Time has flown by and we forgot to post our case of the month for December so we have decided to combine them with a tremendous case study involving a complete smile makeover. 

Our client really hated her smile. The main issues were that the smile was not wide enough, the back teeth caved in so that they were not visible on photos and the bite was all over the place. As well as teeth crowding and an overall yellow shade, so a number of aesthetic problems. 

After careful planning, which is always the key to success, Dr Nissit Patel formulated a treatment plan which involved full upper and lower invisible braces which would develop the arches and improve the smile width. The bite, or we call it occlusion, was improved and treatment was completed with tooth whitening. 

Overall, the treatment time frame was 12 months and we needed adjustment visits every 6 weeks in general. One of the key aspects in a comprehensive case like this, is the use of elastics. These are worn from the upper teeth to the lower teeth , ideally 20 hours of the day. The reason for this is to improve the way the teeth sit together. If you are not committed, the end results will not be as good! 

Here is a before and after photograph. Truly stunning!
 

2020 is flying by and January has thankfully passed with slightly longer days ahead of us. Our case of the month for January involves a simple yet effective smile makeover using the Social 6 lingual brace to make one tooth more visible on smiling. Often we seen huge dental transformations where there is huge difference in the overall smile with multiple veneers, crowns and crazy white shades that resemble white goods rather than teeth! This is not our style. For those of you that read our blog, you will know that we strongly believe in minimally invasive dentistry that looks natural, highly aesthetic and lasts a long time. Our case involves one using the Social 6 lingual brace (one of our favourite treatments), to align one tooth and dramatically change the smile in just 3 months. Here are the before and after photos:
 

Braces technology has greatly evolved over the years, and there are now various types to choose from. The least visible of any form of the tooth-aligning orthodontic procedure lingual braces or incognito braces are now growing in popularity. It is becoming a preferred option by those who are more conscious about how their braces look like. Read on the find out why you should consider lingual braces.
 

Our case of the month for September 2019 is one featuring a lingual brace. For those of you that follow our blog and case of the month series, we love lingual braces. They are hidden braces placed behind the teeth and hence the ONLY invisible brace despite what others may have you believe. Before we show you the case, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of lingual braces. The technique is not for everyone and hence this is really useful information.

Advantages of Lingual Braces 
 

1. Cannot be seen; hidden from view
2. Excellent at alignment, leveling, rotation correction when space is present
3. Excellent at space closure when the bite allows
4. No lip irritation
5. No damage to the outer surfaces of the teeth whilst placing and removing

Disadvantages of Lingual Braces
 

1. Contact on the brackets whilst biting, eating, chewing which is hard to get used to
2. Harder to clean
3. Tongue soreness
4. Greater likelihood of knocking the brackets off inadvertently
5. Use of lower night guard essential if only upper teeth are being treated
6. Cannot be used if teeth are very crowded as there will not be enough space for the brackets to be placed
7. Extremely fiddly for the treating dentist to place and adjust!
8. More expensive than conventional braces- for good reason!

Here is our case, a great end result: