The purpose of any brace or appliance is to use gentle and constant pressure in order to move your teeth into a new and straighter position - usually to straighten your teeth. There are different types of braces and the brace you will be instructed to wear will depend on your course of orthodontic treatment.

A removable brace is a plastic plate with delicate wires and springs attached. As the name suggests, this appliance can be removed for cleaning. All appliances are made in a special orthodontic laboratory. Fitting and adjusting the removable brace is relatively simple and will not take long.

With fixed braces, individual control of each tooth is possible which means that detailed positioning and a high standard of finish can be obtained. Fitting and adjusting fixed braces is a highly skilled and lengthy process. During the first few days of wearing your fixed brace, your teeth may feel tender to bite with but you will soon get used to the appliance and any tenderness will go. Fixed appliances can't harm teeth but it is important to keep them clean.

Invisalign

The newest device which may be recommended for patients who want a very limited amount of realignment. It consists of a series of aligners, which look like transparent mouthguards. Sophisticated software provides the designs for the aligners, based on how you want your teeth to look, and they are worn over a period of 12 to 18 months. Invisalign treatment is offered as an alternative to braces, mainly in the case of adults with completely formed teeth and jaw growth. Invisalign aligners are not noticeable, unlike conventional braces. They are more comfortable and can be removed for eating and brushing.

Inman Aligner for straight teeth

The Inman aligner is an orthodontic appliance that has been around for many years to treat problems with alignment of your front teeth. They have gained popularity more recently due to the media attention that they have received and their advantages over fixed metal braces.

Why should you use Inman Aligners?

• They are an alternative to Invisible Braces.
• Only one appliance is required - no need to change every 2 weeks
• Results are usually faster than fixed or invisible braces
• They can be easily removed to eat and clean your teeth

As time goes by, your teeth may move causing your teeth to become crooked, some people have naturally crooked teeth. Most people believe that they would need fixed metal braces, however the Inman Aligner can be used to move your front teeth to an ideal position quickly and effectively in a matter of weeks. When compared to the invisible braces the inman aligner is also more cost effective.

Is the Inman Aligner new?

The inman aligner has been used for the last 8 years to treat orthodontic problems, it is a very popular treatment in the US and is rapidly gaining popularity here in the UK.

Is the Inman Aligner comparable to Invisalign?

Invisalign is made of a specialised plastic hence the forces are low and the treatment slower. Inman Aligner incorporates tiny Nickel Titanium springs that are able to maintain a higher constant tension. It is used for treating the top and bottom front teeth only. Invisalign can treat full arches (all your teeth). When the back teeth need treatment ie the arch width is too narrow we can use a pre-treatment to expand the arches and follow with Inman Aligner. The treatment time is usually faster than clear braces.

Will treatment with the Inman Aligner be uncomfortable?

No. Due to the gentle but steady orthodontic forces generated, the appliances are easily tolerated. We suggest that you take some mild pain killers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol for the first few days of treatment if you encounter any discomfort.

Will the Inman Aligner affect my speech?

Yes. The Inman Aligner will affect your speech for a week or two. You will however acclimate to the appliances over time and be able to speak fine with them in place.

Will I need to see the doctor frequently for adjustments?

The Inman Aligners are pre-programmed to reduce the need for office visits. Your doctor will prescribe a treatment due to your needs. The Inman Aligner utilizes a lingual coil spring that puts pressure on the teeth that need repositioning and a labial bar that reverses the same pressure. These components work together to "squeeze" teeth together by pushing and pulling them into alignment. It will take about one week of wearing the Inman Aligner to become acclimated. Like anything foreign to your mouth, it may cause you to salivate more than usual for 24 to 48 hours and could affect your speech for 7 to 10 days. You have the option of not wearing the appliance, however, the longer you wear the Inman Aligner the quicker the results. It is recommended that you wear the appliance for at least 16 to 20 hours a day.

Wont my teeth move back?

Retention is a very important part of any orthodontic treatment as your teeth have a natural tendancy to move back to their natural position over time. At Enhance we give you the choice of a removable or fixed retainer. A removable retainer is worn overnight for 4-5 nights a week and then phased down over time to 2-3 nights a week. A fixed retainer can be bonded to the back of the front teeth to retain the result. This orthodontic wire is very thin and cannot be seen from the front.