What is Inman™?
The Inman™ ‘Speed Brace’ is a quick and simple way of straightening your top or bottom front teeth. It’s been named “the greatest innovation in cosmetic dentistry since the porcelain veneer”. Its revolutionary concept can see protruding or crowded teeth transformed in a matter of weeks. Patients appear genuinely thrilled with the results and cannot believe how quickly it works.
Who does Inman™ work best on?
Two main types of patients:
- Those who’ve had orthodontic treatment as a child and relapsed through not wearing a retainer.
- Those who have crowding of, or gaps between, the top or bottom front teeth only. It’s not suitable for everyone, namely those with heavy crowding in both arches, poorly positioned canines and/or back crowding. A thorough examination is therefore vital.
How does it work?
The Inman™ aligner is a clear plastic retainer that fits snugly over the front four teeth. It uses two opposing spring-loaded aligning bars to provide gentle, but continuous, pressure to align teeth. It pushes in teeth that are sticking out and pushes out those that are set back.
Surprisingly, this gentle pressure is not only the quickest way to move teeth but also makes treatment very safe and kind to teeth. It must be worn at all times, only being taken out for eating and cleaning.
What happens during treatment?
You’ll need to book an appointment so we can assess your suitability for treatment and give you an indication of costs and treatment time. During the first consultation, impressions are taken and during the second, 2-3 weeks later, the aligner is fitted.
You’ll be able to see a model cast of the likely finished effect after treatment. Close supervision is important and we like to see patients every 2-3 weeks to review and adjust the aligner. In some cases, very small adjustments are made to the teeth, smoothing the outside edges to create room for them to straighten.
What about results?
Inman™ generally works much faster than alternative techniques, provided it’s worn every day throughout treatment. Typically, front teeth can be straightened in 6-16 weeks, but a noticeable improvement can be seen in as little as two weeks. Once teeth have moved to the desired position, a very discreet retainer holds them in place, so they remain in their new position.
See the results for yourself in our Cosmetic Dentistry Before & After Gallery.
Are there any other benefits?
Inman™ is a conservative treatment and doesn’t usually require any teeth to be taken out to create space, unlike fixed braces. It can also cut down on the need for veneers to align teeth – after treatment, you may only require two veneers rather than 10…or none at all.
As the aligner is removable it’s easier to clean your teeth than with fixed braces. It also means you can take it out for a special occasion or if you’re playing a sport where you risk being hit in the mouth.
Are there any limitations or downsides?
Inman™ is specially designed to straighten the front four top and bottom teeth only; it can’t treat all your teeth (full arches), unlike Invisalign® ‘Invisible Braces’.
It is also best suited to cases of minor crowding. Like other orthodontic appliances, it can feel a little uncomfortable and your speech may be slightly affected for the first few weeks, but every case is different.
How much does it cost?
Please refer to our Price List.
Please visit the Inman™ website for further details, and to see the Inman™ in action.