At Elmsleigh House we offer a range of teeth straightening solutions (orthodontics) for adults, teens and children, and clear aligner systems such as Invisalign® and SparkTM have become the most popular and versatile. Unlike fixed traditional braces, there are no metal brackets or wires.
Kostas Spathoulas is our Specialist in orthodontics at Elmsleigh House with expertise in Invisalign and Spark clear aligners. He uses cutting edge scanning technology to create a series of clear, removable aligners that can fix a wide range of teeth straightening issues, such as overcrowded teeth, widely spaced teeth, crossbites, overbites and underbites, usually in 6–18 months.
Kostas offers a free orthodontic consultation to all ages (with a £50 refundable deposit), where he will assess and scan using iTero 5D technology to determine how many aligners are required, and hence the timeframe involved.
Kostas uses advanced iTero Element 5D scanning technology to plan your treatment from the initial position of your teeth to the final desired result. You can see your virtual results before you even begin, so you will know how your teeth are expected to look when treatment is complete.
Kostas will use the scans to plan and create your series of Invisalign or Spark clear aligners, that will move your teeth predictably into position.
It may be that attachments will be added during treatment to refine movement; these could be special attachments, orthodontic bands or metallic orthodontic buttons, which can sometimes be fitted behind your teeth. These help the aligners apply the correct amount of force in the right direction.
Invisalign consists of a number of sets of clear aligners made of a lightweight and strong thermoplastic material.
Each aligner is worn for 7 to 10 days before being replaced by the next in the series, predictably moving your teeth into position as per your Invisalign treatment plan.
Each aligner is worn for a minimum of 20–22 hours a day, and should be removed to eat, drink anything other than water (and especially for hot drinks) and to brush your teeth; you should fit them in place afterwards.
You return for review appointments over the course of treatment. Reviews and amendments will ensure your aligners carefully control movement until the desired result is achieved.
Kostas won the prestigious award for “Most Transformed Smile” at the 2023 Align Summit Awards, to go alongside his award for “Most Inspirational Adult Case” awarded in 2022.
He has presented a lecture on Spark Aligners at the 17th Panhellenic Orthodontic Congress in Athens to share knowledge with other orthodontists from around the globe.
Kostas has been awarded Diamond Invisalign provider status for the second year. This is an exceptional achievement as it marks that Kostas has straightened over 600 people’s teeth with Invisalign, and continues to treat over 150 cases each year.
This puts Kostas in the top 1% of Invisalign providers in the UK, and he is the only Diamond provider in Farnham and the surrounding area.
Spark aligners are made from TruGenTM lightweight material, which makes the aligners more transparent, more durable, more comfortable and more resistant to stains. They also have better contact with your teeth, which provides advanced and sustained force retention. Spark aligners offer a highly specialised and sophisticated system that requires the knowledge and skill of an orthodontist, unlike other systems.
Each aligner is worn for up to two weeks before being replaced by the next in the series, predictably moving your teeth into position as per your Spark aligner treatment plan.
Each aligner is worn for a minimum of 20–22 hours a day. You can remove them to eat and drink, but if left in due to their enhanced stain resistance, you can just remove them after your meal to clean them and then reinsert them afterwards.
You return for review appointments over the course of treatment. Reviews and amendments will ensure your aligners carefully control movement until the desired result is achieved.
Our dentist Sarah Mack also offers Invisalign Go to adults for faster anterior orthodontic alignment in approximately 3–9 months. The aim is to align adults' front six or sometimes twelve teeth only, but this does not improve your bite, your centreline or move your back teeth into better position. This would require Specialist orthodontic treatment, and Kostas Spathoulas will use Invisalign or Spark clear aligners or fixed brace systems, such as Damon and Insignia. He can also align children's and teens' teeth, as well as adults of any age!
Invisalign Go is a 'lighter' version of Invisalign, with treatment involving a maximum of 14 clear, removable aligners to move adults front teeth only into position.
Using advanced iTero Element 5D scanning technology Kostas Spathoulas, our Specialist in orthodontics, will reveal detailed 3D images of your teeth. He will show you how your teeth will look when in their desired position, and will use the scans to create a series of clear, removable aligners.
Each aligner is worn for up to two weeks before being replaced by the next in the series. Each aligner is timed to move specific teeth into position; this results in an efficient delivery force that moves teeth into the desired prescribed position.
For treatments that need more complex movement or adjustments, SmartForce attachments are often used.
SmartForce attachments are tiny tooth-coloured attachments that are placed on the teeth before or during your Invisalign treatment. Where possible, our Specialist in orthodontics will position these attachments on the lingual side (back) of your teeth. However, even if placed on the front of the teeth, they are very small and barely noticeable.
SmartForce attachments help your aligners apply the correct amount of force in the right direction. They enable our Specialist to predictably plan even complex tooth movements without braces. Invisalign clear aligners fit smoothly and tightly around them, so they’re barely noticeable.
It is important to note, however, that not everyone who uses Invisalign clear aligners will need SmartForce attachments.
GDC No. 85031 DDS, DipOrth
Kostas graduated in dentistry from the Carol Davila Institute, Bucharest, in 2000. He completed his diploma in orthodontics in 2003 and became a specialist in orthodontics in 2004. After working in Athens military hospital, Kostas moved to the UK in 2005 and established a specialist orthodontics practice in Aberdeen, Scotland. In 2011 Kostas and his family relocated to London, where he practiced in Harley Street. Kostas is our Specialist in orthodontics at Elmsleigh House, providing an extensive range of teeth straightening options for children, teens and adults. We also offer faster systems for adults, such as Cfast braces and Invisalign Go.
During your treatment you should keep up your regular dental check-ups with your usual dentist. We will show you how to keep your aligners clean, and review how to clean your teeth. We recommend at least one professional clean with our hygienist during your treatment, as oral hygiene must be kept to a very high standard; poor oral hygiene will delay treatment and compromise the health of your teeth. Our hygienist will show how best to keep your mouth healthy during your Invisalign treatment.
With all orthodontic treatments, long-term retention will be required to help prevent relapse of the newly aligned teeth. We recommend both a bonded fixed retainer and a clear, plastic removable retainer for night-time use; this will ensure your teeth remain in their newly aligned position.
Interproximal reduction (IPR), or enamel reshaping, may be needed where there isn't sufficient space to move the teeth into the required position.
It may be that you have black triangles where the teeth are touching or the teeth are too close together and there is not enough space to allow for orthodontic movement.
Interproximal reduction is a painless and gentle procedure using a file, disc or bur to reshape the enamel, creating space for the teeth to be moved into, as per your bespoke Invisalign treatment plan.
Some frequently asked questions:
Does IPR hurt? No, it is a painless procedure.
How long does IPR take? It only takes a few minutes to gently reshape your enamel.
Will my teeth be painful? No, although some people may experience some sensitivity to hot or cold food and drinks, this will return to normal within a few days.
Are my teeth more likely to decay? No, only a minimal amount of enamel is removed, leaving plenty to protect your teeth.
Will it give me gum disease? No, it does not make your teeth more at risk of gum disease. You should continue to brush your teeth well during orthodontic treatment.