Aligning with the times
Mostly, when people think of orthodontics, they typically think of largely visible, metallic, traditional braces. Whilst traditional fused metallic braces are effective in their overall goal to realign crooked or misaligned teeth, they are not typically held in high esteem for their overall effect on the outward appearance of those who opt for treatment. This ‘brace face’ has inadvertently deterred a great many would-be patient’s from seeking out the necessary treatment that they require. However, many of those out there are entirely unaware that there are an array of alternative orthodontic methods and discrete braces in Windsor which are available. Treatments of this sort offer patients an opportunity to improve the straightness of their smile, without them having to sacrifice their appearance, and as such have grown into one of the most widely sought out forms of orthodontics treatments across the globe today.
So, what are my discrete orthodontic options?
Contrary to popular belief, there are actually a vast array of different orthodontic treatments and procedures that are readily available to those who need them. These ‘cosmetic’ orthodontic methods are typically referred to as ‘discrete orthodontics’ and are now one of the largest and most popular forms of orthodontic treatment across the globe – particularly within the demographics of teenagers or young professionals, who may wish to achieve a brighter set of teeth, but are dissuaded from going though conventional treatment channels due to the effect on their outward appearance. One of the most popular forms of discreet orthodontic treatment to emerge within the last decade is the Invisalign retainer system. Unlike conventional fused braces, this method is revolutionary as it does not require anything to be bonded to a patient’s teeth, and consists entirely out of a single plastic, transparent retainer.
What is Invisalign?
The Invisalign retainer method is somewhat of a revolutionary re-evaluation of contemporary orthodontics which has gained a massive following across the globe. The basis of the system, which was first launched in 2001 by a Stanford university graduate named Zia Chishti, is to entirely replace fused orthodontic aligners with a single, custom built retainer. Each of these unique retainers would be formed by using a mould or digital impression of every patient’s unique dental makeup, and be crafted using a specialised, patented dental plastic known as Smarttrack. This Smarttrack plastic is both comfortable enough not to cause discomfort to patients, but also malleable enough that it can use the built in pressure points within its interior to push targeted teeth into their correct alignment over the duration of treatment. One of the main appeals to the Invisalign system is that, as the Smarttrack custom build retainers are wafer-thin and made from a transparent plastic, they become almost entirely invisible when placed over the patient’s teeth. This allows patients to comfortably align their teeth to their correct specification, without attracting any unwanted or unwarranted scrutiny from their peers, co-workers or classmates. Another of the main advantages to the Invisalign removable retainer system is that – unlike most other forms of dental aligner systems – the Invisalign retainer method allows patients to periodically remove their retainers whenever they choose to. This freedom is in stark contrast to most other fused orthodontic treatments which remain bonded to the patient’s teeth for the length of treatment, and affords them a mass of freedoms which other orthodontic treatments do not.
