Archive for June, 2008

This weekend I wore an Invisalign shirt to the computer store. I had made my purchase, and had actually started walking away from the checkout counter, when the clerk called me back. “Do you do Invisalign?” he asked. “Well yes – do you have questions about it?” He then smiled at me, and pointed to his crooked teeth and asked if I thought Invisalign could help his smile. Of course, I could not give a definitive answer without a complete diagnosis and records, but it sure seemed like a good case and I told him so. We then chatted for a few minutes about how the treatment works – straightening teeth without bands, brackets and wires bonded to the teeth.

That experience reminded me that even though many people have seen ads about Invisalign, they may not understand how amazing the technology is behind the system of braces without wires. So here is a very simplified short course…
Extensive records are taken, including complete x-rays and diagnostic models of your teeth. The dentist then maps out where the teeth would ideally be placed, and sends all this data to the Invisalign folks. They scan it into the computers and create three dimensional images of both jaws and the present arrangement of the teeth. Then the computer is used to place those teeth in the ideal arrangement as dictated by the dentist. Next a series of steps is outlined with very small steps progressing from the present to the final position. The dentist reviews this with 3-D software, and is able to review each step from any angle. When the dentist approves the planned steps, the computer creates actual physical models of each stage in the treatment plan, and creates clear plastic “aligners” that fit perfectly over that precise stage. The aligners are trimmed, polished, and placed in sequence so that as you wear them, each aligner moves the teeth just slightly, continuing along the defined treatment course. The aligners are worn continuously, except while eating, for typically about two weeks, and then you change to the next aligner. The whole process is often finished in about one year.

The aligners are thin, clear plastic, and are almost invisible. Often you can have a conversation with a person, and they don’t realize you have them in place. You don’t have to put up with brackets and wires on your teeth, and they make it easy to clean your teeth too!

Invisalign is an amazing technology that can help people have the dazzling smile they desire! To find out if you are a good candidate for Invisalign, just ask!

Periodically I see a patient that hasn’t been in for a long time… maybe years. They come in with a problem that has gotten so big they can’t put it off any longer. One of the saddest things I have to do is tell a patient that they have a tooth, or teeth, that cannot be saved. Sometimes people just shrug it off, as if it were not important. Some become very upset, recognizing this for what it really is – an amputation of a body part. The fewer teeth a person has, the harder the remaining teeth have to work, and the more likely they are to fail. By fail, I mean they may chip, crack or break. So sometimes I have to tell them that a tooth cannot be saved, and then we have a dilemma… if we don’t replace the tooth, the patient has this dominoes effect that sets them up for losing more teeth, and that makes it more likely to lose more, and so the dominoes fall. There are usually options to replace teeth, but almost always it would have been cheaper and better to restore the tooth than replace it after the fact.

So I guess the sad thing is when a person puts off taking care of a problem, and the problem grows larger. If you know of a person who has dental problems – pain on biting; hot, cold or sweet sensitivity; swollen or bleeding gums; teeth shifting or loosening; or any other dental problem – please let them know how important prompt care is for them. The sooner they can intercept a problem, the more chance there is for a healthy, comfortable solution. Sometimes people feel the problems may be huge – that they can’t deal with it emotionally, or feel that too much time or money is required. If this is the case, they should meet with their dentist, get a plan, and tackle one step at a time. Most treatment plans can be phased, meaning do the most important first, and then the next, and so forth. Step by step, at their pace, and before they know it, they have a gorgeous healthy smile!