Orthodontics in Reading

If you are looking for a Reading orthodontist offering the best and latest in orthodontic treatment, you need look no further than the Earley Dental Practice. Here at Earley Dental Practice, we offer several different teeth straightening options including traditional braces, lingual braces and clear aligners. It doesn't matter whether you are experiencing issues with crowded teeth, gapped teeth, overbite, underbite or general misalignment, we'll help you achieve the new smile you deserve. The orthodontic care we provide is always tailored to the individual. We understand that not everyone finds the idea of traditional fixed braces appealing, so at your individual consultation we'll assess and discuss your individualised path to straighter teeth. There are are so many ways of achieving the perfect smile and our goal at the Earley Dental Practice is to find the most practical and workable way of making your dream smile a reality. When you walk out of our orthodontic centre after your teeth straightening treatment, we want you to feel confident and ready to smile at the world.

What teeth straightening options are available at the Earley orthodontic centre?

Are you interested in learning more about some of the different orthodontic treatment options we have to offer? Here is an overview over our most popular orthodontic treatments.

Invisalign

Invisalign® is the perfect happy medium for patients who are looking for an alternative to traditional fixed braces but whose dental misalignment issues are severe enough that they need ongoing treatments and thorough aftercare. Invisalign aligners are clear, discreet, and utilise gentle yet persistent force to shift teeth into a more aesthetic position.

What is Invisalign®?

Invisalign® is the brand name for a set of removable clear plastic aligners, pioneered in 1999. Since then, it’s become hugely popular, thanks to the freedom patients can exercise during their treatment and because the aligners can hardly be seen by others when you wear them.

We may suggest Invisalign® if you:

Dislike the idea of a fixed brace. Would like a discreet-looking brace. Have moderate to complex misaligned, crowding and gapped teeth. Don’t wish to change your dietary and brushing routine during treatment.

What can I expect during the treatment process?

Examination of your teeth to check they are healthy to proceed with treatment. Impressions taken so your aligners can be made by the Invisalign® lab. Fitting of aligners to make sure they are comfortable. Aligner-wearing at home – you will need to change them over every 10 days -2 weeks and come in to see us every 4-6 weeks for a review. Use of a retainer after treatment to stop teeth moving back into their original position.

What makes Invisalign® great?

ClinCheck software allows us to show you the outcome of treatment before you even start. Discreet aligners that keep your teeth looking fantastic throughout. Eat, brush and floss like normal. Hugely popular teeth straightening treatment around the world. Comfortable aligners to wear.

Cfast

Imagine straightening your teeth in as little as 6 months. That’s exactly what the Cfast system can achieve. This innovative and discreet brace system uses gentle forces to reposition your teeth, to give you a healthier and more aesthetic smile. Thanks to the use of ceramic brackets and tooth-coloured wires, Cfasts keep your teeth looking fantastic throughout the whole treatment period.

What is Cfast?

Cfast is a cosmetic fixed brace system that moves your visible teeth (when you smile) into a better position – these teeth are called the ‘social six’. We may suggest opting for Cfast if you:

• Have overcrowded teeth.
• Have gaps in between your teeth.
• Have misaligned teeth.
• Are looking for a discreet brace?
• Are looking for short-term treatment – Cfast straightens your teeth in 4-9 months.

Orthodontic treatment can benefit both your confidence and your oral health, giving you the desire to smile again around other people, and making it easier to brush and floss your teeth.

What can I expect during the treatment process?

• Examination of your teeth to check they are decay and disease-free before treatment begins. We will also take you through the other options we offer for tooth straightening.
• Dental impressions are taken so the dental lab can make your braces unique to your smile.
• Fitting of brackets once we get them back from the lab. You can then start the process to get your teeth looking beautifully straight and uniform. We will book you in for routine reviews, to keep an eye on your progress.
• Use of a retainer after treatment to stop teeth from moving out of place.

What makes Cfast great?

• Discreet brace.
• Gently moves your teeth into position – they’re easy to get used to and you’ll barely notice you’re wearing them as you go about your day.
• Healthier teeth for life post-treatment.
• Perfect for patients who only need to straighten their front teeth.

Inman Aligners™

For straighter front teeth in only a matter of weeks, choose the Inman Aligner™ Using gentle forces, this removable aligner is ideal for patients who are looking for a brace that fits in with their lifestyle.

What is the Inman Aligner™?

The Inman Aligner™ is a removable appliance that employs the use of aligner bows, which work against one another to apply the pressure necessary to guide your teeth into a better position. It’s this gentle application of constant forces that makes the Inman Aligner™ able to deliver great results for patients in such a short space of time.

We may suggest the Inman Aligner™ if you:

• Don’t want to wear a fixed brace.
• Wish to brush and eat like normal during your treatment.
• Are only looking to improve the look of your front teeth.
• Have crowed, misaligned or gapped front top or bottom teeth.

What can I expect during the treatment process?

• Examination of your teeth to check they are healthy to proceed with treatment.
• Impressions of your teeth are taken so the lab can make your aligners.
• Wear your aligners for 20-22 hours a day to move your teeth into place.
• Come in and see us every few weeks for a progress check-up.

What makes the Inman Aligner™ great?

• Short treatment time.
• Take your aligners out to eat and brush as you would normally.
• Easy aligner to get used to.
• Discreet-looking aligner.

Which orthodontic treatment is right for you?

Given that there are so many different ways of straightening teeth, how can you know which option is best for addressing your particular dental concern; how do you choose one teeth straightening method over the others? The answer comes in two parts. Whether you should opt for clear fixed braces such as Invisalign aligners, fixed ceramic braces such as Cfast, or fast-acting removable aligners such as Inman aligners depends on both your own wishes and on what's possible. In mild cases where you are only a pair of crooked front teeth away from a perfect smile, Inman braces are the ideal option for you. Thanks to the advanced technology and gentle forces that Inman braces rely on, the treatment is both quick and effective. If your case of misalignment is a little more severe and you have several teeth that could do with a bit of straightening out, but you still favour the idea of clear aligners over fixed braces, Invisalign aligners are the perfect choice. Invisalign aligners have gained international popularity for a reason: They offer a reliable, effective and permanent way of straightening teeth, even if the crowding, gaps or misalignment issues aren't confined to just one or two teeth. Finally, Cfast braces are a fantastic option for you if you don't mind wearing traditional fixed braces but still want to look great while you are undergoing your teeth straightening treatment. Cfast braces are fitted with ceramic brackets which makes them almost invisible. Much like Inman braces, Cfast fixed braces work by applying gentle yet insistent force to the teeth at the front of your mouth, but while Inman braces only focus on the front teeth themselves, Cfast ceramic braces apply straightening force to your so-called 'social six.' Your social six are the six teeth at the front of your mouth which are visible to others during social interaction. As you can probably deduct, your own wishes influence which orthodontic care option you should choose, but the state of your teeth to begin with also matters. If your teeth are very severely misaligned, you will simply not be able to achieve straight teeth by wearing Inman braces. Here, Invisalign braces are most likely going to be a much better permeant option for you.

What to expect at your initial consultation

Your initial consultation with us is all about determining how we can best help you achieve a beautiful new smile. At your initial consultation we'll assess the condition and health of your teeth so that we can get a good idea of which teeth straightening option or options would be most effective for straightening your particular set of teeth. Your initial consultation with us is also where you get to ask any questions you may have as well as share your input and preferences. We don't want you to feel like you are just a passenger along for the ride. We want you to feel confident that we value your thoughts and that our orthodontists will take your input into consideration when suggesting a treatment. During your initial consultation you will also be able to discuss payment options with us.

Frequently asked questions

How long is NHS waiting list for orthodontist?

Sadly, the NHS is under a lot of strain and waiting to see an orthodontist through the NHS can take as long as two years. Although getting your teeth straightened on the NHS is significantly cheaper than going to a private orthodontic centre, the cost of waiting two years to be seen by an orthodontic expert could easily be much higher than the cost of treatment. The reason for this is that dental issues like crowding and misalignment can make it very difficult to clean your teeth properly, which in turn can make it much easier for plaque to build up in the gaps and crevices between your teeth. Having overcrowded or crooked teeth is not just a cosmetic concern, it's a dental health concern, too, as people with crooked and crowded teeth are at much higher risk of developing dental infections and decay. All in all, skipping the NHS queue and going private to receive the orthodontic treatment you need could turn out to be a much cheaper decision than waiting.

Can I go straight to orthodontist?

Yes, you do not need a doctor's or NHS dentist's referral to be able to see a orthodontic doctor for treatment. Once you have done your research and found a reputable orthodontic clinic you can go right ahead and book your own appointment.

What is the cheapest you can pay for braces?

The cheapest route to straighter teeth is at-home clear aligner treatments with prices starting from around £100 for the full treatment. It is true that remote clear aligner treatments are cheaper in the short term. In the medium-to-long term, however, you may be better off choosing in-person orthodontic treatment that costs a little more upfront. When you order a subscription clear aligner service to be sent to your home, your treatment generally involves very little professional oversight. If your teeth straightening process is not being monitored properly, you might find yourself dealing with some unpleasant side effects that you did not foresee. These could involve even more crooked teeth, loose teeth or nerve damage as a result of uncontrolled teeth movement in your jaw. For greater peace of mind and generally better outcomes, see a professional, reputable orthodontist instead.

Is an orthodontist better than a dentist?

An orthodontist is not necessarily better than a dentist. An orthodontist is simply a dentist who has specialised in teeth straightening treatments, whereas a dentist is well equipped to handle an array of general dental health problems. The difference between an orthodontist and a dentist is comparable to the difference between an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) doctor and a GP (General Practitioner).