Orthodontics:
Removable braces
Removable braces and aligners clip over your teeth and can be taken out for eating, teeth cleaning, sport or for playing a musical instrument. They can be used to treat crowding or misalignment, and can sometimes be worn by patients who still have some primary (milk) teeth. Bupa Dental Care offers clear aligners including Invisalign and - conventional removable braces, near-invisible systems for straightening teeth.
To find out if removable braces are right for you, get in touch with your local Bupa Dental Care practice and make an appointment. Our dentists will be happy to explain your options to you.
What are the benefits of removable braces?
Discreet
Removable braces can be extremely discreet. If you want straighter teeth but are concerned about obvious, traditional braces, Invisalign clear aligners are an example of a near-invisible option.
Convenient
Removable braces offer a more flexible approach to teeth straightening. You can remove your brace to clean your teeth or for playing contact sports, and can also take your brace out if you play a musical instrument such as the flute. Some removable braces only need to be worn for 22 hours a day, so you can also take them out to eat.
Fast
Removable braces are usually appropriate for cosmetic teeth straightening, which involves the front teeth and are therefore quicker to resolve and straighten than other complex cases of overcrowding or under/overbite.
Your dentist will explain your options and recommend the teeth straightening treatment that’s right for you. Find a practice near you offering orthodontics.
What are the alternatives?
Removable braces can only treat mild to moderate teeth crowding, protrusion and misalignment. If more complex tooth movement is required, your dentist may recommend:
- Fixed braces - Traditional fixed braces offer predictable and reliable results. Metal or ceramic brackets are bonded to teeth and held in place by a wire. Ceramic braces can be almost transparent.
- Lingual braces - Lingual braces also use fixed brackets and wires but these sit on the inside surface of your teeth rather than on the front, making them virtually invisible.
Cosmetic teeth straightening is also available for adults who only want to straighten their front teeth, and so do not require full orthodontic treatment. Systems like Six Month Smiles and Cfast can be effective in as little as six months.
Your local Bupa dentist will be happy to discuss your options for teeth straightening with you. Find an orthodontist near you.
Clear aligners
Many Bupa dentists provide Invisalign clear aligners. Invisalign braces use a series of custom-made aligners that gradually straighten your teeth without any metal wires or brackets. The aligners are thin and flexible and fit closely over your teeth like mouth guards. They are removable, so you can take them out when eating and brushing your teeth.
Inman Aligners
The Inman Aligner is a removable device that clips onto the upper or lower tooth arches and uses two metal ‘bows’ to push teeth from both the front and back at the same time.
Applying gentle pressure to both the fronts and backs of teeth in this way enables the Inman Aligner to rapidly guide teeth into their new positions.
Inman Aligners can correct issues with crowding and protrusion.
Conventional removable braces
These consist of an acrylic plate with metal wires that hold the appliance in place and move teeth. They can be taken out for cleaning and need to be worn 23 hours a day for around 6-9 months.
Removable braces are often used to correct issues with overbite or cross-bite, and can be used in conjunction with, or as preparation for, fixed braces. Unlike many braces, they can be used to correct simple problems while a patient still has some of their primary (milk) teeth.
Get in touch with your local Bupa dentist to see if removable braces are right for you.
How much do removable braces cost?
The cost of your treatment will include initial consultations, the production and fitting of your bespoke brace, and further appointments to check your progress and make adjustments to your brace. The total cost will depend on the complexity of the issues with your teeth and the programme of treatment you choose to follow. Treatment with braces typically ranges from around £1,350 to upwards of £5,000.
At Bupa, we believe in transparent pricing. Your Bupa dentist will discuss your options with you and explain the full cost before beginning treatment.
We'd like to advise patients that many images and videos used throughout our website were taken and produced before the COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore social distancing rules and extra levels of PPE are not displayed.
^ We may record or monitor our calls.
Bupa Dental Care is a trading name of Oasis Healthcare Limited. Registered in England and Wales number: 03257078. Registered office: Bupa Dental Care Vantage Office Park, Old Gloucester Road, Hambrook, Bristol, United Kingdom BS16 1GW.
We'd like to advise patients that many images and videos used throughout our website were taken and produced before the COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore social distancing rules and extra levels of PPE are not displayed.
^ We may record or monitor our calls.
Bupa Dental Care is a trading name of Oasis Healthcare Limited. Registered in England and Wales number: 03257078. Registered office: Bupa Dental Care Vantage Office Park, Old Gloucester Road, Hambrook, Bristol, United Kingdom BS16 1GW.
