly recommend you use. A retainer will help to keep your teeth in their new place, as sometimes they can revert back to their original position.

There are many reasons why a patient may not have received the orthodontic care they require earlier in life; one of them is that they may have been concerned about how they will be perceived in a brace. But did you know there are lots of options that are unlikely to be noticed in public, like clear braces W1?

Often, adult orthodontic patients have concerns over how their appearance will be affected by the treatment not only upon completion but throughout the procedure. There seems to be a higher tolerance amongst teenage and adolescent patients to wait out their treatment in order to enjoy the results of well-proportioned, aligned and meshing teeth. But, with adults who have pressing responsibilities (perhaps that necessitate them to carry out professional meetings or public speaking), the idea of inconspicuous alignment methods is a calming thought.

Clear braces W1 are polymer ceramic braces constructed so the archwires are kept as thin as possible and the translucent brackets allow them to seamlessly blend with the rest of your teeth. They are fitted as discreetly as possible to give you the full capacity of treatment from a traditional brace with the subtlety that you would normally only see with clear aligners. Clear braces W1 can be an excellent middle ground for those with moderate to severe orthodontic needs but who do not wish to use more extensive braces or headgear.

So, if you are looking for low-impact tooth realignment and have been rejected as a suitable candidate for aligners, these translucent braces may be exactly what you need. Our dental team, at Harley Street Dental Clinic, has extensive experience in fitting and maintaining these braces and a long track record of proven work whose portfolios are openly available upon request.

We are excited to provide several clear or invisible brace systems at our clinic and provide our patients with the confidence and care they require. Exactly which option would be more appropriate for you will be discussed after a full assessment as each clinical case is different and any advice would have to be tailored to you.

There are also justified medical reasons for seeking out adult orthodontics that are actually more important than the cosmetically driven ones. Temporomandibular joint pain is common in adults who have lived many years with misaligned teeth and can be resolved by wearing a brace.

It is a condition that creeps up and is caused by the alterations your body has made due to misaligned jaws or teeth. This puts additional stress upon your temporomandibular joints and results in chronic neck pain, headaches and clicking and locking jaws. It can be a very disrupting chronic condition that has a huge impact on your everyday life.

If you suffer from any of the symptoms of temporomandibular joint pain and are curious if one of the options that have been mentioned could help you obtain the straighter smile you want, then contact our team, at Harley Street Dental Clinic, for an orthodontic assessment and we will do our very best to help you.

There are many different issues which can affect the aesthetics of your smile, but thanks to  advances in dental technology over the years there are now many different treatment options to help straighten your teeth and correct other issues. These can make your teeth align beautifully, and help you smile confidently, but also promote the health of your teeth and gums at the same time.

Here at our dental clinic we understand very well that, as an adult, you may not feel comfortable about considering conventional metal braces to help correct the aesthetic issues you may have with your teeth. Conventional metal braces are one of the most effective forms of orthodontic treatment and are commonly seen in teenagers, but very rarely found in adults. This seems to be mainly due to the high visibility which conventional metal braces have in the mouth, which can result in self-consciousness and embarrassment in adults. To help combat the reluctance of considering orthodontics as an adult, here at Harley Street Dental Clinic, alongside conventional metal braces, we also offer orthodontic treatment using clear braces.  Speak to us today and book an appointment to find out about how clear braces W1 can help improve the aesthetics of your smile and also promote cleaner teeth, healthier gums and better oral health overall.

Are clear braces suitable for you?

Initially you will make an appointment with your dentist here at our practice and undergo a full examination of your mouth, because it is important to have clean teeth and healthy gums before undergoing any form of orthodontic treatment. This is to make certain that the treatment is successful and to make sure that you do not have any underlying dental issues which may be worsened by moving your teeth or which may affect the treatment itself. Once the dentist is happy that clear braces are a suitable treatment option for you, then they can carry out specialised scans which are able to show you an accurate image of how your teeth can look following successful orthodontic treatment using clear braces W1. You will be able to discuss and decide which form of clear braces W1 are the most suitable for you, using our knowledge and expertise, and there are many different options available now.

The advantages of clear braces

Clear braces provide a discreet and more appealing alternative to conventional metal braces. Clear braces can be glass or ceramic, providing a translucent almost invisible appearance which blends and camouflages effectively with your teeth. They are normally used on the front or visible teeth whilst you can have conventional braces on the remaining back, hidden teeth. Glass and ceramic are stain resistant and therefore they remain unnoticeable over the treatment period. Clear braces are an effective form of orthodontic treatment and the duration of the treatment is usually the same as conventional metal braces therefore this is an attractive alternative for those who are looking for discretion and do not want their orthodontic treatment to be noticed in their social or professional lives. Speak to us at Harley Street Dental Clinic and find out more about clear braces and how they can help you smile happily and confidently very soon.

A dentist is a qualified expert who helps individuals take care of their teeth and mouth. Here at Harley Street Dental Clinic, we aim to treat dental issues as well as provide a warm, welcoming service for you to ease any anxieties that you may have about dental treatments. By visiting your dentist at Harley Street regularly, you can maintain your dental hygiene at a satisfactory level, which will help you have a life of better quality and wellbeing.

What are some common dental problems?

Dental problems can crop up at any point in a person’s life, and should never be ignored! We understand that our patients’ have busy lifestyles, but not immediately taking action on a dental issue can lead to further complications in the future. Some common issues are cavities, gum disease, periodontitis, cracked or broken teeth and even sensitive teeth. These can complicate life with pain and discomfort, and we can help to alleviate this.

What are some common dental treatments?

Different dental treatments can be administered to treat the problems mentioned above. Among the most common dental treatments are bridges, crowns, fillings, root canal treatment, scaling and polishing, braces and dental implants. When considering which Harley Street treatment is right for you, it is important to first have a consultation with a member of our friendly team. They can assess your unique dental situation to come up with the best possible treatment plan for your teeth.

What are clear braces?

Clear braces W1 are very similar to traditional braces. However, they have clear brackets instead of metal brackets. This feature makes them less noticeable and less prominent. This is the ideal option if you are too concerned about your braces being visible. On the other hand, this option is best if you are looking to be discreet about wearing braces. There are different types of invisible braces, such as Invisalign, but these aren’t the same as clear braces W1. Instead, they are removable plastic trays. Clear braces W1 are made from ceramic or plastic material.

How do clear braces straighten teeth?

Clear ceramic braces are attached to the individual tooth and connected with a wire. This is one of the best treatment options for treating misaligned teeth. Brackets are carefully placed to manipulate the teeth in all directions and to position them into proper alignment. This treatment takes between 18 to 24 months.

Most of these use a metal wire to link the metal brackets, but there is also the option of a white archwire. This option makes the braces less noticeable and therefore indistinguishable. When you are wearing these braces, it is essential to take extra care to maintain good dental hygiene, especially in places that are difficult to reach when cleaning your teeth.

This is a treatment option recommended to fix mild to severe cases of malocclusion or tooth misalignment. As always, make sure to do your research and to follow the advice that we will provide you with for aftercare and for advice on how to keep your teeth as healthy as possible until we next see you again.

Discovering your options

When you first make the decision to straighten your smile, it can become somewhat overwhelming with the choices available to you. Taking the first step towards even considering straightening your smile is one to take pride in, as all too often patients believe that a straightened smile comes at the cost of appearance and daily life. Whilst in the past this may have been the case with the heavy duty head contraptions or protruding metal braces that caused irritation to the gums, with advances within the dental world both in terms of knowledge and technology, the approaches to realigning teeth are far less daunting and fit in easily within your daily life. One of these modern options includes the popular clear braces W1. These come as fixed ceramic braces with transparent or tooth coloured wires and brackets, or as the very popular, removable transparent aligners. Here we discuss clear aligners.

Why they may not be suitable for some particular orthodontic treatments

Whilst the majority of dental misalignment problems can be altered using removable clear braces W1, it is of the utmost importance to get the correct treatment from the outset so as to not waste time on your realignment. Therefore if you are suffering from more severe alignment problems it may be that you wear a fixed brace to begin with and after a certain amount of improvement has been made, switch to the transparent aligner option for further changes.

Taking the plunge by using clear braces W1

Once the decision has been made to use this particular orthodontic treatment it will put a series of events into place which begin with a consultation. This first appointment is of extreme importance as it enables the dental team to have a more in depth discussion with the patient on the entire process and take any photographs, X-rays or impressions of the teeth so as to begin creating the custom-made clear braces W1. This appointment also enables the patient to voice any concerns that they may have regarding the treatment and hopefully set their mind put at ease. If during this consultation you begin to doubt whether this is the treatment for you, please raise this with the dental team. This consultation does not mean that all other possible options are eliminated.

The benefits of following this type of orthodontic treatment

With the challenges of modern society and the busy world that surrounds us, keeping on top of appearance whilst continuing to lead your life is important. This is why having a treatment or procedure that is discreet, but works with our patients on a daily basis is so important. Clear braces not only provide a discreet treatment in terms of appearance, but they also aim to realign the teeth with minimal discomfort inflicted on the patient. Whilst a mild ache is common, having major discomfort will affect your life and this is something which needs to be avoided. If you do suffer from more severe discomfort please discuss this with your dental team.

We always aim to give our patients the fullest information on any treatments or products we provide, so please get in touch with us so we can help you with any procedures you might be considering.