Inman Aligner: Details

Please Note:

The Inman Aligner can only be fitted to fully-formed teeth, so it is not suitable for children aged under 15. It is also only effective on the front teeth in cases of mild to moderate mis-alignment. For treatment of all the teeth, Invisalign is more suitable.

How does it work?

The Inman Aligner™ looks like a cross between a removable brace and a sports mouthguard, but is thin and transparent, which means it is virtually invisible, although not as "invisible" as Invisalign™. In addition all movements are achieved with a single aligner so there is no need to change your aligners as you would with Invisalign™.

The Inman Aligner™ is also a benefit to patients having other cosmetic work carried out. Using the Inman Aligner before having veneers or crowns prepared can markedly reduce the preparation work required, resulting in far less invasive treatment.

The design of the appliance produces a gentle pressure so your teeth are moved into the correct position. This can take from 4-16 weeks, which means you will have a beautifully straight smile in just a few months - significantly less than any other orthodontic treatment.

More information can be seen in the Inman Aligner information movie (requires Quicktime player - download here)

Pros & Cons

The Inman Aligner™ is removable, which means you can still eat whatever you like, and you can clean your teeth as easily as you normally do.

You don't need to wear the aligner all the time if you don't want to, but wearing for less than 16-20 hours per day will result in treatment taking longer.

PROS	CONS
Quick	Will only work on the front teeth
Removable	Will affect speech for the first few days
Can be used to correct relapse from prior orthodontic treatment	Outcome is reliant on wearing the appliance as directed
Less than half the cost of other systems	Is not suitable for people with active gum disease or tooth decay
No teeth need to be removed or drilled	Requires some minimal shaping of the edges of the teeth with polishing strips to provide space for movement. This is not harmful to the teeth in the long term.
Can be used to move the front teeth into a more favourable position prior to undergoing cosmetic treatment such as veneers or crowns, thus reducing the amount of tooth shaping needed	Can only treat 1 jaw at a time (cannot fit to upper & lower at same time)

Note: A retainer (either thin clear plastic, or bonded wire depending on the individual case) must be worn FOR LIFE to ensure the stability (night wear for the plastic retainer). The provision of retainers now applies to ALL orthodontic treatment.

See what the media think of the Inman Aligner

For further information, or to arrange a consultation, please contact the practice on 0115 986 4741.