Invisible Braces

Like many of today's parents, I grew up in the 80's. The 80's was a good time for poor taste - shoulder pads, spandex, hair bands, acid washed jeans and...metal braces. Every teenager dreaded them, food got stuck in them at the oddest moments and kissing was acqward to say the least. So, I feel a little irritated when I hear that today's teenagers have another option - Invisalign - a system using clear plastic trays to straighten teeth. I mean, braces are a necessary right of passage, right?

So, today's teenagers have a far more attractive option. Here's what one reviewer from Realself.com has to say about invisalign:

“All the Invisalign Info You'll Ever Need”


Spent: $5,380 in Kenosha, WI
After having slightly crooked teeth for most of my life, I decided I was ready at age 25 to confront my inner demons and fix my self-esteem crushing mouth for good. As a pre-teen, my folks didn't have the money for braces so I did without. My most notable dental flaw is my left upper canine tooth is crooked and sticks out, and over the years I've compensated for this by adjusting my smile accordingly in an attempt to hide it. I've noticed my forced/half smile in pictures, and decided to finally do something about it.

I knew some colleagues at work who were using Invisalign and they seemed relatively happy with their progress, so I took the plunge and made an appointment with a Premier Invisalign Provider in my area. The orthodontist was very thorough and quite personable initially, and I felt comfortable in their office. Then they mentioned the price of my treatment: $5,000. My associates had said that their treatment had only cost $4,000 so I wasn't sure if I was getting a fair quote. I was referred to another provider by a co-worker and their price was roughly the same, but I was creeped out by the orthodontist and just got a bad vibe from the whole experience. A few months later and after much deliberation, I went back to my initial Invisalign orthodontist and gave them the go-ahead to order the molds and start the process.

Part of my treatment plan was to have a tooth extracted to make room for the crooked upper canine to shift into place. Apparently when all four of my wisdom teeth surfaced (non-impacted, luckily), they shifted everything forward which only exacerbated the degree of my smile's crookedness.

Onto the process: The molds weren't that cumbersome to take, especially compared to some horror stories I've heard. It took a few weeks for the aligners to be sent from the Invisalign headquarters in California. Once they arrived, we had an appointment and went over the ClinCheck, a 3D animated program that shows the progression of tooth movement over time, from tray to tray. I started the trays on Tuesday, 10/6/09 after eating a delicious Cuban dinner in honor of my brother’s birthday. Those first few hours were the most orally painful of my life. The first tray is certainly the worst, but gradually you get used to them.

First, there is pain and pressure. You take the trays out and your teeth feel somewhat loose in their sockets; this is perfectly normal since they are in the shifting process. A good tip is to take an Advil PM about an hour before bedtime and then put them in right before you go to sleep. This gives the trays ample time while you are sleeping to do their magic so it’s not as difficult to remove them in the morning when you brush your teeth.

During the Invisalign process, patients are supposed to visit their orthodontist’s office roughly every 4 weeks to check their progress and make any adjustments. After the first tray or so, my orthodontist had me come back to have attachments put on my teeth. They are small, tooth-colored nubs that fit into what can best be described as pockets on the aligners themselves. It makes them fit tighter and harder to remove, and I believe it helps with tooth rotation. The process of putting on the attachments is less than desirable. They first prep your teeth with a bonding agent and then apply the attachments using a UV/heat gun. After they have set, they use a drill to remove any excess material from the teeth. The drill is scary and loud; if it deviates in the slightest, you smell enamel burning (scary!).

After the attachments were applied, I was told to have a soft diet (soups and pastas) for the next day or so. Despite my adherence to this policy, some of the attachments wore off. My orthodontist seemed slightly concerned by this, but went on with treatment, stating that if they were to try to reapply the attachments they would only be more likely to come off because they would be applied on the attachment polymer rather than pure, porous enamel.

The next step in my orthodontist’s bag of tricks was “elastics” – their fancy way of saying rubber bands. These elastics are strung between my upper and lower arches, making the fact that I am wearing braces QUITE noticeable. I didn’t know this would be part of my treatment program, and honestly if I had I doubt I would have proceeded. The elastics hook on to small tabs that the orthodontist cuts into the aligners. The purpose of the elastics is to put more pressure on the teeth to move, and also to ensure that my bite lines up properly now and later on when treatment is completed.

Of course, nothing is ever easy. In addition to the attachments popping off (making my aligners less than snug), I had trouble with the elastics staying on the makeshift hooks. This is a recipe for disaster! I had rubber bands snapping in my mouth constantly, popping off of one hook or another; it’s painful and annoying. I remember one lower tray in particular that was quite loose to begin with, and the torque from the elastic actually made the tray pop off of my teeth entirely whenever I would open my mouth (yawning, speaking, etc.) which was quite embarrassing. I made an emergency orthodontist appointment that day and went in after-hours for them to pinch the aligner with some pliers to make them grip my teeth better. It was a temporary fix until I put in my next, tighter aligner.

As I write this now, I’m on the last week of my 10th aligner out of 16. I’ve seen some encouraging progress in the shifting of my teeth; my mother even noticed and said that they look a lot straighter. I’m about halfway there and am excited for the final result. Once I’ve completed treatment, I am supposed to wear a retainer at night for the first year, and then one night a week for the rest of my life (or as long as I want straight teeth).

My suggestion for people considering Invisalign is to discuss in detail EVERYTHING in your treatment program. My "invisible braces" are anything but invisible with these God-awful rubber bands in sight. I have developed a lisp that hasn't gone away (even after 5 months). I honestly feel like a teenager - and not in a good way - but if you don't have the elastics as part of your program or if it's only for a limited time, this shouldn't be an issue.

Beyond the obvious obstacles I've had with Invisalign thus far, I feel it's a great way to improve your smile in an unobtrusive way. I wear my aligners religiously and if I am ever EXTREMELY self-conscious about the elastics, I just unhook them from the top arch and let the band fall to rest on my lower gums (making them unnoticeable). When I am free from the embarassing situation, I hook them back on and I'm on my way. The movement I've seen of the crooked canine tooth is very impressive - I would gladly pay $5K merely for the results I've had thus far.

Words can't describe how excited I am for the ultimate end result, when I can finally smile with full confidence! I, of course, will update this review once I'm finished with the program. Best wishes and good luck to all! :)

How to Get a Smile Makeover

Many people want that perfect smile that they see on television and in magazines. Today it has become easier than ever to get that brilliant smile with a smile makeover in Maryknoll.

Although there are various options to pick from to begin your smile makeover, porcelain veneers are the most common procedure chosen. The procedure begins by shaving away a small amount of tooth structure. Next thin coverings of porcelain are placed over the tooth. This beautiful porcelain shell is bonded with your tooth so that it holds tightly and firmly to forge the alignment, shape, and color you’ve always wanted.

Another option for the smile makeover process in Maryknoll is lumineers. Lumineers use thinner porcelain coverings than the veneers. This enables the dentist to use a no-preparation technique, which means that the lumineer porcelain is so thin that none of the patient’s teeth have to be shaven away before the lumineers are placed on. Although some patient’s require no tooth reduction, this process does occasionally need tooth reduction to prepare for the lumineers.

Some patients do not need their teeth shaped or positioned differently so lumineers and veneers are unnecessary. If this is the case, but you are still unhappy with your smile it may be the discoloration in your teeth. Tooth whitening would be the solution for you. There are many different options for teeth whitening from laser whitening to take-home whitening kits that can lighten your smile.

If you are not happy with the placement of your teeth, Invisalign might be the smile makeover solution for you. Invisalign acts like braces to shape and position your teeth into a straight and beautiful smile. Many people choose Invisalign over braces though because they are clear and barely visible when they are placed on your teeth. They can also be combined with a tooth whitening treatment to create a perfectly brilliant smile.

The Costs of Various Teeth Whitening Options

When it comes to cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening has become extremely popular among both men and women. Teeth whitening has been improved upon over the years and today there are multiple options that can fit any budget, time frame, and tendency.

There are three major teeth whitening processes that are available: in-office whitening, professionally dispensed take-home whitening kits, and over-the counter whitening.

The first option of teeth whitening is in-office whitening. This process usually works best for patients who have had substantial color changes in their teeth over a short period of time. During this procedure peroxide gel is placed on a patient’s teeth by the dentist or an experienced technician. To protect the gums from this rather high-concentration of peroxide gel a paint-on rubber dam will be applied to the upper and lower gums. This process usually takes about an hour and cost about $650 on average.

The next teeth whitening option is a professionally dispensed kit you can take home and apply yourself. Like the in-office whitening, this kit uses peroxide gel but in lower concentrations so it is safe to use at home. The gel is positioned on the teeth using a custom-made bleaching tray for about an hour or sometimes longer. Your dentist will help make this individualized tray to fit your mouth. This take-home kit can cost anywhere from $100 to $400 and is really beneficial for long-term teeth whitening.

The last option is teeth whitening care is over the counter whitening, which can cost $20 to $100. This can sometimes be the easiest option since you just go to the store to buy it. It usually contains a lower concentration of bleaching gel than the professionally distributed take-home kits for teeth whitening. The gel can either be applied by whitening strips, paint-on applicators, or one-size-fits-all trays.

Dental Care Necessities for Babies

A child’s baby teeth deserve as much care as their permanent teeth. Although these primary teeth do eventually fall out your child should still be seeing a dentist in Irvington every six months. Sometimes a child or baby’s teeth are hard to clean so the debris tends to accumulate and remain on their teeth. If this accumulation is left unchecked bacteria can start to grow, which will lead to tooth decay. Making sure your child’s baby teeth are clean is important since they are fundamental to child’s overall development and health.

Baby’s teeth usually begin to come in between six months of age and 24 months. Sometimes a tooth can even erupt in the first month. It is important to remember that the tooth should be cleaned as soon as it comes in. To clean your baby’s tooth gently a soft washcloth or gauze can be used. Just like with older children and adults this should be done after ever meal or bottle. Once multiple teeth arrive a small-bristled toothbrush can be used to clean their teeth. Pediatric dentists recommend that this toothbrush be ran under warm water before use.

When it comes to using toothpaste only a pea-sized amount should be used. It can be dangerous for your child if they swallow too much toothpaste. Once they get older and have the coordination to use a toothbrush on their own they should be prompted to brush their own teeth so they can establish a habit of it. Also, toothbrushes should be replaced every two to three months. By the time your baby is one-year-old they should see a family dentist or pediatric dentist in Irvington. By seeing a dentist you can acquire a professional cleaning plan and institute long-term dental hygiene.

The Importance of Child Dental Care

Many people think that their child’s dental care is not of high importance because they do not yet have their permanent adult teeth. The problem is that even though children and infants only have their baby teeth still, they are not unaffected by oral health problems.

Many babies develop teeth in their first month of life called neonatal teeth. Even if it is just one tooth it does require regular dental hygiene. By the time a baby is six months old they will at least have one baby tooth that has appeared, which requires cleaning. During the next six months, from 6 months to 24 months, a child will begin their teething stage. When this happens a child is usually irritable, biting on objects, drooling, and ear pulling. To ease their pain techniques such as massaging the gums can help, as well as giving them a chilled teething ring, or even getting a teething ointment recommendation from your general dentist.

As your child grows older different foods can affect the health of their teeth. Too many sugars from foods such as candy, juice, cookies, or cakes can result in tooth decay. Also starches found in potato chips and pretzels can lead to tooth decay. These types of foods plus the added difficultly of cleaning a child’s teeth add to the debris that remains in their mouth. This debris causes bacteria to grow resulting in tooth decay. Even though baby teeth eventually fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth, healthy teeth are extremely important to a child’s complete health. Also, if the decay of a child’s baby teeth goes unchecked by their pediatric dentist is may start to infect the permanent as well.

Crown Lengthening Procedure

The procedure of crown lengthening is used to make a tooth appear longer by removing either gum tissue, bone, or both. Before the procedure even takes place you will need to have a consultation with your general dentist. This will allow your dentist to review medical history and x-rays, as well as set a date for surgery.

Do not let the word surgery scare you from this procedure either. Crown lengthening is a fairly common procedure that can be done with local anesthesia. Once a patient is numbed, a small incision will be made around the teeth that need crown lengthening. Next the extra gum tissue will be carefully pulled back from the tooth so that the supporting bone is exposed. This will allow access to the root of the teeth.

The gums position is then molded to form a better position on the tooth and perfectly shaped to make sure both sides are even and look the same. Once the gum has been peeled back and the dentist is sure enough of the tooth structure is revealed the area will be rinsed with sterile salt water and the flaps will be stitched back together.

After the crown lengthening procedure is performed teeth will look longer because the gums are now sitting at a lower level. Usually this procedure can be done in one visit, but will vary in time depending how many teeth need the surgery. To keep the swelling down after surgery ice can be applied to your face and in 7 to 10 day the sutures can be removed.

Benefits of Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening is a procedure that involves the removal of gum tissue, bone, or both to make a tooth appear longer. This procedure can be used for aesthetic needs but is also used for tooth restoration.

When a tooth needs to be restored, usually a filling or a crown is used. Sometimes there is not enough tooth structure above the gum line to create a solid foundation for a filling or a crown. This can happen when a tooth is fractured at the gum line. There is also a lack of support from the tooth if there is extensive decay, which reduces the remaining healthy tooth area. To be able to continue with the tooth restoration by using a filling or a crown a dentist must first expose more of the tooth by removing tissue or bone. A patient will benefit by this crown lengthening procedure because now more of the tooth is unveiled allowing to help as an anchor for the future restorative work.

Crown lengthening can also be used to make a smile more aesthetically pleasing. This procedure can be used to correct “gummy smile”. A smile can be referred to as a “gummy smile” when an unusually large amount of gum tissue shows around the upper part of the teeth making teeth look shorter. This type of smile can make some people embarrassed and be afraid to smile. By getting the crown lengthening procedure patients with a “gummy smile” can get their gum line repositioned which will not only improve their smile but also improves the contours of their face.

Whether you need crown lengthening in preparation for restorative work, or for esthetics reason the great advantage of this procedure is that it can be performed in one visit. After a simple anesthetic the excess gum tissue will be removed to expose more of the tooth.