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Archive for January, 2012

Straightening Out Myths about Adult Braces

Myth 1 – If your teeth are really bad, you’ll have to have “train tracks”
For many adults seeking orthodontic treatment, there’s that nagging feeling that they’ll have to spend three years with great metal arrangements and head-gear strapped to their smile. But the fact is that both child and adult braces have come on in leaps and bounds in the past decade.

All our dental braces for adults are designed to be as imperceptible as possible. In more severe cases, Ice Clear brace brackets can be used to mask dental work as much as possible. It’s impossible to say which treatment is best without a consultation, but we’re confident we can fix your smile with the minimum of fuss.

Myth 2 – Orthodontists will only treat severe and medically pertinent cases
Many of our clients are adults who only have slight flaws in their smile. For example, a small gap between two teeth they’d like closing, a slightly protruding tooth etc. Orthodontic treatment for cosmetic or personal reasons is absolutely fine.

Myth 3 – Braces are for kids
According to some online sources (e.g. advice website Braces.org) around one in five orthodontic patients are adults.

Myth 4 – Braces are painful and take a long time to work
There is usually an initial adjustment period where the mouth can feel sensitive and a bit delicate, but it’s best to think of it as wearing in a new pair of shoes. Once you’re used to them, you’ll forget they’re there. In terms of treatment time, some braces need only be worn a matter of months.

Follow the Dental Example of a Duchess

When Kate Middleton became Princess Catherine, all eyes weren’t exactly on her teeth. But fellow orthodontic treatment experts have rushed to point out the Duchess of Cambridge’s exceptional dental work. According to an article in The Telegraph, it’s more than likely the princess used similar adult braces to our Invisalign or Incognito ranges.

Invisalign braces work by fitting removable aligners to the patient’s teeth. The aligners can be removed any time but are designed to be as imperceptible as possible. Although we recommend wearing the aligners day and night, we know it can be a great relief for our patients to be able to remove their dental wear occasionally.

Incognito braces are fixed to the back of the teeth rather than the front. It’s this type of dental work the princess most likely invested in before her April 2011 wedding. Incognito braces are typically offered to adults needing more extensive work than habitually dealt with by Invisalign. Both can, however, be considered.

Although the princess’s dental work has never been confirmed, it’s likely she opted for the most natural smile by allowing her orthodontist to move her teeth in micro-rotations. For many of our clients, too, the perfect smile isn’t about Hollywood perfection, but about enhancing the natural brilliance of their innate grin.

Veneers are becoming less popular in the U.K thanks to great orthodontic treatments and the popularity of the natural British smile. Our treatments can help you iron out those little imperfections without losing the real, smiling you.

3 Tips for Learning to Smile

Sometimes have a little trouble identifying your good side? We can help with all your teeth straightening needs, but when those adult braces come off it’s up to you to find your smile again! Although our products are designed to help adults stay 100% confident, we know there’s nothing quite like that first day you leave our surgery brace-free with amazing teeth. Here are a few tips for post-brace smile brilliance!

1.    Practice makes perfect, and whilst we can’t always control the glorious crinkles around our eyes when we find something truly hilarious, it IS possible to learn how to smile for photographs, in business meetings etc. Every celebrity, from Kimberly Walsh to Megan Fox admits that the perfect smile for the lens doesn’t always come naturally. It’s time to get your Smartphone out and take a few experimental shots in front of the mirror!

2.    Take the Smile Challenge and practice your newfound grin on folks you might usually ignore or just offer a humble curl of the lip to – people who hold the door for you, homeless people, strangers, etc.

3.    Don’t fake it too hard! We’ve all done impressions of Keira Knightly’s pout in front of the mirror. Did you look a little ridiculous? Yes. When your orthodontic treatment is over it’s not time to hide those pearly whites behind a forced grin of taught cheeks and tense lips. The absolute best thing you can do for your grin is to embrace it. After all, we truly smile with our eyes!