Dear Dentist,

I have a few gaps in my teeth that I'm quite self-conscious about. When talking to new people, I always cover my mouth or look down to avoid them looking at my teeth! As a child I was pretty scared of the dentist and as such never got a brace fitted when I probably should have. I want to get them sorted as I am due to start a new job soon and don't want me teeth to hold me back. I want to be able to laugh and smile like everyone else. Am I going to have to bite the bullet and get a brace?


Dear Sarah,

Don't worry, help is at hand! Invisalign is a new, advanced dental treatment which offers a convenient and understated alternative to traditional metal braces. The simple technique is tailored to the individual and involves virtually invisible, clear aligners which gradually move the teeth into the desired positions.

Invisalign is a completely discreet way of straightening your teeth; unlike standard braces which are obvious to everyone you meet. No one will know you are receiving dental treatment unless you decide to tell them yourself. For anyone who would feel self conscious about the normal techniques, this method is the best way to get that perfect smile. There is no need for adjustments once placed, so less time is spent in the dentist's chair.

Invisalign is far more comfortable than normal braces, with no fixed wires or bands to irritate or cut the inside of your mouth. If you are eating foods that would become caught in a standard brace, the aligners can simply be removed to avoid this problem, and they can be removed for short periods at other times for convenience. Patients can report some minor aching when the aligners are first changed, much as when a normal brace is adjusted, but this tends to ease within a day or so and can be alleviated with standard non-prescription painkillers.

At the initial consultation your teeth are assessed and the procedure will be discussed. Impressions are made of your teeth to correctly fit the aligners. You will then receive a series of unique, custom-made aligners, designed using the latest 3D technology, each of which applies force to the specific, correct areas on the teeth to pressure them gradually into the desired positions. Each new movement is incremental and only one or two teeth are moved at a time. On average the aligners will be changed every two weeks, moving the teeth in numerous distinct stages until the desired result is achieved.

Most clients will complete treatment in around a year, but like the exact treatment itself, the time taken to fully re-position the teeth will be unique to the individual.
For more information, please visit us online at www.nu-agemedicalspa.co.uk or phone 08450 36 24 36. If you would like to ask questions to the team at Nu-Age Medical Spa, please email headoffice@nu-agmedicalspa.co.uk

© 2009, Align Technology, Inc.
"Invisalign® is a registered trade mark of Align Technology, Inc."