The Inman Aligner for teeth straightening

Reviewed by: Dr Pav Khaira

Inman aligners are a type of orthodontic appliance that can straighten or move your teeth to their desirable position. Many dentists use the Inman Aligner as an alternative to the invisalign invisible braces system. The aligners are restricted to the level of movement that they can achieve and generally work better on misalignments of the upper and lower front teeth and are not suitable for cases where the teeth are heavily crowded for example. After a consultation your dentist will be able to determine of you are suitable for treatment with the Inman aligner.

Unlike the Invisalign system the Inman Aligner is not entirely clear and has a visible metal bar which shows across the front of the teeth. However, the Inman aligner does have many of the benefits that the invisible braces system does.

How does the aligner work?

Similar to the Invisalign system, the Inman aligner is a removable appliance used to move the teeth over time. It relies on forces created by a coiled spring on the lingual side of the aligner (that on the inside or back of the teeth) and a bar that sits across the front of the teeth to “squeeze” the teeth into position by “pushing” and “pulling” them into position. The animation above illustrates the forces involved in the movement.

How long does treatment with the aligner take?

Treatment times are generally shorter than that with most invisible braces systems with treatment times varying from six to sixteen weeks. The speed of the results is highly dependent on how long you wear the appliance for each day. With the Inman aligner you have the option of not wearing the appliance, however, the longer you wear it the quicker the results are. It is recommended that you wear the aligner for around 20 hours a day, every day, if possible.

Is it uncomfortable?

Just like any new appliance in your mouth, at first it may feel uncomfortable and will take some getting used to. Many patients say that it initially affects their speech and causes them to salivate more, but after about a week or so you should become accustomed to wearing the aligner.

How much does the Inman aligner cost?

The cost of treatment with the Inman aligner is significantly less than that with comparable treatment with invisible braces however the exact costs will depend on many factors such as:

How complicate the treatment is and the amount of movement required
The level of expertise of the dentist
The practice where the treatment is carried out
The length of treatment

Expect to pay between £1000 to £2500 per treatment.

What are the advantages of the Inman aligner system?

Shorter treatment times than invisible braces
Removable so that you can eat and clean your teeth easily during treatment
Cheaper than invisible braces
Only one aligner is needed for the entire treatment

Disadvantages:

It is not as discreet as the Invisalign system
The level of movement that can be achieved with this system is limited
There are currently not as many clinics offering this treatment as invisalign so it is harder to find a practitioner that is nearby.