Category: Braces

Invisalign is a relatively new cosmetic dentistry treatment that helps patients straighten their teeth quickly and, above all, discreetly. Invisalign is ideal for patients who wish to correct the alignment of their teeth, but prefer to avoid braces due to aesthetic considerations.

At Aura Dental, we think of Invisalign in St John’s Wood as invisible braces. One of its biggest advantages, is that you can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing that you are undergoing treatment. The clear, removable aligners are custom-made to fit your mouth and, unlike braces, you can easily remove them before eating and drinking. In that respect, Invisalign not only eliminates the problem of getting food stuck in between your braces, but also helps you to manage your oral hygiene with regular brushing and flossing.

How does it work?

Invisalign has a unique approach to straightening teeth by using an ‘invisible’ system so you do not need to have metal brackets fixed to your teeth. Instead, Invisalign uses a series of clear aligners that gradually straighten your teeth over a specific period of time.

With Invisalign, each tooth is corrected by the Invisalign aligners, which fit comfortably over the teeth. The procedure is based on the teeth conforming to the teeth straightening template designed and made for each patient and based on their teeth 3D scan. Your dentist will provide you with a set of aligners and you will have to change them every two weeks until your teeth have reached their correct position.

Patients with Invisalign do not need to visit the dentist often for adjustments. However, they have to attend a periodical assessment once every two to three months. Our dentists will, during the assessment, evaluate the progress of your teeth straightening and ensure that the progress is in accordance with the treatment plan.

Eligibility and treatment

Invisalign in St John’s Wood can treat various conditions such as overcrowded and widely spaced teeth as well as crossbites, overbites and underbites. However, Invisalign is not suitable for everyone. Contact our dental practice today and book a consultation appointment with one of our dentists, who will assess your eligibility and create a customised treatment plan.

What we’d all really like is to be able to get our teeth straightened without any braces at all marring the fronts of our pearly whites. While that is not yet possible, you can get braces in St John’s Wood that are so discreet that people would have to peer very closely at you to spot them.

These braces in St John’s Wood don’t work on the traditional systems of wires strung between angled brackets to pull teeth into position. Instead, they spring from the digital age, and rely on aligners that look like very well-fitting mouth guards that push the teeth into position. These are Invisalign aligners – the 21^st century’s answer to tooth alignment.

How does it work?

Invisalign works entirely differently from normal braces in St John’s Wood. Instead of just one appliance that is fixed to your teeth and periodically adjusted by your dentist, Invisalign gives each patient a series of 3D printed rigid, transparent plastic aligners, which are so thin that once they are snapped on over the teeth, they can’t be seen.

The first aligner is very slightly different from the current position of your misaligned teeth. When you put it on, you will feel a pressure. This pressure is what moves your teeth. Each aligner will move each tooth a tiny little bit, and it will take about 2 weeks to do so. Once the pressure wears off, it’s time to pop in the next aligner and wear that one until the pressure disappears again.

The aligners are 3D printed for each patient, from detailed, precise measurements from digital scans done by us here at Aura Dental. We also use that information to show you a computer simulation of how Invisalign will move your teeth into alignment. You get to see your finished smile before you begin treatment with us.

We send all that information off to the Invisalign lab in the USA, where the aligners are printed. You need only come back to us for check-ups every 4 to 6 weeks, saving a lot of time in a year-long process.

Invisalign aligners are also removable for eating and drinking and cleaning, which is so much easier than fixed braces.

Smiling is vital for our mental wellbeing. A genuine smile, known as a Duchenne smile, when your eye muscles contract as well as your mouth muscles, kicks off the production of serotonin in the body. Serotonin is one of the body’s feel-good chemicals. It goes into special receptors, like a key into a lock, and then we feel great. And then guess what happens? We smile more! We smile at people, they smile back, and soon the world is a happier place.

At Aura Dental, we know the value of a good smile and it’s not measured in money, it’s measured in feeling good and seeing how feeling good smooths people’s paths through life. It’s one of the things that we love about the work we do with braces in St John’s Wood.

A worthwhile investment

Braces can make a huge different to people’s willingness to smile. Some of our patients come to us and tell us they are so ashamed of their crowded, crooked, or gappy teeth that they have been suppressing their smiles for years. Trouble is, when you do that, people tend to assume you are miserable and unfriendly, and they instinctively feel reluctant to spend time with you. Not smiling can lead to loneliness and isolation, which leads to more not smiling, so it goes around.

But with braces in St John’s Wood, all that can change in a few months to a year or so, depending on your particular misalignment issues. If you were suffering from serious bite issues, these would have been fixed with National Health Service braces in St John’s Wood. There are plenty of milder cases for which NHS funding is not available. We can treat these cases too.

Your options

Invisalign aligners, also known as invisible braces, are clear plastic mouth guard-like trays that are 3D printed from digital scans. You get a series of them, somewhere between 12–48, and wear each one for about 2 weeks. In that time, specially designed misfits in the plastic pressure your teeth to move, and each aligner is a step toward alignment.

Why not come in and see how braces in St John’s Wood can help you smile more?

Let’s face it, braces aren’t really a good look. You may not mind wearing them if you are a teenager and you can brighten them up with colourful brackets and wires; but you’ve never seen braces in Vogue or GQ as the latest must-have stylish accessory.

Things is, crooked, crowded, or gappy teeth don’t make it into the fashion pages either. Models and celebrities always have perfect rows of pearly white teeth these days. So, what’s a person to do? Unstylish if you don’t, unstylish at least for a good few months, if you do.

There is a solution

However, stylish people in the know do get their teeth straightened with braces in St John’s Wood. It’s just that they do it with discreet or even invisible appliances, such as Invisalign. Invisalign are quite different from traditional braces, which are usually variations on the theme of brackets and wires that often, but not always, are fixed to the teeth for the duration of the treatment.

In St John’s Wood, braces in the form of Invisalign clear aligners are pretty much invisible once you put them on. Invisalign is a system of very thin clear plastic aligners that resemble mouth guards. They are 3D printed using detailed measurements from digital scans of your mouth. Each aligner is a tiny incremental step different from the one before. The pressure from the slight incremental changes push the teeth gradually into alignment over about a year, depending on the complexity of each case.

Over 4 million people have been treated with Invisalign braces. In St John’s Wood, they are also incredibly popular. One reason is because they become as good as invisible when they are in place. Another reason is because Invisalign clear aligners are removable. Although they must be worn for at least 22 hours a day in order to complete the treatment on schedule, they are taken out for eating and cleaning. This means that you can continue to eat whatever you like, whereas the range of diet can be limited when wearing fixed bracket and wire braces.

To find out more, come into Aura Dental for a free consultation.

We all want to look our best, as you can see if you look at how much people in the UK spend on adorning and sculpting their bodies. But hair-dos and new clothes are temporary fixes compared to some of the things you can have done at the dentist.

If you want value for money when you need a change to your look then cosmetic braces are a great choice. Whether you are an adult who would like straighter teeth, or the parent of a self-conscious teenager with mild misalignment issues, getting braces in St John’s Wood can be a permanent improvement to your looks and to your self-esteem.

Good looks and good health

Here at Aura Dental in St John’s Wood, braces come in a variety of systems. Many people only have mildly misaligned teeth. If you are one such person, do not think that getting them straightened with braces in St John’s Wood makes you vain. Indeed, having your teeth straightened is in fact an act of self-care on several levels. When it comes to oral health, it is easier to keep straighter teeth clean. Therefore, straightening your teeth will greatly reduce your risk of tooth decay and infection.

When it comes to mental health, people who get their teeth straightened find themselves smiling and laughing more often, thereby increasing the amount of feel-good chemicals, such as serotonin, their bodies release. When it comes to social wellbeing, smiling more creates more connections, which can smooth your path through life.

A popular solution

Six Month Smiles is one of our popular braces systems. It combines the latest innovations and techniques with the tried and tested mechanics of teeth straightening. This means we can predict how your teeth will move and how long it will take to get them into alignment. Six Month Smiles uses the latest small clear ceramic brackets, then modernises them by using tooth-coloured wires that make your braces almost unnoticeable.

The average treatment for this option is just 6 months, hence the name of these braces in St John’s Wood. Six Month Smiles work so quickly because, unlike standard braces, they only focus on the front teeth – those that show when you smile.

One of the problems with wearing fixed braces is eating. Food gets stuck between the brackets and your teeth and it can sometimes take a while to remove it. Sometimes people have to avoid particular foods for the duration of their treatment, which, if it goes on for a year or more, can be a real hassle. Not only do you find yourself limited in your choices when going out to eat, but it can make you seem difficult when visiting friends for dinner.

This is one of the reasons why people choosing braces in St John’s Wood often go for Invisalign at Aura Dental. Invisalign is not like the traditional bracket and wire systems that we tend to associate with getting our teeth straightened. This process is done using a series of aligners, which are like very thin clear plastic gumshields. They slip over the teeth and hug them so snugly that they are more or less invisible to the untrained eye.

What will it be like?

Invisalign aligners are designed to be removed when you eat. When you choose these braces in St John’s Wood, you have to take them out for every meal or snack, and indeed for every drink that is not plain water. This means that they cannot get in the way of your food, or increase your chances of decay by trapping food against your teeth.

You just take out the aligners, eat your food and then pop them back in again. You need to wear these aligners for at least 22 hours a day if you are to stay on schedule with your treatment with braces in St John’s Wood. The plus side of this that people have discovered is that it pretty much cuts out that kind of mindless snacking that it is so easy to indulge in at your workstation, as well as endless soft drinks or sugar-laden coffees. The result is a happy side effect of weight loss, even if you are able to eat whatever you like at official meal times.

If you think Invisalign would be the right option for braces in St John’s Wood for you, why not make an appointment for a free consultation at Aura Dental.

Crooked teeth can diminish your appearance and can also detract from the health of your mouth as they have gaps in which plaque can accumulate. Crooked teeth can also drift, due to lack of stability. If you are tired of wondering how you look when you smile or feeling self-conscious when you talk, then you might like to consider braces. St John’s Wood is home to Aura Dental, where we offer a range of discreet braces so that you can benefit from straighter teeth without the inconvenience or unsightly appearance of metal braces.

A more discreet option

Most adults do not want to have to worry about whether people can see their braces while they have their teeth straightened. Luckily, you no longer have to, as modern methods are faster, more comfortable and less obtrusive than ever before. We offer braces in St John’s Wood that give you the smile you dream of without affecting your everyday life. The Invisalign system uses a series of almost invisible clear plastic trays, which are individually made to fit your mouth. They are changed every two weeks and removeable for eating and cleaning. The Inman aligner is also clear, but contains nickel titanium coil springs and bows. These create gentle forces that guide your teeth into the correct position. The aligners are removeable, but if you wear them for 16-20 hours per day, you can expect to have a great new smile in 6-18 weeks.

George Angelidakis

Dentist

George was born in Greece and qualified as a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) in 2011. After graduating, he gained experience working as the Dental Officer of the Greek Military Dental Clinic in the demanding Oral Surgery and Restorative Dentistry Departments.

To master his skills and knowledge in Aesthetic Dentistry, George moved to New York City and completed a full time Advanced Postgraduate Program in Aesthetic Dentistry at the renowned New York University.

He is a certified Invisalign, Inman Aligner and Cfast Clear Braces provider.

Using his combined knowledge and a comprehensive approach, he has gained an excellent reputation in “Designing Enhanced Smiles” for those inspired to change their look or cosmetic dental appearance.

Get the results you want, fast.

Another popular option for patients who have had braces in St John’s Wood is the Six Month Smiles technique, which uses very discreet clear brackets and tooth-coloured wires. It works on the front six teeth, which are the ones most visible when you smile. Although it cannot correct serious misalignments, it works rapidly to improve your appearance. CFast braces also act quickly and can improve the alignment of the front teeth in the top and bottom jaws as well as rounding out the arches, in as little as six months.

Jose Cerqueira Marinho Da Silva

Dentist

Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry in 2011 after initially completing a degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Manchester in 2006.

He has undertaken extensive postgraduate training including a world renowned one year cosmetic dentistry & aesthetic restorative dentistry course and is a certified practitioner in Invisalign, Six-Month Smiles (clear braces), Inman Aligner and Fastbraces®. He also prides himself in providing facial rejuvenation procedures to his patients including botox and dermal fillers.

Invest in your smile and oral health and talk to us today about having braces in St John’s Wood.

If you could change one thing about your smile, what would it be? Let me guess. Straighter teeth? This is the answer that most people give.

The reason for this is that most people do not naturally have straight teeth. That didn’t used to matter as much as it does these days. It’s a chicken and egg situation, which came first, the improvements in braces or the societal emphasis on straight teeth?

We may never know, but the good news is that whichever it is, At Aura Dental in St John’s Wood, braces come in a choice of systems, and there’s one on offer that’s perfect for you.

Your options

Let’s take a quick look at what each system has to offer:

Invisalign – If you’d rather not wear brackets and wires, you can opt for these invisible aligners. These are custom-made, tight-fitting plastic trays that slip over your teeth like a mouth guard, only they are so thin you can hardly see them. You wear a series of them, each for 2 weeks. Each one gradually shifts your teeth towards their desired position. The other big plus with aligners is that they are removable, making it easier to eat and to keep your teeth and straightening equipment free from food.

Six Month Smiles – This is a fixed bracket and wire system, with the added plus of using clear brackets and tooth-coloured wires that are barely visible. As the name suggests, this braces system can realign teeth in an average of 6 months.

Cfast – This is another system that uses barely noticeable clear brackets and tooth-coloured wires fixed to the front surface of the teeth. Cfast is designed to make simple corrections to the front 6 teeth on the upper and lower jaws. These are the teeth that get seen in most day to day situations. They are known as the ‘social six’.

Inman Aligner – This braces system is designed to realign the front teeth only. It is a removable appliance so that you can take it out for eating and cleaning. Worn as prescribed, it can straighten up your teeth in only 6 to 18 weeks.

To find out about braces in St John’s Wood, why not pop in for a consultation?

Dentistry has benefitted hugely from research and development in many areas over the past 2 or 3 decades, making it possible for all of us to have the smile we have always wanted. One area of dentistry that may have advanced more than any other is that of teeth straightening, where the focus is on creating aligned teeth and bite. Time was, if you wanted braces in St John’s Wood, you’d undergo 2 or 3 years of heavy duty metal brackets and wires that could cut into your cheeks and make your teeth ache, as well as restrict your diet and impair your speech. No wonder no one but adolescents was seen in them, what person with freedom of choice would put themselves through that.

However, these days, there are many kinds of braces on offer, each designed to tackle a different problem and to blend with different lifestyle needs. At Aura Dental in St John’s Wood, braces come in several forms to give you the freedom of choice, although we will recommend a system to best suit your needs.

Invisalign

This system uses clear aligners that look like transparent gum shields. The aligners are changed every 2 weeks. You can remove them to clean your teeth and eat, but you need to wear them for at least 22 hours a day for them to align your teeth on schedule. Their smooth plastic means no cut cheeks or mouth sores, and it is so thin that no one can see you are wearing them.

Inman Aligner

This aligner is a cross between invisible and metal braces. It relies on coil springs that power 2 metal aligner bows that gently oppose each other, guiding the teeth into their new positions. This system is often quicker than Invisalign, taking between 6 and 16 weeks. Also, only one appliance is required for the entire treatment, making it more affordable. The Inman Aligner is designed to move the front teeth only.

Six Month Smiles

This uses tooth-coloured brackets and wires to move the front 6 social teeth, the ones you see when you smile. Treatments are completed in as little as 6 months.

To find out more about braces in St John’s Wood, why not pop in for a consultation?