Transparent teeth aligners: How does Smilelign® work?

Smilelign® is an innovative way of straightening your teeth, allowing you to smile and live more confidently. The technology uses a series of tailor-made transparent removable aligners.

We sat and talked to one of our leading dentists, Dr Olurotimi Adesanya, who carries out this revolutionary dental procedure at his clinic. He explains to us how Smilelign® realigns teeth.

What are the main benefits of using Smilelign® aligners vs braces?

The main benefit is the discretion. Not everyone’s working or social lives lend themselves easily to bracket brace systems. Smilelign® aligners are virtually undetectable unless someone is paying seriously close attention to you! It is also a lot less chair time for the patient at the dentist!

Smilelign® provide the patient pre-aligners (non-active aligners) for the patient to have a feel of the aligners, it’s like a test drive. This makes Smilelign® different from most aligners on the market today and is good if you like to “try before you buy”, so to speak.

How will my dentist prepare me for Smilelign® treatment?

Smilelign® treatment starts before you begin wearing the aligners.

Your dentist will do a full mouth check-up, including pictures and either an intra-oral scan or dental impression before starting treatment.

Once all of this information is sent off to the Smilelign® laboratory, they will assess it and create an expected outcome and plan with the dentist. This will include a digital 3D simulation of the outcome, i.e. what the teeth will look like after treatment.

The final plan is authorised by the dentist.

What should I expect during Smilelign® treatment?

During treatment, you can expect aligners to feel very tight during the first few days of wear. This is because the teeth are being moved quickly. When coming to the end of each aligner, the aligner will be loose, as the movement of the teeth is achieved.

Some patients may need to have IPR (interproximal reduction), which involves the filing of some of the outer tooth surface called the enamel to create space for tooth movement. IPR is performed by the dentist. This procedure is done to avoid having unnecessary extractions of healthy teeth.

You can experience a dry mouth, but while wearing aligners you can drink water.

How long will I need to wear the Smilelign® aligners for?

This is a question answered on a case to case basis. We have patients ranging from six aligners, to 26! Each aligner is worn for two weeks, but overall, the time you will need to use Smilelign® for really does depend on the severity of the case and the movement required. Some patients may require more work from their dentist than others.

What will I need to do during Smilelign® treatment?

Cleanliness and compliance are key!

Looking after your teeth with twice a day brushing, a good mouthwash and inter dental cleaning are a must. The hygienist can always help too. Also, keeping the aligners clean and safe. There are very good cleaning tablets available and recommended by a dentist to keep the aligners clean and in good condition.

Stick to the plan, even if it means timing yourself when eating to get as many hours of wear out of each aligner. 22 hours a day are recommended, and if an aligner is starting to get loose, don’t change it until the designated day. There is a Smilelign® app that reminds you when to change them and helps you track the progress of your treatment. 

Also, if you lose or damage an aligner- you should let the dentist know immediately. Smilelign® are very good at sending a replacement to us very quickly.

Are the results from Smilelign® permanent?

Unfortunately, teeth will always try to fight their way back to their original position. Therefore, retention is the answer.

We fit every orthodontic patient with both fixed and removable retainers. The fixed retainer will stay there permanently, but care will be needed to keep it in top condition by seeing the hygienist. Removable retainers can be worn over night, and should be changed every two years.

What can I do to maintain the results from Smilelign®?

Retainers, good oral hygiene, regular dental check-ups and cleans at the clinic will keep your new beautiful and straight smile in check!

Dr Olurotimi Adesanya is a leading dentist who practices at Watling Street Dental Care.

If you are interested in Smilelign®, or you simply want to find out more, you can make an appointment with him via his Top Doctors profile.