< Back to Services and Treatments
Orthodontics
At The Harman Dental Clinic we believe our patients should be offered as a wide a choice of treatments as possible. To that end we offer Invisalign, Inman Aligners and Clearstep. For more complex treatment plans we work closely with a range of orthodontic partners to provide further options such as hidden lingual incognito braces.
Clearstep
Clear Step™ uses an advanced laboratory procedure developed over the last five years. The system combines the diagnostic and treatment planning expertise of the dentist and couples it with the new plastic Clear Step™ system of positioners. The system moves teeth in precisely planned and accurate incremental steps using a series of custom-made clear positioners. Patients wear each positioner for an average of two weeks, moving their teeth gradually week by week, millimetre by millimetre into the desired final positions.
Advantages
- The positioners provide nearly ideal aesthetics as they are relatively invisible.
- All you can see is a slight gloss or sheen from the surface of the positioner. Because they are so good looking you will not be worried about being seen out in public.
- The positioners are comfortable to wear and allow you to clean your teeth normally.
- You can remove the positioners fro eating so you can eat what you want and where you want. No need for dietary restrictions.
- You can take the positioners out for business meetings or social occasions. We only request that you wear your positioners for 20 hours a day on average.
- Less mouth ulcers as there are no sharp wires or brackets to cause irritation.
- There is little danger of tooth damage or gum disease as the positioners are taken out for cleaning and tooth brushing.
- No likelihood of enamel decalcification or white spot damage common in fixed appliance treatments.
- Protects the biting surface of the teeth reducing enamel wear and abrasion from grinding/clenching.
Invisalign
Have you always wanted a perfectly straight smile, to close a gap between your teeth or correct your goofy teeth that stick out without the social stigma of wearing fixed metal braces? There is now a revolutionary new way to align your teeth using invisalign invisible braces. This invisible orthodontics system uses a series of clear aligners that are custom-moulded to fit your teeth and gradually apply gentle pressure to your teeth to reposition them over time.
The stages involved in your treatment include:
Stage 1 - Your Free Consultation
During your first visit we will address all your dental needs and concerns and assess your suitability for treatment with Invisalign. This initial consultation is free of charge. If you decide to go ahead with treatment we will take bite impressions of your teeth, and photographs which we will send directly to Invisalign in the States along with a set of precise instructions.
Stage 2 - Your clear aligners are made by Invisalign
Invisalign technology uses advanced 3-D computer imaging to transform the bite impressions we send them into a custom-made series of clear and removable aligners. This is overseen and adjusted by specialist orthodontists at Invisalign. There may be as many as 48 in the series or as few as 12, depending on your individual treatment plan.
Stage 3 - You receive your new aligners
During your next visit to us, you will receive your first set aligners. Each set of aligners should be worn for 2 weeks. We will usually give you a few additional sets for you to wear before you return for your progress visit.
Stage 4 - You wear your aligners
You'll wear each set of aligners day and night, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. You will change your aligners every two weeks as your teeth gradually move. Total treatment time averages 6-12 months, but will vary from case to case. We will require you to visit us every 6 weeks or so to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.
Stage 5 - You've finished treatment!
Congratulations! When you're finished wearing each aligner in the series, your treatment will be complete and you will have the perfectly aligned beautiful smile you've always wanted.
When compared to traditional fixed metal braces Invisalign has several advantages:
- Convenient – it does not disrupt your lifestyle, you can remove your aligners to eat the food you want and clean your teeth.
- Discrete – since the aligners are virtually invisible most people won't even notice you're in treatment.
- Comfortable – there are no metal wires or bands to irritate your mouth.
Inman Aligner
This is a relatively new orthodontic appliance in the UK and offers a faster solution to correcting tooth alignment problems. It is more effective at correcting problems with front teeth and is a hybrid between the Invisalign/Clearstep invisible brace systems and traditional metal braces.
Dr Oliver Harman is a certified Inman Aligner dentist.
The Inman aligner is considerably cheaper and faster than treatment with fixed orthodontics and the Invisalign/Clearstep systems due to the fact that it uses only one single appliance. However it is only suitable for certain types of cases and is more noticeable than the “invisible” systems of Invisalign/Clearstep
