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Lots of people are discovering a more convenient way to get their teeth straightened with invisible braces. Adverts are seen on TV for products such as Invisalign ‘clear aligners' (the company that makes this have big marketing budgets!) or you may have also seen an advert in the paper, magazines or on the internet. Many dentists offer this kind of treatment but so do Orthodontists who have trained specifically in the management of crooked teeth and mismatched jaws.

In our speciality there is also a growing trend for lingual braces (these are fixed braces fitted on the inside surface of the teeth), as they are discrete and effective at moving the teeth, and patients love them because no one knows they are wearing a brace. We have treated lots of brides and grooms to be with lingual braces giving them a fantastic smile in time for their wedding (some of them are still wearing their brace on the day but they don't show on the photos!). The straight smile from orthodontic treat...

Many people would really love to have a slightly straighter smile but don't want to go through complicated and long winded teeth straightening treatment. They are turning to "short term orthodontic" solutions such as Six Month Smiles or Inman Aligners, which can often be provided by their general dentist.

"Why don't orthodontists offer these treatments?" you may ask. Well, orthodontists are taught not only to straighten the teeth, but also to fix bite problems and generally try and achieve the best possible outcome for each and every patient. It is for this reason that many orthodontic practices think that these quick and easy teeth straightening solutions don't do the job properly.

I confess that we thought the same thing too! It's hard to ignore the training and evidence that you are presented with, but what we are continuing to learn is that it's important to listen to what the patient wants from their orthodontic treatment, not what we want them to have - namely the per...

Traditionally, children are not referred to the orthodontist until they are 11 or 12 years old when most of the adult teeth have come through. With more and more demand on NHS resources for orthodontic treatment, many practices have a waiting list for children to be assessed and/or to start their teeth straightening treatment, so in some cases their treatment isn't started until the age of 13-14 years old. This is a time when many teenagers are becoming a lot more self conscious and when having crooked teeth can affect their confidence.

There is a growing trend amongst orthodontists to see patients at a younger age in order to start correcting problems of crowding and jaw mismatch. Seeing patients early also increases the chance of avoiding the removal of healthy adult teeth. So ideally, we would like to be seeing your child for the first time when they are 8-9 years old. Just think of the difference it could make to your child to be starting senior school with their teeth alre...

There are many quick fix orthodontic treatments available, like Six Month Smiles, but not all of them can give the best overall result, or a healthy long term smile. It's true to say that tooth straightening is most effective with braces that are fixed to the teeth - they have more control on how the teeth move, and where the roots of the teeth end up. To be stable, teeth must be in a good position and be at the right angle (teeth that lean too far forwards are more likely to be pushed backwards over time). Getting that good position can take time so isn't it worth doing well?

If the appearance of braces is your stumbling block to having your teeth straightened, there are more cosmetic options available - there are clear braces, and even completely invisible braces that are fitted on the inside surface of the teeth.

If you are worried about pain and soreness, be assured that although you will have some minor discomfort initially, it quickly settles and you get used to the feeli...

It's a universal truth that anyone who has braces will experience some form of discomfort, however minor this may be. For most people, thankfully, any discomfort is short lived and is easily made comfortable, but for some there can be difficult periods wearing braces - especially in the case of adults.

The best way to deal with any discomfort is to prevent it happening in the first place.

When wearing braces, the soreness of the teeth is caused by a process called inflammation. Inflammation is caused by a series of events that trigger the next response. Pain control for inflammation works by interfering with these events, which in turn reduces the swelling and soreness. A good pain reliever for braces is Ibuprofen - this is because it is anti-inflammatory. However, it is much more effective when taken early before pain starts. So if you know you're having a brace fitted or adjusted, take some Ibuprofen before your appointment so it's ready and working when you need it.

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