Smiling is good for you! It can help to relieve stress, improve mood and boost your immune system. It makes you feel better and creates a positive impression.
In an ideal world, you’d smile often – and make others smile too. But what if you don’t like your smile? What if you have wonky teeth or an overbite that makes you feel self-conscious?
Well, we can do something about that!
Creating a healthy smile
A healthy smile isn’t just about your appearance – though straight, even teeth do look good.
Sometimes, your jaw is misaligned, leading to an overbite or underbite. That can:
- Affect your speech
- Make you more prone to gum disease and cavities
- Cause muscle strain
- Damage your teeth enamel.
Orthodontic treatment can align your jaw and create an ideal bite (meaning your teeth fit together properly). It can also address overcrowding or gaps between your teeth.
Though many teenagers get braces, you can get your teeth straightened at any age – many adults do it to improve their appearance and prevent dental problems.
Clear aligners or braces?
These days, you have several options for straightening your teeth.
Metal braces
Small metal brackets are attached to your teeth, connected by a thin wire which we tighten or change at regular intervals to gradually pull your teeth into the desired position.
These are a budget-friendly option and still the most common type of braces used.
Ceramic braces
These are similar to metal braces but less noticeable. Instead of silver brackets and wires, ceramic braces use clear or tooth-coloured ones, making them less obvious.
Other than that, ceramic braces work in the same way as metal braces.
Lingual braces
Who says braces have to be attached to the front of your teeth? Lingual braces attach to your teeth on the inside rather than the front, meaning others can’t see them as easily. These are rarely used as very few people have enough clearance of the bite for the space required.
Clear aligners
For mild to moderate orthodontic problems, we may recommend sequential clear aligners. These are customised, clear plastic trays that sit over your teeth and gently straighten them. They can deliver the benefits of orthodontic treatment without drawing everyone’s attention to it
Clear aligners are growing in popularity, possibly because they:
- Aren’t noticeable to others
- May be more comfortable
- Can be removed, making it easier to clean and floss your teeth.
RevealTM aligners
At Dent8, we’re pleased to offer a brand of clear aligners called RevealTM.
RevealTM aligners are made from biocompatible polyurethane resin, a superior type of plastic that can manage stress and resist stains.
How does RevealTM aligners work?
Your RevealTM treatment begins with a consultation to assess your teeth and identify problems and goals.
If we recommend RevealTM and you decide to proceed, then we will need to create a detailed ‘map’ of your teeth using:
- Impressions and/or 3D scan
- Photos
- X-rays.
Once we have those, we can create a customised prescription for your aligners, which we send to RevealTM.
Once your aligners arrive, we invite you back to fit them. We’ll show you how to clean your aligners and explain how long you should wear them for each day.
When to remove RevealTM aligners
You’ll need to take your RevealTM aligners out whenever you eat, drink (except water) or brush your teeth. Food particles can get trapped between your aligners and your teeth so it’s important to remove them when you eat.
You’d be surprised how many people have left their aligners in cafes, parks or school lunch areas! So, if you take your aligners out, remember to put them back in again! And ideally, brush your teeth first.
Invisalign vs RevealTM
Why do we offer RevealTM rather than Invisalign?
In many ways, these are similar products – both are clear aligners that you remove when you eat or brush your teeth.
We’ve chosen to offer RevealTM because it can deliver similar results to Invisalign but generally at a lower cost. That’s an important consideration given the pressure on most family budgets these days. Cases that have severe crowding are not suited to RevealTM clear aligners and we would assess your suitability and refer to an orthodontist if necessary.
How long does it take to align your teeth?
The exact answer depends on your particular case. Treatment time may depend on several factors, including:
- How far your teeth need to move to straighten them
- How fast your teeth move
- Whether there are additional issues being corrected (e.g. your bite)
- Whether you wear your aligners for the recommended time each day.
Typically, treatment can take several months or may take a year-and-a-half. It’s intended to be a gradual process that creates lasting improvements in your smile.
You’ll have several check-ups during your treatment. Depending on your program, you’ll be given a new set of aligners on a regular basis, that reflect the improved position of your teeth and continue to move them into the right position.
RevealTM at Dent8 Dental
At Dental8 Dental, we love helping to improve your smile and your oral health. If you’d like to explore how RevealTM could help you, please book an appointment with Dr Rachael Clem or Dr Veronika Valena today.
Disclaimer
All information is general and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.
References
Very Well Mind, 10 big benefits of smiling, https://www.verywellmind.com/top-reasons-to-smile-every-day-2223755#, [Accessed 6 June 2024]
Orthodontics Australia, Teeth straightening options, https://orthodonticsaustralia.org.au/teeth-straightening-options/, [Accessed 6 June 2024]
Orthodontics Australia, What is an ideal bite? https://orthodonticsaustralia.org.au/ideal-bite/, [Accessed 6 June 2024]
