Invisalign
Invisalign: If you have always wanted a beautiful and healthy smile but felt put off by the idea of metal wires and brackets, you should see if the clear aligners are for you. We have been the certified providers of the most advanced clear aligner system, Invisalign, for over 20 years. Advantages of Invisalign aligners:
The Invisalign aligners are almost completely invisible to other people.
They feel comfortable and do not irritate lips or cheeks.
You do not have to change your dental brushing and flossing habits; Patients with braces have to learn a new way to keep their teeth clean.
Some cases are treated better and more efficiently with Invisalign than conventional braces.
How it works: During the first orthodontic visit the doctor will determine if the patient is a fitting candidate for the Invisalign treatment. After all records are submitted to the Align Technology, the clear aligners will be fabricated and we will receive them in about 6 weeks. The aligners are required to be worn no less than 22 hours a day. A patient may only remove them to eat or brush and floss. Improper compliance with this very important condition may jeopardize the success of the treatment. Each pair of aligners (upper and lower trays) is instructed to be used for 1, 2 or 3 weeks depending on the case. Every consecutive aligner will move teeth about 0.25 mm, so the total number of aligners differs among patients with various problems and malocclusions. The patient usually will see us every 6 weeks and change the aligners at home. At the completion of the treatment retainers are fabricated as usually.
Braces
Braces are fixed appliances, they are placed on the patient's teeth at the beginning of the treatment and stay until the treatment is completed. Most younger patients and some adults will be treated by metal braces. Ceramic braces provide an excellent choice for greater esthetics, however, the following points should be considered:
First, clear braces are more prone to breakage and fracture than metal braces. Therefore, even greater care must be taken to avoid hard/sticky foods and activities that may damage the braces. This problem has been reduced in recent years with the development of better and stronger brackets.
Second, in some instances where more force or torque is required to move teeth, the ceramic brackets sometimes break easier unable to withstand the amount of force needed to move the teeth. Sometimes they have to be replaced with metal brackets during the treatment.
Third, an average ceramic bracket is bigger than an average metal bracket. This may require an additional adjustment time for the patient after the placement of brackets.
And finally, ceramic material or porcelain can wear away enamel if teeth are allowed to contact the brackets when biting. Therefore, ceramic braces on lower teeth may not be recommended in some patients that have deeper bites. In those cases placing ceramic braces on the upper teeth and metal braces on the lower teeth will reduce the possibility of enamel wear, and generally will not adversely affect the esthetic value of the clear braces (most people do not show their lower teeth very much when they smile).
Headgear and Facemask
The headgear is a removable appliance that is mostly used to help with the growth of the lower jaw and can also move back the teeth of the upper jaw.
The facemask is also a removable appliance. It used to help with growth of the upper jaw.
The children can benefit the most by using a headgear or a facemask if they are from 7 to 11 years old.
Inter-Arch Elastics
Rubber bands, or elastics, are generally used to help improve how teeth fit together. They are also often used to help close spaces, or make sure spaces are closing in the right direction, and improve cross-bites and midlines.
They are simply small rubber bands that are attached to the braces. They are attached by the patient to little hooks that are a part of the braces. Since they need to be placed by the patient, cooperation with instructions for wear is critical to make progress and achieve a good outcome.
There are many different types and sizes of elastics.
Functional Appliances
Patients who have a small lower jaw may require a Functional Appliance to advance their lower jaw. Functional Appliances such as MARA or HERBST are most often used for patients who are older than 11-12 and will not respond to headgear. We use these appliances at the same time as braces or Invisalign.