Cosmetic or complex? Braces in Cheltenham

Seems every high street dentist is offering braces these days. You may have seen banners for popular brand names such as Invisalign and Six Month Smiles braces in Cheltenham.

The reason teeth straightening is so visible these days is because it is now possible for a general dentist to learn, in a fairly short space of time, how to fit certain cosmetic braces.

Time was, braces in Cheltenham could only be fitted by a dentist who had not only completed their 5 years at general dental school, but another 2-3 years studying how the teeth and jaws fit together. This is so they could diagnose misalignments and use appliances, such as braces, to correct any issues.

Braces before the 1990s were pretty much of the fixed, metal variety, highly conspicuous, and built with the strength to shift the strong back teeth with 2-3 roots each, as well as the lighter front teeth, which are held in place with one root. They had to be measured, fitted and maintained by a braces dentist, to make sure treatment stayed on track over the course of around two years. Not for the faint hearted and not surprisingly, people with mildly wonky teeth didn’t bother going through this ordeal.

However, advances in dental technology and techniques in the last 20 years means that braces are now made from lighter materials, are more discreet and in some cases only shift the front teeth, meaning they can do their work quickly: sometimes in as little as four months. These braces make cosmetic rather than necessary health changes, straightening up the smile rather than realigning the jaw.

So, while these modern braces in Cheltenham don’t require the same level of care as complex fixed metal ones, who would you rather have looking after your treatment? A dentist who has done a weekend course in fitting a particular kind of brace, or one who has trained for years on how to bring harmony to the teeth and jaws?

At Cheltenham Spa Dental & Implant Clinic, our braces dentist fits both cosmetic and complex braces, meeting all your teeth straightening needs. Call in today to find out more.