Harley Street Dental Clinic

Do you want to use invisible aligners to straighten your smile but have some questions about their everyday use?

At Harley Street Dental, our team is proud to offer our suitable patients Invisalign Harley Street and have the expertise to answer any questions that you may have about this aligner.

Below, our team answers some of the most common questions we receive about the daily use of Invisalign Harley Street. So, read on and enjoy!

Can you smoke whilst wearing invisible aligners?

You should refrain from smoking when using Invisalign Harley Street.

Not only does smoking cause the aligners to become stained due to nicotine, but it also increases the chances of you developing gum disease and oral cancers.

Should I brush my teeth all the time with invisible aligners?

Whenever you use a brace or aligner, your dental hygiene will have to improve to ensure that your teeth and gums do not become damaged.

And so, when you remove your aligners to eat, you will need to give your teeth a quick brush before you put the aligners back in. And yes, that does include when you are at work or out with friends!

This will prevent any food debris from being pushed against your teeth and will, therefore, minimise the occurrence of cavities.

What are chewies and how do they help?

Chewies are relatively new to the world of aligners, and they only have one real purpose: to help your aligners track well with your teeth.

When you put your aligners in, you may notice that they are a bit fiddly to get into place around your mouth. Therefore, chewies, which resemble earplugs but longer, are used to ensure that your aligner sits in the right place, helping your teeth reap the benefits of the appliance.

I have a stain on my aligner; what should I do?

Stains on aligners are nothing short of a nuisance; how can an aligner be invisible if it is stained?!

Should you have a stained aligner, there are a few things you can do. First, gently brush the stain with a soft-bristled toothbrush and some toothpaste; do not use mouthwash as this can stain the aligners even more. Never rinse your aligner under a hot tap since this could cause them to warp.

Should the stain persist, you can invest in a cleaner designed especially for Invisalign aligners. But remember, each aligner is usually worn for about 2 weeks, so if the stain doesn’t seem to leave, you won’t have to suffer with it for long.

My aligners hurt my inner cheeks; how do I manage this?

Since invisible aligners are made from 3D printed plastic, chances are that when you first receive them or begin wearing a new aligner in the series, there will be a bit of rubbing and soreness.

However, to mitigate this, our team recommends using dental wax. Dental wax is a malleable wax that can be placed over the sharper, hard parts of the aligner to cushion the softer tissues of the mouth. Use the wax until the plastic on the aligner naturally wears down, which will usually occur in a few days.

More and more people are looking for a discreet way to straighten their smile, and here at Harley Street Dental Clinic, we can help you with this. Our Invisalign W1 treatment can be a great help if you are wanting to straighten your teeth, but do not want to draw any added attention to your mouth during the process.

What are they?

There are so many options out there when it comes to teeth straightening treatments, and this is one of the most popular. The treatment brings both good results, and a discreet process, giving you the peace of mind that you can still feel confident whilst improving the look of your smile.

What happens?

Consultation

If you decide you want to get Invisalign W1 with us, we will first have a consultation appointment with you. The consultation is an important part of the process, as it allows us to get to know you and what you want to get out of the treatment. We will lay out all of the details about how the treatment works, what your results will be and more.

Another important thing that we do during the consultation is take a 3D scan of your teeth using our brand new iTero machine. It allows us to take very detailed 3D scans of your teeth and gums, without doing anything too invasive. There is a wand attached to the machine, which we will place in your mouth to do the scan, which can increase comfort compared to some other methods. Something we and our patients have loved about the iTero scanner is that it simulates what your results should look like after your treatment, which is very exciting to see!

Once you have your aligners

If you decide you want to go ahead with the Invisalign W1 treatment once the consultation is done, we will send off your scans so that your clear aligners can be created. They are made out of a soft, thin plastic that is moulded perfectly to your teeth and they are easily removable. We will provide you with multiple aligners, each one being slightly different, and you will change between them yourself every couple of weeks to allow for a gentle, but effective movement of your teeth. The total treatment time for this can vary anywhere from 4-18 months, and you will only need to have an appointment with us every 6 weeks during this.

Why choose this treatment?

There are so many things that make this treatment popular and effective, whether it’s for your appearance or your oral health. Having straighter teeth can really help to boost your confidence, as well as keeping your teeth in the best condition possible.

One of the main reasons that people get this treatment with us is because of the use of the clear aligners. Sometimes, our patients don’t want to affect how they look whilst straightening their teeth, and this treatment is perfect for that.

Another advantage that our patients enjoy is the ease of our process, as there are no invasive surgeries and fewer dental appointments, meaning you can get on with your life whilst improving the look of your smile.

At Harley Street Dental Clinic we understand that having front teeth that are crooked or too spaced apart can leave you feeling reluctant to smile in front of others. That’s why we offer Invisalign Harley Street, a convenient and discreet way to even out your teeth in as little as twelve months. This treatment is able to close small gaps that are between your teeth, stop teeth from overlapping and pull teeth into straighter positions. At your consultation appointment you can expect to have a scan taken of your mouth to show the positions of your teeth. From this image a computer will generate a series of further images to predict how your teeth will need to move to reach their final straight position. These predictions form the basis of your treatment, as you will have a set of aligners created for each image, with each set gradually moving your teeth into their next position.

An appliance that fits around your life

Many adults want to avoid getting their teeth straightened because they are required to wear an unsightly fixed appliance for a prolonged period of time. This appliance is great for resolving severe misalignment issues, but not at all subtle and can be easily spotted and not so easily concealed. Invisalign Harley Street offers you an alternative when it comes to minor alignment issues or when you want to focus on evening out your main front teeth. Instead of having a permanently attached metallic-coloured appliance, you will be given a series of removable clear aligners that you will need to wear over the tops of your own teeth. The aligners themselves are made from a thin plastic, so they are exceptionally difficult to spot and should be comfortable to wear as well. You will need to take them out to brush your teeth and eat food, but you still need to make sure that you are wearing them for a minimum of twenty-two hours of the day if you wish your treatment to work as planned. 

A short treatment for long-term results

Unlike traditional appliances, Invisalign Harley Street can even out your smile in as little as four months, depending on your unique situation. For some people treatment time can take up to twelve months, but this is still half of the time that a traditional appliance can take. This makes the treatment a good one for those of you who are getting photo ready for that big event that is coming up later in the year, whether it is a wedding, work event or something else entirely. If you have a certain date in mind that you wish to have your treatment completed by, it is important that you mention this to one of our practitioners so they are aware of it and can plan your treatment accordingly. Once your treatment has come to an end you will be provided with a custom-made retainer. It is vital that you wear this every night for as long as your dental practitioner has specified, if you wish your teeth to remain in their newly straightened positions.

A straighter, more attractive smile doesn’t necessarily have to involve the bulky heavy traditional braces that a lot of people think of when they consider orthodontic treatment. Let’s find out more about Invisalign W1 and how it could help you.

A set of clear aligners, this system uses transparent plastic devices to consistently push on your teeth, moving them into new positions. They are a very lightweight comfortable shield and each aligner is only useful for a short period – up to 2 weeks. Therefore, a set of aligners is used to take your teeth from their current position to a more aligned final one.

Best used on cosmetic cases or those involving the front teeth, these aligners can be useful in the event of surprisingly complicated situations if used appropriately and diligently by the patient. Aligners have to be worn for a minimum of 22 hours a day to be effective. If you fall behind in your treatment schedule you may wear out an aligner before it is appropriate to move on to the next one. Should you fall behind on your treatment, there may be delays and your teeth may even revert back to their original position due to the overuse of one aligner.

Invisalign W1 has been particularly popular with our working patients and this is probably due to the convenience and subtlety. Fewer dental appointments are required throughout the treatment cycle with clear aligners. Additionally, for those who have to partake in public speaking or regular professional meetings and may be concerned about their appearance, aligners also offer discretion. One of the issues that we find is patients removing their aligners too often, which can become a little counterproductive towards their goal. But, with diligent use, we have found aligners to be highly effective in most situations matching that of a brace.

Having well meshing and close-fitting teeth is not just an aesthetic concern; many problems are caused by having an ill-fitting dental arrangement. But your body will attempt to compensate for your teeth position by chewing differently, thus putting additional stress on your temporomandibular joint.

Distress is not initially noticed but will eventually result in chronic headaches, neck pain, jaw discomfort or a clicking and locking jaw, all of which can be resolved by dealing with the underlying misalignment.

We are very pleased to be a distributor of Invisalign W1. If you are curious about how clear aligners could help you or one of your family members, please feel free to get in contact with us at Harley Street Dental Clinic. We will be happy to answer as many questions as possible over the phone; however, each patient’s care is different and we may need you to come in for an assessment to be sure that clear aligners are an appropriate treatment option for you. Unfortunately, we cannot give estimates on how long the treatment may take without the initial assessment as the level of misalignment can vary greatly and this can impact the overall treatment cycle.

As an adult, when it comes to straightening your teeth, you may feel that you have won the lottery when you are given the green light to go ahead with invisible aligners.

Invisible aligners can be removed, are easy to care for and, as the name suggests, are made from clear plastic, meaning that nobody will know you are wearing them unless you point them out.

At Harley Street Dental Clinic, we are proud to be able to offer invisible aligners to our patients and frequently use Invisalign Harley Street to help correct dental misalignments such as spacing, overcrowding or bite issues without any problems at all. Great!

But what are some of the signs to look out for relating to Invisalign Harley Street not working as planned? Read on to find out!

Your teeth aren’t moving

One of the key benefits of wearing an invisible aligner is that you can see the aligner working.

And, as Invisalign Harley Street is removable, every day when you remove it, you will probably be looking for evidence that these aligners have been doing their job.

But what if your teeth aren’t moving? This is a tracking problem and it may be due to a more subtle movement that the particular aligner is responsible for. However, if you need some reassurance that the aligners are working, then book an appointment to see our team.

Your aligner constantly feels loose

Towards the end of the 2 weeks assigned for an aligner in the series, you can expect the aligner to feel loose; this is a sign that it has done its job and your teeth are now in the final position for that particular aligner.

However, if you put your next aligner in and that feels loose too, then you should contact our team. We may be able to either adjust the order in which you wear your aligners or identify a potential error with the fitting.

Your aligners feel overly tight

As you may know, when you put your invisible aligners in, the new tray is going to feel tight.

If you struggle to put it in properly, it may be time to invest in some chewies or other devices that are used to slot aligners into position.

But, if it is still difficult to do with the aid of aligner placement tools, then we will need to see you for a refitting. Overly tight aligners can put excess pressure on your teeth, leading to worsening misalignments if left untreated.

Wearing them is uncomfortable

When it comes to wearing braces or aligners, you can expect there to be some discomfort.

After all, these appliances are designed to move your teeth! With invisible aligners, you can expect discomfort to occur when you change between them, putting in a new one. But, if your discomfort lasts the entire 2-week period and interferes with your sleep, eating or concentration, please book an appointment to see our team. We recommend this even if the aligners are moving your teeth, as it can point to an underlying issue with your roots or jaw.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign W1 is a type of orthodontic treatment which has been designed as an alternative to conventional metal braces. Invisalign W1 is a form of cosmetic dentistry which was introduced in 1998 and since then has become one of the most popular forms of invisible orthodontics across the world. Invisalign W1 is frequently used in the correction and treatment of misalignment issues concerning teeth. These problems may be crooked, protruding or wonky teeth, gaps in the teeth or overcrowding of the teeth. By addressing these conditions, Invisalign can help improve the aesthetics of your mouth and promote better oral health at the same time. The treatment of misalignment issues makes sure that your teeth can be cleaned more effectively and that there are less hard-to-reach areas in which bacteria may build up, or where plaque may thrive and lead to the formation of tartar. These things can ultimately cause many serious dental issues, beginning with cavities leading on to tooth decay and gum disease, eventually resulting in tooth loss. Speak to us at Harley Street Dental Clinic today and find out more about the ways in which Invisalign W1 can help correct the aesthetic appearance of your smile, keeping your teeth clean and your gums healthy at the same time.

How does Invisalign work?

Invisalign works using a series of aligners which gradually move your teeth into better positions. When you visit our dentist here at Harley Street Dental Clinic you will need to undergo a special three-dimensional scan of your mouth. This will help produce an accurate image of how your teeth will look following successful treatment. The scan results will be sent off to the Invisalign technicians who will create a series of individually tailored, clear plastic aligners which will move your teeth from the position that they are in to the optimal positions prescribed by our dentist. The aligners work by being worn for 2 weeks at a time for at least 22 hours of the day, and are designed to move the positioning of your teeth by up to 0.25 mm in that time. The number of aligners you will need and the duration of the overall treatment will depend on the severity of your misalignment issues and the final effect that you are looking for.

The advantages of Invisalign

There are many advantages of Invisalign, most obviously the fact that this is a discreet and almost invisible method of orthodontic treatment which makes it a highly attractive option for those who are reluctant to consider treatment using traditional metal braces. It is a convenient form of treatment, as the aligners are easily removed and replaced as necessary and it provides comfort at the same time, because each aligner is individually tailored to fit your teeth precisely providing an accurate fit. Speak to us at Harley Street Dental Clinic and find out more about the advantages of the treatment and how Invisalign will help you smile more beautifully, but also promote better oral health at the same time.

How do Invisalign aligners work?

Invisalign is a form of invisible orthodontics which is designed to improve and rectify the misalignment issues of your teeth. You may have crooked or wonky teeth, gaps in your teeth, overcrowding or protruding teeth, and if you have not undergone orthodontic treatment when you were younger or if you are looking to further improve the aesthetics of your teeth then look no further. Speak to us at Harley Street Dental Clinic to find out about Invisalign and how it can help you address any issues with your smile. Invisalign works as a series of aligners, each created to slightly move the positioning of your teeth until you have achieved the smile that you are happy with. Speak to us to find out more about how this works.

What are the advantages of Invisalign as an alternative to traditional orthodontics treatments?

The most obvious advantage of Invisalign Harley Street, in comparison to traditional orthodontic treatment using metal wires and brackets, is that it is an almost invisible form of treatment. Conventional metal braces are the most effective form of orthodontic treatment, however they are highly visible in the mouth and therefore there is a reluctance for adults to consider undergoing conventional orthodontic treatment, because they feel self-conscious about the visibility of the braces. The introduction of invisible orthodontics, such as Invisalign Harley Street, has seen a significant growth in adults considering orthodontic treatment to help improve the aesthetics of their teeth, which in turn promotes better oral health at the same time.

Another advantage of Invisalign aligners is that they can be taken out of the mouth and put back in, as and when necessary, unlike conventional orthodontic braces which are fixed to your teeth. This means that they do not hinder your daily activities, eating habits or lifestyle choices in any way. If you want to bite into a fresh green apple then all you have to do is take out your aligners, happily eat your apple and then put your aligners back into your mouth. This is the same for hard or chewy foods, sweets, chewing gum and fizzy drinks, which are usually restricted when undergoing conventional orthodontic treatment. The convenience of these aligners make them a popular choice of orthodontic treatment. They are also very easy to clean and you simply take them out of your mouth, brush them with your ordinary toothbrush and toothpaste, wash them with normal water and put them back in your mouth again. Not only are the aligners easy to clean, but being able to remove them helps you  brush and floss your teeth effectively, which can sometimes be hindered in those wearing traditional metal braces.

Finally, not only do Invisalign aligners provide discretion and convenience, but they are also very comfortable. Each aligner is individually tailored to fit your teeth precisely, therefore they will not rub against your gums or create any sort of discomfort, making them the ideal choice of orthodontic treatment for you. Speak to us at Harley Street Dental Clinic today to find out more about Invisalign and see for yourself what the hype is all about. Smile happily, beautifully and confidently very soon with Invisalign Harley Street.

Why look after dental health in the first place?

Your dental health is clearly linked to your general wellbeing, and poor dental hygiene can lead to tooth cavities and also gum disease which is connected to conditions like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Therefore, cultivating optimal oral hygiene is a commitment for a lifetime. Developing good habits like flossing and limiting sugar intake will help you maintain good dental health and here at Harley Street, we can help you towards keeping your smile healthier for longer.

What are some of the steps you can take to maintain good dental health?

In addition to brushing and flossing teeth, one step you can take towards improving your dental wellbeing is to eat a diet full of both fruits and vegetables. This will help to make sure that you have enough of the vitamins and minerals in your diet that are necessary to maintain strong teeth and gums. Furthermore, you should avoid tobacco-based products. The best step that you can take is to seek professional assistance with your oral health, and here at our practice we can advise you on how to better take care of your teeth, and what kind of dental treatments may be the best for you.

What does a dental healthcare professional offer?

Here we offer many different services that can help towards improving, not just your teeth, but the overall wellbeing of your mouth. We can also offer advice and tips about what you can do to keep good dental health. Following these tips will help you to be able to avoid dental complications further down the line.

Some of the most common things a dentist does include teaching people about preventive strategies for oral health, filling cavities, removing tartar build-up and decay from teeth, repairing or removing damaged teeth, reviewing X-rays and diagnostics, and administering fillings or sealants.

What treatments do you provide?

There are some common dental treatments we provide such as bridges, crowns, fillings, root canal treatments, scaling and polishing, and of course orthodontics which include Invisalign W1

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a treatment method used to remedy misaligned teeth. These Invisalign W1 aligners often work faster than traditional braces and can be obtained at a similar cost. This treatment option can take as little as six months.

First, you should meet with your dentist to scan your mouth and map out a customised treatment plan for you as an individual. Then the braces will be manufactured to very detailed specifications so that they fit snugly over your teeth. Invisalign W1 is almost invisible when worn, therefore you don’t have to worry about any impact on your appearance. You can own a beautiful smile and be confident in yourself.

These aligners are easy to remove when eating and cleaning your teeth and also require fewer visits to the dentist. They will alter the aesthetics of your mouth so that you no longer feel self-conscious about smiling in photographs. Everyone knows the value of a wholesome looking mouth and good dental aesthetics also play a role in maintaining good dental health.

Taking the leap.

As an adult, we are often very aware of our appearances and when embarrassed by a particular part of our body, such as a crooked smile, we hide it away and fear the process to perfect it. With masks being part of our daily lives at the moment, this has become all too easy but is most certainly not necessary. Invisalign Harley Street has you covered.

No chunky, visible brace which may rub on the gums. No head bracket surrounding your face in true medieval fashion. Just simple, transparent retainers which are moulded to your own teeth creating a near-invisible treatment option. Achieving your dream smile and taking the leap with Invisalign Harley Street has never been easier.

Beginning your journey.

First of all, as with any treatment or procedure, it is important to inform your dental team of what you would like to achieve with your smile. From there a consultation can be put in place so as to discuss all the relevant options available to you and once narrowed down, discuss the finer details of the treatment. By this, we mean the pros and cons of the treatment or procedure along with the suitability to your individual case.

This discussion whilst predominately verbal will also steer your appointment towards a thorough examination of the teeth, mouth and gums followed by a series of photographs, x-rays and digital scans. This will help create your custom made 3D Invisalign Harley Street plan, should you choose to follow this treatment route.

What happens after the consultation?

Within 1 to 2 weeks of your consultation, you will be called in for another dental appointment. This will enable the dental team to provide you with a series of custom made retainers and instruct you on how to effectively use them to gain the maximum benefit from the treatment in the smallest amount of time. Whilst it may feel easy to deviate from the plan set out to you, it is important to follow it as precisely as possible to achieve the desired results in the least amount of time.

Following on from this appointment you will be invited back every 4 to 6 weeks for regular checkups. This enables the dentist to monitor your progress with Invisalign Harley Street and address any further concerns or questions that you may have regarding your ongoing treatment.

Once you achieve your dream, a final retainer will be created to maintain the realigned smile. As with all the other retainers this is to be worn consistently but rest assured that without a up close inspection, those around you will only see your amazing smile.

What to do if the discomfort begins to affect your daily life.

In the unlikely event that your treatment begins to cause you severe discomfort, it is important to immediately contact your dental team. This may mean an emergency appointment needs to be booked in, but please do not hesitate as only minimal discomfort should be had throughout this process. Do not wait until your next appointment as we are here to help and at no point should you suffer any pain.

Please seek further information and advice from your local dental team to understand the potential risks associated with any treatments or procedures mentioned within this article.

3D scanning is older than you might think in medicine, it started to be adopted in the 1990s, but it is only in the last 5 years that 3D scanners have become especially small, fast and reliable. This allows them to enter an orthodontist’s tool set and plays a big part in how we provide Invisalign Harley Street.

In orthodontics, and other areas of dentistry, there have been times when we have needed to make extremely accurate measurements of a patient’s tooth structure, traditionally this has been done using dental notes and the techniques of moulding and casting that go back many years.  Despite how effective dental moulds are at creating accurate and well-fitting crowns or sets of dentures, they have always been time consuming, uncomfortable and error prone, as any rough handling of the mould before it sets can distort the impression or leave bubbles which inevitably affect any future plaster casting of the mould.

Moving towards 3D scanning technology has reaped many benefits beyond the comfort and ease of our patients. The back-end handling of bulky moulds and the ingredients required to mix the polymers required in the mould and posting them to dental laboratories can all be done away with now we have adopted scanning methods. Invisalign Harley Street was one of the first to use a 3D model of a patient’s teeth; these were originally created by placing plaster moulds of a patient’s teeth in a 3D scanning studio. With this step removed, scanned files can immediately be sent to Invisalign to interact with their cloud-based software for the design stage of aligners, streamlining the aligner manufacturing process, allowing our patients to access clear aligners for the lowest cost in the shortest time frame.

Unforeseen advantages

Advantages that we have found with having our patients’ 3D dental records close to hand is the ability to communicate with other professionals around the world.  Dentistry can become very complicated as every patient is different and sometimes a patient’s needs may exist outside the expertise of their dentist. By being able to send emails across the world to experts in far away regions with an attached copy of a 3D model, collaborative dentistry has been surprisingly effective at improving quality of care, the speed of treatment and level of specialisation, something that we did not expect.

Another unforeseen advantage is improved communication between dentist and patient, as now a dentist can show the 3D model of the patient’s teeth, pointing and describing exactly where an issue might be and how treatment resolves it. This is far easier than trying to describe the inside of a patient’s mouth to them, thus reducing treatment anxiety and also helping them to understand every stage of the treatment they are about to undergo.

Rapid manufacture of highly customised equipment

Having such a high quality record of the patient’s teeth in an easily transferable and communicable format allows for the manufacturing of highly customised pieces of equipment; things like bleaching trays, retainers and splints can be formed much faster than with traditional moulds. The benefits of Invisalign Harley Street have been extended far beyond what might first have been imagined.