Have you considered straightening your teeth at home with aligners? Are you looking for a dentist in City of London that can help you to do this? Read on for common questions about at-home aligners being answered.
What are at-home aligners?
Most people have heard of aligners such as Invisalign, which are used to straighten teeth with the help of a dentist.
However, rising in popularity are dental surgeries that can offer patients a similar treatment to Invisalign using aligners, but from the comfort of their own home!
No trips to the dentist every few weeks, no need to rebook appointments, and all the instructions needed to be provided to you by a dentist on an app.
What can they treat?
At-home aligners are similar to standard aligners in what they can treat; mainly mild to moderate misalignments, usually with the front 6 teeth.
But your dentist will decide if you are suitable for them following an examination. They can treat mild to moderate cases of spacing, overcrowding, misalignment, and in some instances, bite issues such as overbites, underbites, and crossbites.
They are not suitable for people who have complex dental issues such as molar misalignment, or for those who have a tooth or teeth that require being twisted into the correct location.
If you have any underlying dental issues such as tooth decay or gum disease, these will need to be treated by your general dentist before you engage in at–home aligners for health reasons.
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Do at-home aligners work?
Yes, they do!
Many patients have expressed concerns that at-home aligners do not work, but this is usually due to horror stories in the media about patients having incorrect treatments for misalignments, usually by dental teams who have no experience in this area.
When you are looking for a reliable at-home aligner provider, it is best to look at reviews of previous patients on an independent platform.
But if you are concerned that your at-home aligners are not working, then you should contact your dentist.
How long does it take?
At-home aligners can take between 4-9 months for most patients. But this will depend on the condition being treated.
For most patients who stick to their dentist instructions, straightening their teeth can take as little time as 3 months. But at your initial consultation with a dentist, the time required to move your teeth to the desired location will be estimated, as will the number of aligners required.
Will I need a retainer afterwards?
After any kind of orthodontic treatment, it is advisable to wear a retainer.
Fortunately, retainers are very similar in their design and wearing to standard aligners, so there is often no difficulty for patients adjusting to them.
Unlike braces and aligners that are designed to move teeth, retainers are designed to keep teeth in place, preventing a process called reversion that can cause the teeth to move back into their former positions.
If you have had braces in years gone by only to suffer from reversion, then it is likely that at-home aligners will be able to help with getting your teeth back on track!
