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For many people, not having straight teeth can have a significant impact on their self-confidence.
While there are several ways people can choose to get their smile makeover, understanding what is involved with each option, how long it will take, and what it will cost can get overwhelming.
Many people don’t realise that in the time they’ve spent researching and considering how to get straight teeth, they could have already finished their clear aligner treatment.
In recent times, clear aligners have become the most popular choice for adolescents and adults seeking straighter teeth. They’re more discreet and can achieve faster results than metal braces.
Made from a plastic shell that fits over your teeth, clear aligners look more like a retainer and, unlike traditional metal braces, can be removed. This removability factor makes keeping up with your regular dental routine of brushing and flossing more manageable.
While water can still be drunk with clear aligners, you should remove your aligners before consuming other food and drinks to avoid staining and damage.
People wearing metal braces have to avoid certain foods because food particles can get stuck between the brackets and wiring, causing them to twist or break. Consequently, chewy foods like toffees and popcorn and crunchy hard foods like apples, raw vegetables, and boiled sweets are off-limits. Because aligners are not worn when eating, you can still enjoy your favourite foods without compromise.
Furthermore, aligners are smooth and comfortable to wear for extended periods, eliminating much of the irritation and discomfort that has become synonymous with metal braces and their wires.
While dentists and orthodontists are great at what they do and are an essential part of your general health and wellbeing team, there’s no denying that it can be hard to fit in appointments around a busy life.
According to the NHS (1), traditional braces treatment generally takes 18 to 24 months, and you need to go back to your orthodontist every 6 to 8 weeks during that time. And while clear aligners are typically a faster option than braces, you’ll still have that ongoing time commitment of regular appointments to check your progress and receive your next set of aligners.
Metal braces may be the only option for people with more complex dental issues and are necessary for the health of their teeth and gums. However, people with more minor problems can get straight teeth without committing to being in the dental chair every other month.
With Caspersmile, you can order your clear aligners in the UK without ever needing to leave home or make an orthodontist appointment.
All you need to do is complete a quick online assessment and then order an impression kit to be delivered to your door.
If you’re a suitable candidate for clear aligners and proceed with the treatment, you’ll receive everything you need in the post for the duration of your treatment.
When it comes to working out how to get straight teeth in a way that’s right for them, many people choose clear aligners because they’re super discreet. However, it can still be a hassle to remember to remove them every time you eat or drink anything other than water and then place them back in your mouth as you go about your day.
We’ve solved this problem with patients with NightOnly Clear Aligners. Since these only need to be worn for 8-10 hours a day, patients can wear them overnight as they sleep and remove them the next morning.
NightOnly clear aligners are more of a premium service, so they cost more than clear daytime aligners. It can also extend the duration of your treatment time by a couple of months.
Not everyone is eligible for the night-time-only clear aligner option. However, if that’s the case, you may be eligible for the daytime aligner option.
The length of time each treatment takes will depend on individual factors, but clear aligners can straighten teeth in as little as four months.
With clear aligners, the average duration is around 4 to 6 months, and most people will have finished their treatment in less than a year. Why is this?
It’s because of how clear aligners work. Aligners can move individual teeth to perform cosmetic tweaks and minor adjustments faster than metal braces where the teeth are joined together with brackets and wires.
If you buy aligners from your orthodontist, there’s often only a few hundred pounds price difference between them and metal braces. This is because regardless of the brand of clear aligner your orthodontist uses, there are more overheads factored into the cost and the treatment is more extensive. Conversely, direct-to-consumer clear aligner companies still have a team of qualified, experienced dental experts assessing your teeth but can provide clear aligners and remote treatment for about a quarter of the price you’d usually pay to get straight teeth.
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Read MoreEver wonder how some people have that perfectly even, white smile, like it just belongs in a toothpaste ad? Most of the time, it’s not just good genetics or lucky whitening strips. It’s veneers. Dental veneers have become one of the most popular cosmetic treatments in dentistry, and honestly, it’s not hard to see why. They’re basically thin shells that sit on top of your teeth to fix things like chips, stains, gaps, or slightly uneven edges. You get that instant, clean, natural look, without spending years in braces or going through multiple whitening sessions. They’ve become the go-to option for people who want to refresh their smile quickly and permanently. But here’s the thing, veneers aren’t just a one-size-fits-all deal. There are different types, materials, and costs involved, and what works for one person might not be right for someone else. So in this blog, we’ll go through everything, from what veneers actually are, how the process works, the cost (especially in the UK), and what kind of results you can really expect.
Read MoreYou experience a brand new smile after your braces come off, and then you are given a small piece of plastic or a nearly invisible wire by the dentist. After all of the fuss over the braces, it may not look like much, but that little item, your teeth retainer, has the most important job - to keep everything in place and prevent your smile from reverting. Dramatic? Perhaps. A retainer is, however, the most important investment you can make after the months, and sometimes years, of orthodontic work. This little article is written from a UK point of view for folks considering whether to use a teeth retainer, or who have a retainer and want to understand the role of different types of mouth retainers. It includes some notes about brands (Caspersmile, Smile White, and Invisalign) that are based on opinion and experience with other retainers, as well as practical advice about care and costs.
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