Today, everyone wants a Hollywood smile that emanates youth and attractiveness. Here at SW9 Dental, we work with all our patients on an individual basis using a range of options for the best possible smile.

The hallmarks of a Hollywood smile are teeth that are uniform, straight and brightly white.  The great news is that no one has to be a celebrity to enjoy looking and feeling at their most attractive best. Here, we explore some of the choices that can be made for a great new look including orthodontics Stockwell, teeth whitening and porcelain veneers.

Orthodontics

Orthodontics Stockwell refers to a wide range of treatments that are used for the purposes of straightening the teeth. It is common to have teeth that are crooked, protruding or overcrowded. Some people are lucky enough to have these issues corrected when they are teenagers or young adults, but many do not have the opportunity.

Fortunately, there is availability of orthodontics Stockwell for patients of all ages. Traditional braces can be used to fix almost any issue related to the alignment of the teeth, and they deliver very successful results. They are made up of metal wires that are fixed in place using brackets and are worn as a permanent fixture until the treatment has been completed.

Some patients are unsure about the idea of wearing traditional braces due to the fact that they may feel a little self-conscious. This is especially likely to be the case if they are getting their teeth fixed later in life. This type of patient may benefit from choosing the alternative option that is invisible braces.

As the name suggests, invisible braces are undetectable by others so no one will know that the patient is having orthodontic treatment. They are trays (or aligners) that are worn over the teeth for several months. The aligners are swapped every few weeks as the teeth gently move into a better position.

Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening is one of the easiest ways to improve the appearance of the smile. It does not require any intensive dental work and delivers great results. We offer two options.  Firstly, there is an at-home treatment.

Our patients come in for an initial appointment during which impressions of the teeth are taken. This is to allow us to create whitening trays that fit the individual exactly. They are then given the trays and a whitening gel to be worn during sleep for a period of two or three weeks. The alternative option is a whitening treatment that is completed in our surgery, which takes around an hour.

Porcelain veneers

Veneers are a relatively simple means of cultivating a celebrity smile. They can be used to fix one or several teeth that are chipped, stained or crooked. Veneers are basically very thin coverings for the teeth that cover any flaws. They are made from porcelain, and they look very natural, so no one needs to know that the patient has anything other than great looking teeth. The procedure for getting them is minimally invasive. This means that they can be a suitable and successful treatment even for nervous patients.

When you’re told that the gorgeous grin you want will require some special headgear, a lot of patients would immediately assume they’re going to be strapped into some metal monstrosity of wires connected directly to their face. But at SW9 Dental, we’ve taken some time to highlight a few of the types of facial apparatus you may be asked to wear by our team to help give you that winning smile and to settle any fears you might have about orthodontics in Stockwell.

Rubber bands

As the name suggests, these are basically surgical rubber bands that are placed over your upper or lower teeth. Patients then wear these bands for a set period of time to allow their teeth to be slowly aligned by the pressure of the bands.

Clear aligners

An interesting and almost science fiction form of orthodontics in Stockwell, is the way we map your teeth and produce a 3D image that we then use to create a transparent plastic brace for clear aligners. From there we gradually adjust your teeth into the preferred shape. Although there is some mild discomfort during this procedure, the braces are removable so they can be taken out for eating and cleaning, although we recommend wearing them for at least 22 hours a day.

Headgear

Formed of a face mask, straps and elastic it may look imposing, but headgear is used to assist the growth of the jaw to correct any bite abnormalities. It’s often used in the treatment of young children as their jaw is still growing and developing and the act of this device’s pulling force helps to correct any potential misalignments.

Forsus

When someone thinks of braces this is the stereotypical image that pops into their heads. Using a system of springs and bolts, the forsus or fatigue resistant device, is often used in orthodontics in Stockwell as an alternative to headgear for older patients.

Similar to the headgear, it helps to reduce overbites, improve the fit of teeth and reduce the need for potential jaw surgery further down the line if other methods prove unsuccessful.

Palatal Expanders

Another type of appliance your dentist might recommend is a palatal expander. These are then hidden away and attached to your upper jaw and placing a gentle amount of pressure on the molars to widen your palette.

Treatment time for these expanders can take up to several months for the desired changes to appear and you may be asked to continue wearing them for an extended time to prevent any regression in the affected area.

These are just a few of the different ways you can reshape and reposition those pesky misaligned teeth. There are plenty of other interesting methods for dental correction, but to list them all would take far too long and your dentist would normally discuss the right one to suit your needs anyway. But, hopefully some of these more interesting ones might have settled any misgivings or unease you may have over future treatments.

Not everyone has the perfect smile, but it is something that is obtainable thanks to modern orthodontics. Having straight teeth and fixing your “Bugs Bunny” overbite will not just improve the way you look, but will help you to achieve optimum dental health. How? Gaps and spaces between teeth,which are hiding places and a breeding ground for bacteria, are closed. Added to that, correcting your protruding front teeth will put less pressure on your jaw, and end those frequent tension headaches you have suffered from in the past.

The world of orthodontics in Stockwell is ever changing, in the variety of straightening methods available and the wide age range of people considering braces for the first time. Children and adults alike are saying goodbye to embarrassingly crooked teeth, for a lifetime of smiles and happiness with us, the SW9 Dental professionals.

Come to us if you are serious about getting braces, and we can discuss what orthodontic device best suits your lifestyle needs.

The changing face of braces

For children back in the early 2000s, getting braces was a rite of passage, but many adults back then would prefer to live life with crooked teeth than sport those large metal brackets and luminous coloured rubber bands that made smiling in photographs awkward and cringey.

There has been a lot of change in the world of orthodontics in Stockwell since then, there are more straightening aids from which to choose that are smaller, discreet, and more attractive.

What are my options as an adult?

As an adult, you are probably searching for a device that is as near to invisible as possible, especially if you are a professional wanting to be taken seriously by your work colleagues.

We recommend Invisalign products to people with minor teeth issues or malocclusions. Invisalign, also known as invisible braces, comprise of removable and clear coloured mouthguards made from durable plastic that gradually realign your teeth during several months to a year. The need for fixed brackets and a wiring system is eliminated with these sets of almost invisible aligner trays, meaning you can wear them in public without anyone know that they are there.

In the event of your teeth issues being too complicated for Invisalign to fix, we might recommend ceramic braces to you. Tooth coloured ceramic brackets replace metal brackets typically used for conventional straightening methods, and they are barely visible to the untrained eye and effective in their capacity to correct misalignments.

Braces for children

Adults often come to us, hoping to shorten their treatment times, which is usually not possible. Your teeth issues and bite problems become more complex as you age.

You might be wearing braces for longer than you care for, but your children might not have to experience a similar fate.

The first signs of misaligned teeth occur as young as seven, so if you, as a parent, suspect that your children might need orthodontic work, book them an appointment with us.

A child’s jaw is still developing at that age and not all their permanent teeth might yet have sprouted, which means that such problems might be easier to address and manoeuvre into the correct position.

Orthodontics in Stockwell no longer offers straightening aids just for children. People of all ages are transforming their appearances for the better thanks to braces.

If you are considering getting realignment treatment for your teeth, then when you make your list of pros and cons regarding treatment, don’t forget to put at the top of the pros list that straighter teeth are healthier than wonky teeth.

Why straighter is healthier

Dental decay and gum disease are the two main enemies of teeth. They are both caused by the acids that are given off by that sticky film of bacteria that accumulates on your teeth during the day. Bacteria have to be brushed away and if you don’t do it for a few days, that sticky film hardens into tartar, which can only be scraped off. So, if your teeth cross over each other or aren’t quite descended properly, or are out of alignment in some way, then it makes it that much harder to get rid of.

Orthodontics in Stockwell to the rescue

Misaligned teeth can be straightened at any time in your life; there is no upper age limit. There have never been so many different devices for straightening teeth as there is now and at SW9 Dental, we offer a good range of them.

Inman Aligner

This is a great device for straightening out the front teeth only. It sandwiches them between two clear aligner bows and can bring them into their correct position in as little as six weeks. You take it out for eating too, which makes it easier to keep your teeth clean. You then use the aligner as a retainer, which saves money.

Six Month Smiles

This is a smaller, more discreet version of traditional bracket and wires braces, made of clear ceramic and tooth-coloured wires. It works on the front six to eight teeth only and takes on average only six months to realign them.

Invisalign

There are clear, removable aligners that are almost impossible to detect once they are in place. The average treatment time is 12-18 months.

Cfast

These also feature clear brackets and fine wires that are fixed to your teeth.

Retainers

Everyone has to wear a retainer for a certain amount of time after treatment. This holds the teeth in their new place until they have really settled in.

For most people, achieving a healthy, beautiful smile is the main reason for receiving orthodontic care. However, not all people are thrilled with the prospect of metal braces.

At SW9 Dental in Stockwell, we understand that you may be self-conscious about braces and you’d rather avoid them. That’s why we offer a variety of discreet teeth straightening options that will greatly improve the way you look and feel. Our experienced dentists will help you decide which treatment is ideal for your dental needs.

Invisalign

Invisalign consists of a series of transparent, removable, plastic aligners, which gradually move your teeth into their position over a specific period of time. Invisalign aligners are created with the aid of 3D technology that helps your dentists predict the movements of your teeth and monitor your overall progress. Throughout the treatment, you will go through a series of aligners – their total number varies per patient. Every two weeks, you will have to change your aligners and move the next one in the series. This will ensure that your teeth will straighten according to the treatment plan.

Invisalign can correct a wide number of dental problems and bite issues, however, is not ideal for complex dental problems. If you have severely misaligned teeth or bites, your dentist may recommend regular braces.

Six Month Smiles

Six Month Smiles are like regular braces with the exception that they are made of tooth-coloured brackets and wires. As their name suggest, they can straighten your teeth in as little as six months. However, since they only affect your front teeth and cannot do any changes to your bite, they are not ideal for patients who wish to alter their bite significantly. Six Month Smiles braces are very comfortable to wear and will not irritate your gums or soft tissues in your mouth. They are ideal for patients who wish to straighten their front teeth quickly in preparation for a special event.

Lingual braces

As their name suggests, lingual braces are fixed braces which are positioned in the interior of the teeth, opposite the tongue. Lingual braces are customised and work just like regular braces. They can fix a number of complex dental problems while remaining invisible.