Invisalign Treatment β It's Popularity and The NHS Options
Let us start with a bit of statistics. Over 6 million people so far have been or are one invisalign and the majority of them are adults. This tiny bit of information exposes a vast reality. The invisible braces treatment is steadily gaining ground among adults. The question is why?
A lot of factors are there that contribute to this development. In the following section of this blog post let us explore few most significant reasons.
Reasons why adult invisalign is becoming increasingly popular
- Allows smile improvement discreetly β the cutting-edge clear braces treatment has proved there is no such thing as being too old to consider braces and aligners. As far orthodontic treatments for adults are concerned discretion is a crucial factor you cannot ignore. Invisalign aligners fit that clause perfectly. Unlike conventional metal braces they do not make one self-conscious. Moreover, it is extremely efficient in achieving the goal.
- No restriction on your diet or usual everyday lifestyle β Conventional braces impose a strict dietary restriction. You are not supposed to have food items that are neither chewy, crunchy, hard and sticky. Thus, technically you are forbidden to eating meat, nuts, candy, popcorn, apple, lettuce, carrot, crusty breads and many other things. On the other hand the transparent aligner system allows you to eat and drink anything you want. Just you have to remove the aligner every time you eat or drink something other than plain water. It is also important to brush and floss the teeth after every meal before wearing the plastic tray back into the mouth. So you should carry your toothbrush, toothpaste and floss everywhere you go.
- Lesser number of visits to your dentist β time is precious for everyone and more so for adults. Keeping this in mind the invisalign system is designed in such a way that you are required to visit your dentist only a few times throughout the treatment tenure. Usually, you are scheduled for a visit every six to eight weeks although this may vary from case to case. Contrastingly conventional braces on the other hand need to be adjusted and fine-tuned every four to six weeks. Moreover, the invisalign visits last much shorter and that saves you time as well.
- Much faster treatment time β the concealed braces treatment offers results much faster. The procedure is designed in such way that the teeth get straightened in shorter durations compared to conventional metal braces. On an average every aligner needs to be worn for about two weeks. Then you move on to the new tray or aligner in the set. Thus, the standard time needed in invisalign treatment is a year to 18 months. However more severe cases require longer time. Treatment with traditional braces lasts much longer.
- Optimum oral hygiene guaranteed β teeth discolouration is a common issue with traditional metal brackets. Technically the problem is called WSLs or white spot lesions. This often leads to harmful plaque build-up. To put it in right words, traditional braces raise the risk of WSL much higher. Why WSL develops is the next relevant question? This happens because the conventional braces are fixed on the teeth. This makes brushing and flossing difficult. On the other hand maintaining perfect oral hygiene is easily attainable with invisalign trays. You take off the removable aligner to brush and floss the teeth. Once you are done you wear the braces back again.
But things may be little different when you have invisalign attachments. In that circumstance you have to brush the area around an attachment with added care and tenderness to ensure there is no plaque build-up. If the number of attachments is lesser the easier is brushing. But if the number is higher the more challenging is the task.
Adult orthodontic and the NHS
Some confusion exists around who are qualified for free braces in London as well as the UK. The NHS or National Health Services provide funds for orthodontic treatment but in a limited quantity. Moreover, this funding is mostly meant for youngsters below 18. If you are 17 or younger you can request your dentist for an NHS referral. The referred orthodontist then diagnoses you to decide whether you are eligible for NHS braces based on the guidelines of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need.
Since there is a high demand for NHS braces, NHS funding is available only in cases where people want to improve their dental health. But if you are unhappy about the way your teeth look then you are likely to be ineligible for NHS treatment.
What about NHS braces for adults?
The majority of orthodontists based in London are officially tied up with the NHS and are only allowed to treat children. In rare cases adults get NHS funding in orthodontic cases and those problems have to be severe. In such instances the standard NHS charge for complex dental treatments become applicable.
Private treatment with braces
When you are looking for orthodontic treatment as an adult you are likely to pay for the braces privately from your own pocket. At Chatfield Dental Braces we have a professional and dedicated team of dentists and support staffs to provide quality dental care and treatment. We maintain a friendly and relaxed atmosphere in our practice to ensure greater convenience to patients. Thus, patients keep referring us time and again to help us grow and flourish.
At Chatfield Dental Braces we have highly experienced invisalign accredited providers to straighten your teeth using the cutting-edge technology. We quote a reasonable Invisalign treatment cost in the UK. It is relevant to mention that we offer an extensive range of modern dentistry treatments covering general dentistry, orthodontics and preventive dentistry. We cater to patients with teeth implants, RCT or root canal treatment, porcelain veneers, crowns and white fillings. As far as entire London and the nearby areas are concerned Chatfield Dental Braces is your best bet to keep your teeth and the gums healthy.