What orthodontic treatment would be best for me? And how can I get the most for my money? These are common questions among prospective patients. It's quite a tricky one to answer but dentists will do their best to give you the information you need to make an informed decision about the orthodontic options available. 

The potential length of treatment is usually the first consideration. Patients want to see results promptly but they also want the experience of using an orthodontic tool to be as short as possible. This does need a further look when it comes to aligners versus braces, as their impact on everyday life is quite different. The severity of misalignment and exactly which teeth have to be moved have substantial impacts on the length of treatment. Typically, Invisalign London treatment is between 12 to 18 months and braces from 6 to 24. In general, aligners are used in more cosmetic situations and cases involving the front-most teeth whereas braces are used in more complicated cases. Looked at in isolation through the lens of tooth movement each day, braces are often faster. Clear aligners only have substantial aesthetic differences from braces in that they are almost invisible and often go completely unnoticed in public. They are also removable and it is strongly recommended that you do take them out when eating. Not only does this avoid damage but allows cleaning to be far simpler than the fiddly post-meal washing that comes along with standard braces. It does mean a degree of discipline is required to replace and consistently use aligners with 2 hours break for eating per 24. Going beyond this can easily result in extending treatment times. 

If you are sharp-eyed and financially conscious, then you may have noticed that traditional metal braces are unbranded but clear aligners are. When a product like braces has been around for more than 100 years, the branding tends to fade in time, as all the competitors converge on an optimal ideal design as patterns, copyrights and other intellectual property protections expire. Only gaining traction in the early 90s, clear aligners are not at that stage, so the brand is important and non branded aligners can't make use of the same software, manufacturing process or distribution channels. It doesn't mean that competitor’s aren't out there and often with a lower price tag. This usually takes place outside of a traditional dental setting, with online only consultations and little oversight throughout treatment. 

Clear aligners are offered as one of two packages, a light and total package. Light package are best used for less severe misalignments, whereas the total package applies the full capacity of the system to the problem, including a greater number of individual aligners and retainers. Included in both services is the diagnosis and assessment of your misalignment, the oversight offered by dentistry including a full assessment before you start, ensuring that your general dental health is appropriate. As well as a simulated mockup of how your treatment will progress from your teeth starting position to their final fully aligned locations. Apart from the simulated outcome, these are also included in standard orthodontic treatment of using a brace but almost all of it is missing in the event of online dentistry. It also usually operates without clinic checks where assessments are performed via photos sent in over your phone. 

Follow-up visits and continued monitoring is considered a normal part of aligners, and minor treatment under the supervision of a dentist. This is also the case with traditional braces that will require tightening every 6 weeks throughout the course.