Invisalign is a clear brace system that uses a series of wafer thin clear positioners to gently guide your teeth into the desired position.In comparison to traditional braces, Invisalign is free from visible wires and does away with the need to bond metal onto the teeth. It's invisible, and removable, allowing you to eat that steak dinner, give that public speech or meet that client without embarrassment or discomfort.

Fixed appliances are also available with ‘tooth-coloured’ ceramic brackets. This development in braces means that you can have the straight teeth and perfect smile you've always wanted but won't have to worry that your braces are the first thing people notice. This type of brace is very popular with our adult patients and some of them have even told us that people don't spot their braces at all.

Removable braces are most often used to correct a variety of problems with the teeth in young patients who may still even have some primary teeth left. Where the problem with the teeth is minor or where there is an opportunity to correct a problem with early intervention, a removable brace may be the only appliance your child will need. Removable braces can be made in different colours.

This type of fixed appliance is suitable for patients of any age but is mostly preferred by children and teenagers. The main parts of your fixed appliance or ‘train-track’ brace are;

• Brackets
• Archwire
• Modules

The brackets are glued to each tooth. The archwire threads between all of the brackets and is held in place with tiny elastics called modules, which come in all kinds of different colours. We start with the most gentle archwire and gradually move your teeth into their final positions.
 

When our patients finish with their braces and they see their fantastic new smile, we are just as keen as they are to make sure that they hold on to the results for life! This is done through wearing retainers. We often provide our patients with two types of retainer;

• A bonded retainer is a very thin and unobtrusive piece of wire which is bonded behind the teeth on the day your braces are removed.
• Essix retainers, are removable and are made out of thin clear plastic (like a very thin, invisible gum-shield).

Wearing these retainers will leave you safe in the knowledge that your teeth will stay just as they are on the day your braces are removed.
 

A removable functional appliance or ‘Twin-Block’ functional appliance is used to treat problems of the bite, most commonly, where the bottom jaw is shorter than average, causing the top teeth to appear prominent. The removable functional appliance is worn in two pieces; one for the upper and one for the lower and they work together to improve how the upper and lower teeth bite together and correcting the appearance of prominent teeth. Because the Twin-Block is a brace that works best when a child is going through a growth spurt we advise any parent who is concerned about their child’s tooth development to have their child assessed before starting secondary school.