Teeth straightening with dental braces is the most cost effective, long term solution to improving the smile in many cases. At the Vallance Dental Centre we want you to feel great about your smile. Whether this is the shape, position or colour of your teeth. Developments in brace technology has given us the ability to straighten your teeth quicker and more painlessly than ever before.
From £60.00
Introduction to Cfast® orthodontics
Cfast stands for “Cosmetically Focused Adult Straight Teeth”.
What is Cfast?
Cfast is a simple, gentle, minimally invasive cosmetic treatment. It aims to correct alignment issues with the top and bottom front six teeth, and can level and round out the arches. Cfast provides an ideal solution for adults looking to improve the position of the teeth you see when you smile, but want to avoid lengthy treatment times.
How does Cfast work?
Cfast uses specially designed clear, fixed orthodontic brackets and tooth-coloured, white nickel-titanium wires. As the teeth move, the gumline will follow to achieve a fully aesthetic outcome. Cfast focuses purely on the front teeth, therefore it not a replacement for conventional orthodontics but since most adults are not concerned about the position of their back teeth, Cfast satisfies the needs of most adults who seek orthodontic treatment. Tooth movement with Cfast is very predictable and usually more than twice as quick as using clear aligners (such as Invisalign®).
How long does it take to straighten my teeth with Cfast?
This varies from patient to patient. It can take as little as 4 months, and treatment time should be no longer than 9 months. On average, treatment time is around 6 months.
Does Cfast hurt?
As with any orthodontic procedure there can be some discomfort for a few days after the appliance is fitted. However because the forces from the Cfast appliance are very light, after the first 7-10 days there should be little to no pain at all. At first, the brace may rub against the lips or cheeks and wax is supplied to ease any of these areas, but most patients find this isn’t a problem. During treatment you may find that the teeth become a little mobile and sensitive to pressure. This is quite normal and will fully resolve when the braces are removed.
Advantages vs disadvantages of Cfast
Advantages
Brackets are fixed, so unlike clear aligners, you can eat and drink with them in place
Quicker treatment times
Less expensive
Clear brackets and white colour of wire makes them very discreet and almost unnoticeable
More gentle pressures than traditional orthodontic methods, therefore minimal risk of side effects and discomfort
Can move teeth to a more favourable position to avoid destructive cosmetic crown or veneer work
A 3D digital image can be created to show you what kind of result you can expect after the straightening procedure
Disadvantages
More visible than clear aligners
Will not correct position of back teeth
Not suitable for more extensive, complicated movements of teeth
Can be more difficult to clean than clear aligners
Who is Cfast suitable for?
Cfast is for adults only, so 18 years and over. If your concern is crowded teeth, gaps between the teeth, or a gummy smile, Cfast may be suitable for you. Following any kind of orthodontic treatment, you will need to wear retainers to keep the teeth in their new position. With Cfast, you will be provided with both a fixed and removable retainer. Cfast is only suitable for patients who are committed to wearing retainers at night for life, as long as they don’t want their teeth to move back to their original position.
Contact us to book a consultation to discuss your individual needs in more detail.
Who is Cfast not suitable for?
Cfast only treats the “social six” – the upper and lower six front teeth you see when you smile. Therefore if you require treatment to make changes to your back teeth or the position of your bite, or for more complicated cases you will be more suited to either Invisalign® treatment or a specialist orthodontist.
The Cfast process
1. Consultation
We will discuss your concerns, and create a treatment plan together to achieve your desired outcome. You may choose to have a 3D digital image made to accurately show what the final result will look like for an additional fee.
2. Impressions and photographs
If you are suitable for Cfast, and once you’ve decided to go ahead, we will take some impressions and a set of “before” photographs. The impressions are sent to the laboratory to have your brace made, a process which usually takes 10 working days.
3. Putting on the brace
The brace is fitted and you will be given detailed instructions on how to look after the brace. This appointment takes about 30 minutes. Wax is supplied to help ease any discomfort you may experience at the beginning.
4. Review
Every 4 weeks, we will arrange to see you to review the progress you are making with the treatment. Photographs are taken to document the progress. The wire will be removed to clean the brackets for you, then it is either replaced or a new wire may be placed. If your teeth are crowded, some polishing may be required to remove a very small amount of enamel between the teeth. No more than 0.5mm of enamel is removed using abrasive strips and it is a painless process. This allows us to make more room for the teeth to move into alignment.
5. Removing the brace and polishing teeth
When you are happy with the result, we will take some impressions to make your fixed wire retainer. Once the fixed retainer has been placed, we can remove the brace and polish the front of the teeth for a smooth finish. We then take more impressions for your removable retainer.
6. Retainers
The removable retainer is fitted at this appointment. This is the main retainer and must be worn nightly. The fixed retainer is a “back-up” retainer and shouldn’t be relied on to keep the teeth in place. There is also the option of the SOLID retainer system, exclusive to Cfast. This is a premium, invisible fixed retainer complemented by a clear retainer, which is fitted in one appointment to ensure absolutely no tooth movement after braces are removed.
7. Whitening and composite bonding
After straightening the teeth, you may find that the gumline is level but the edges of the teeth are uneven. This is due to teeth wearing down over time and it is easily corrected with a technique called composite bonding. We can use white, tooth-coloured composite material to bond to the teeth allowing us to reshape and balance your smile in a safe, minimally invasive way. However, this material does not change colour with whitening gel so natural teeth need to be whitened before composite bonding if this is desired. We can discuss whitening and composite bonding at your Cfast consultation!
How much does Cfast cost?
We offer the option of spreading the cost with 0% finance over 12 months or we can create a more flexible, tailored payment plan to accommodate your needs. Please see our finance calculator below
Finance your dental implant with Tabeo
It only takes 2 minutes to apply and you’ll get an answer straight away. Applying for a loan has never been easier.
Available for many treatments and for up to £30,000. Credit decisions will be subject to your individual circumstances. You must be over 18 and earn an income to apply.
My experience in Vallance dental centre was fantastic. The dentist was amazing because she was sure of her work. I really appreciate her and her assistant. I will definitely recommend the practice to anyone who needs a professional dental care. Thanks.
I visited yesterday for my six month check up. As always reception was very helpful.
My dentist, Amy, is amazing. I have been seeing her for a year now and I am delighted. I also saw Catherine and Megan, who were so helpful and kind.
As always this was a really pleasant dental experience.
Was seen by Tiphanie & Catherine for a couple of fillings to correct chips on my front teeth. Great care was taken to make them look natural, and the colour match was brilliant. The care and attention to my comfort was paramount. Thank you Girls xx
I was really nervous about coming to the dentist today as I have had not great experiences in the past. Louisa and Catherine made me feel at ease. They did a fantastic job! thank you.
I was so nervous about coming , but Amy and Sue were absolutely fantastic. Not only were they gentle and reassuring, frequently asking if I was okay while having my fillings, They were friendly , funny and lovely to chat too. I felt so relaxed while having the treatment. Thank you so much again. Honestly the most gentle painless experience I've had at the dentist. Also take my child to Dr Amy and she was absolutely amazing with him as well 👍🏼
The best place I can take my children to, they never disappoint with their appointments, the lady at the front desk she’s so lovely, Tiphanie and Catherine both where really kind and gentle , they also called us just on time, definitely will be going back. That’s a dentist for me and my children. I appreciate they’re hard work.