Are you embarrassed about your wonky smile?
How your teeth look not only affects your self-esteem and confidence but your oral health, too – making cleaning difficult.
Misaligned teeth can also affect speech and your ability to chew and digest food, which is all the more reason to seek orthodontic treatment.
Though there are various orthodontic dental practices UK-wide, London boasts a strong reputation for teeth straightening treatments and is home to some of the most highly-regarded orthodontic specialists, including our very own Dr Jeet Parekh at Kai Dental.
Keen to straighten your teeth, but don’t like the idea of wearing unsightly and uncomfortable metal braces?
Read on to find out everything you need to know about clear aligners in London, including what they are, who they’re for, and how long the treatment lasts.
What are clear aligners?
Clear aligners like Invisalign and Angel Aligners are a discreet and hassle-free way to straighten teeth.
Made from thin, transparent plastic, they are nearly invisible and look very similar to retainers.
These orthodontic devices are custom-made for your mouth. Your orthodontist will mould them to the shape of your natural teeth and trim them along the gumline to ensure a precise and comfortable fit.
With no wires or brackets needed and none of the disadvantages of traditional braces, clear aligners bear minimal impact on your everyday life as they can easily be removed for eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing.
How do they work?
Just like fixed braces, clear aligners work by applying gentle pressure on the teeth – gradually shifting them into the more desirable position.
To achieve a straighter smile, you will need to wear a series of aligners, perfectly tailored to your mouth and existing teeth.
Each aligner is typically worn for up to 2 weeks before it’s swapped for the next in the series. To ensure your teeth straightening treatment stays on track, you must wear your aligners for at least 20-22 hours each day – only removing them for meals, oral hygiene, or special occasions.
The more you wear your clear plastic aligners, the more effective your treatment will be and the faster you’ll notice visible results.
Who is a suitable candidate for clear aligner systems?
Aligners are often used:
- To straighten crooked, overcrowded, or gapped teeth
- To treat bite issues (e.g. an overbite, underbite, or crossbite)
- To correct teeth that have moved after having braces
These orthodontic devices are typically best for treating teens and adults with mild to moderate cases of overcrowding and spacing.
However, our award-winning orthodontic specialist provides Invisalign® clear aligners London-wide for the most complex cases.
Since clear plastic aligners are inconspicuous, no one will be able to tell you’re wearing them – making them a great option for those seeking a discreet option to achieve a straighter smile.
If Dr Jeet Parekh confirms that clear aligners are a viable treatment option for you, he will create a personalised treatment plan, explain the procedure, and outline the cost and available payment options – ensuring you’re fully informed from the start.
How long do clear aligners take to work?
Both Angel Aligners and Invisalign® can achieve results in just 2 months!
The great thing about our clear plastic aligner systems is that, with no wires to tighten or brackets to replace, they generally require fewer orthodontic appointments than fixed braces.
However, treatment times can vary depending on the complexity of your orthodontic issues.
Patients with minor misalignment may notice improvements in as little as 2-6 months, whereas complex cases (i.e. severe bite issues) will take longer.
Though you could type ‘How long do clear aligners take to work’ into Google, the best thing to do is book a consultation with our specialists.
How much do they cost?
Much like how long they take to work, the cost of clear plastic aligners can vary depending on the brand of aligners and the severity of your case.
Remember, though, a tooth straightening procedure is a long-term investment that will leave you with a beautiful smile you’re not afraid to show off!
When you visit Kai Dental for clear aligners, you can rest assured that our practitioners will always be honest and upfront about our fees.
If you’re hoping to spread the cost of your treatment with affordable monthly instalments, let us know. We aim to make all our treatments – not just our private orthodontics – accessible to everyone, and we’ll happily talk you through the finance options we offer.
Transform your smile with clear aligners from Kai Dental
If you’re ready to embark on your teeth straightening journey, talk to our specialists today.
Our expert orthodontist will assess your oral health, discuss your concerns, and take impressions of your teeth, along with digital scans to create a bespoke treatment plan.
The impressions will be sent off to the laboratory, where your custom aligners will be made. While you wait for your clear aligners, we can provide temporary aligners to help you adjust to the feel before starting your treatment.
If you have any further questions about our clear aligners in London, including from our Notting Hill dentist team, or you’d like an expert opinion, please feel free to call us on 020 7229 4033 or email hello@kaidental.co.uk, and we’ll be in touch soon.
About The Author
Dr Jeet Parekh
BDS (MANC), MJDF RCS (ENG), MCLIDENT (ORTH), MORTH GDC NO.211526
Read more about Dr Jeet Parekh Dr Jeet Parekh is the owner of the practice and our clinical director. He qualified from the University of Manchester in 2011, before completing his orthodontic specialty training from the Royal London in 2017.
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