17 Aug What is involved in getting my teeth straightened? Am I too old?

These days we treat many adults with clear aligners, the most well-known of which is Invisalign. Gone are the days of metal train tracks and looking like a teenager (well, not gone, they still work really well, and we still do lots of them – there’s just now another option!)

Aligners are thin, clear, and made of 3D printed plastic. They clip down over your teeth, and you can take them out to eat, drink and clean your teeth. The best part is they are virtually invisible – nobody needs to know you’re having work done (although, it is such cool technology that often people show them off!)

We use a 3D scanner to scan your teeth, and take a bunch of photos. We then digitally plan your teeth movement using specialised software. We can show you using the software what we are hoping to achieve, and make sure you are happy with the intended outcome. The aligners are then 3D printed, and you begin the journey!

Teeth are always moving throughout life, and in general there is a slow drift towards the front of your mouth. This often means that the front teeth start to get a bit crowded with time, even if you’ve had your teeth straightened in the past. We have a couple of different options to keep your teeth straight once you’ve finished treatment.

The other great thing about aligners is that you can use them as bleaching trays, so you can both whiten and straighten your teeth at the same time.

We have successfully treated over 300 patients with Invisalign, including many adults. Our oldest so far were a couple in their 80s. It’s definitely never too late to do something nice for yourself!