Invisalign Wellington

Unfortunately no, ‘invisible braces’ is a term that’s been adopted to describe a range of very inconspicuous braces. No brace could ever be truly invisible – but there are some that come close. Clear and tooth-coloured fixed braces are more visible but still much more discreet than metal braces.

Clear fixed braces work in the same way as traditional metal braces, so they’re very good at straightening teeth. Clear aligners like Invisalign and SmileTRU are less effective at treating certain problems, for example impacted teeth, but for the right cases they can achieve excellent results.

There are some types of ‘invisible’ braces that can be removed, but only for eating, drinking and to brush your teeth – if you take them out for too long your treatment could be affected. We offer a number of different removable options including SmileTRU and the Inman Aligner.

The cost of braces varies from patient-to-patient, and for mild cases an ‘invisible’ option such as SmileTRU can be more cost effective than visible alternatives such as conventional braces.

Clear, fixed braces feature clear or tooth-coloured brackets that cleverly blend in with your teeth. The brackets themselves have been designed to be stain resistant, however, sometimes elastic bands are used to attach your brace’s arch wire to your brackets – and these can be more vulnerable to stains.

You can limit your risk of stains by avoiding very colourful foods like curries, berries, mustard and ketchup; brushing regularly; and steering clear of cigarettes. If you are unlucky enough to stain your elastic bands, don’t worry, we can change them at your next appointment. SmileTRU aligners are changed every two weeks, so they shouldn’t have a chance to discolour.

The results of orthodontic treatment can be maintained using fixed and/or removable retainers, and ‘invisible’ braces are no exception. Keeping your teeth straight is just as important as your initial treatment and you’ll need to wear retainers indefinitely to ensure that your teeth don’t move. Fortunately retainers are very unobtrusive and they’ll quickly become part of your routine.