Yes. Retention follows every type of orthodontic treatment because teeth tend to drift throughout life. Most patients wear a removable retainer at night, sometimes with a thin bonded wire behind the front teeth. Retainers are quoted in writing with your treatment plan and checked at your regular appointments.
NHS orthodontic treatment for adults is limited and generally based on health need rather than appearance, so invisible braces are rarely available that way. We are a private practice and do not offer NHS treatment. Our orthodontic consultation is free, so you can understand your options before deciding.
Most people feel pressure and tightness rather than pain, mainly for a day or two after each new aligner or wire adjustment. Brackets, especially lingual ones, can rub the cheeks or tongue at first; orthodontic wax helps. Discomfort usually settles within the first couple of weeks of treatment.
We provide tooth-coloured ceramic fixed braces here, quoted in writing after assessment, alongside clear aligners and Six Month Smiles clear-bracket braces for suitable front-tooth cases. Lingual braces are not offered; where a case needs them, we explain why at the consultation and refer you to a specialist orthodontist. Complex or skeletal cases are also referred.
Clear braces are fixed: tooth-coloured ceramic brackets bonded to the teeth and joined by a wire. Clear aligners are removable plastic trays changed every week or two. Aligners are less visible and easier to clean around, but only work when worn; clear braces work constantly but stay on the teeth for the whole course.
It depends on the system. At our clinic, Invisalign Express costs £2,200, Moderate £3,400 and Unlimited £4,500–£4,900. Spark aligners, Six Month Smiles and ceramic braces are quoted in writing after assessment, and lingual braces are quoted by the specialist we refer to. The orthodontic consultation is free, and 0% APR finance over 12 months is available via Tabeo, subject to status.
Our practice is at 222 Essex Road, Islington, London N1 3AP, two minutes from Essex Road station and one stop from Highbury & Islington. Buses 38, 56, 73, 341 and 476 stop on Essex Road, and Angel is a 15–20 minute walk. The orthodontic consultation is free. We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm (Tuesday from 9am), by appointment.
Yes, after either. Teeth tend to drift throughout life, so retention is part of every plan from the start. Most patients wear a removable retainer at night, often with a bonded retainer behind the front teeth. Retainers are quoted in writing with the treatment plan, so the full cost is clear before you begin.
Not always, but compliance matters more with teenagers. Aligners work well for many teens who wear them reliably. Fixed braces remove the compliance question and suit growth modification and complex bites. We discuss this openly with the teenager and a parent, and provide ceramic fixed braces where they are the better route, referring to a specialist orthodontist where growth modification is needed.
Sometimes. If the remaining movement is within what aligners can do predictably, a case can be finished with Invisalign after braces are removed. It needs a fresh assessment, scan and plan, and coordination with the clinician who placed the braces. We discuss whether switching makes clinical sense at a free consultation.
Both cause pressure for a day or two after each new aligner or adjustment. Many people find aligners more comfortable because there are no brackets or wires to rub the cheeks and lips. Braces tend to cause more soft-tissue soreness early on. Persistent pain is not normal with either and should be checked.
At our Islington practice Invisalign Express is £2,200, Moderate £3,400 and Unlimited £4,500–£4,900. Ceramic fixed braces are provided here and quoted in writing after assessment; metal braces are provided by the specialist orthodontist we refer to. The orthodontic consultation, with an iTero scan and ClinCheck preview, is free, and 0% APR finance over 12 months via Tabeo is available, subject to status.
For mild to moderate crowding, spacing and many bite corrections, Invisalign is as effective as fixed braces when aligners are worn around 22 hours a day. Fixed braces remain more capable for severe rotations, extraction cases and skeletal discrepancies. At consultation, Dr Vishal Patel, an Invisalign Diamond II provider, tells you which group your teeth fall into.
Often, yes, and the order matters. Straightening first means whitening and bonding are planned around teeth in their final position, which usually needs less work. Whitening can sometimes be done using retainers once treatment ends. We plan any cosmetic work alongside your Invisalign so each step supports the next.
Yes. Teeth naturally tend to drift throughout life, so retention is part of every course. Most patients wear a removable retainer at night, sometimes alongside a fine bonded wire behind the front teeth. Retainers are quoted in writing with your treatment plan, and we check them at your regular appointments so the result is protected.
Dental & Wellness London is at 222 Essex Road, Islington, London N1 3AP, two minutes from Essex Road station and one stop from Highbury & Islington. Buses 38, 56, 73, 341 and 476 stop nearby, and Angel is a 15 to 20 minute walk. We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm (Tuesday from 9am), by appointment.
Often, yes. Moving teeth into a better position first usually means less tooth needs to be altered and the result looks more natural and lasts longer. For mild irregularities, bonding alone may be enough. We show you both routes at consultation, with the timing and cost of each, so you can choose.
A cosmetic consultation is £65. It includes an examination of teeth, gums and bite, photographs and a digital scan. Orthodontic consultations, including Invisalign, are free. If you would like to talk things through first, we offer a free 20-minute discovery call by phone.
Some treatments are reversible and others are not. Whitening fades gradually and needs top-ups. Composite bonding can be adjusted or removed, though it needs maintenance. Porcelain veneers involve preparing the tooth, so they commit you to veneers long term. Straightened teeth stay straight only with retainers. We explain this for each option before you decide.
That depends on whether you want to change colour, shape, position or a combination. Whitening changes colour, bonding and veneers change shape, and aligners change position. We usually recommend the least invasive option that achieves your goal, and explain the alternatives. A consultation with photographs and a scan lets us give you specific, written advice.
At our clinic, whitening is £450 for a single method or £780 combined, composite bonding £175 to £350 per tooth, composite veneers £350 to £500 per tooth, porcelain veneers £750 to £1,500 per tooth and Invisalign from £2,200. Combined plans are quoted in writing after assessment. 0% APR finance over 12 months via Tabeo is available, subject to status.
A cosmetic dentist improves how teeth and smiles look while keeping them healthy. That includes whitening, composite bonding, veneers, aligner orthodontics, crowns and gum reshaping, often combined in a planned sequence. At Dental & Wellness London, Dr Vishal Patel, who holds an MSc in Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry, plans every cosmetic case around your face, bite and long-term tooth health.
Our clinic is at 222 Essex Road, Islington, London N1 3AP, two minutes from Essex Road station and served by the 38, 56, 73, 341 and 476 buses. Angel is a 15–20 minute walk, and Highbury & Islington is one stop by train. Appointments run Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm (Tuesday from 9am).
Usually, yes. One of the advantages of composite is that a small chip can be repaired by adding fresh composite to the existing veneer in a short appointment, without replacing the whole thing. If chips keep recurring, we look at your bite and grinding habits, and may suggest a night guard to protect the veneers.
No. Whitening gel does not change the colour of composite. If you want lighter teeth, we whiten first, wait around two weeks for the shade to stabilise, and then match the veneers to the new colour. If your natural teeth darken later, the veneers can be polished, refreshed or re-layered to match.