If you have put off getting your teeth straightened because you think getting braces in Orpington is going to be a long, complicated and somewhat embarrassing process, then think again. If you got through visits to the dentist as a child without being told you needed braces treatment on the NHS, chances are that your alignment issues are pretty mild and easily dealt with, with discreet braces in Orpington.

At Orpington Dental Care, we are accredited providers of two kinds of discreet braces in Orpington, one fixed and one removable, giving you more choice.

Fixed braces in Orpington

You are no doubt familiar with bracket and wire braces, but you may well only know about the big, clunky ones that are made of metal. Six Month Smiles braces have much smaller, clear ceramic brackets and a finer wire that is coated in a tooth-coloured material. The whole effect is one that blends in with and complements the teeth rather than obscuring them and making the mouth look unattractive. Six Month Smiles work on the front 6-8 social teeth, the ones most on view. They work quickly, taking between 4-9 months to straighten mild to moderate misalignments of the teeth.

Removable braces in Orpington

Removable braces look like mouth guards. They snap on over the teeth and use built-in pressure points to move the teeth into position. Instead of having one device with a wire that is progressively tightened, Invisalign clear aligners use a series of aligners. Starting with aligner number one, you wear each one until the feeling of pressure wears off, after about 7-10 days, and then move onto the next. Treatments take 9-18 months as long as you wear each aligner for at least 20 hours a day. You take your aligners out for eating meals and drinking, and also for cleaning.

Retainers

Both methods of straightening require you to wear a retainer after your teeth are straightened. This keeps them in the right place while the new bone tissue around them settles down. You can have a retainer bonded to the back of your teeth or wear one at night.