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Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Keep Your Invisalign Clean

If spending a significant amount of cash on teeth straightening aligners from Invisalign, you'll want to keep them in good and working order. Maintaining them by cleaning them is one of the ways you'll have to look after your braces - you don't' want dirty and smelly aligners after all! So here's a few ways you can keep your smile fresh, clean and bright!

(1) Use the exclusive Invisalign cleaning system - crystals which when added to water produce a soaking solution, which gets rid of dental plaque upon your aligners. Although, it does the job, it is very pricey, costing about one dollar or just under one pound per day, and after the expense of the aligners you may not want to fork out for the solution.

(2) Cheaper options include dental fixture cleaning solutions. Dental fixture tablets will clean the Invisalign aligners completely, however, they may cause scratches or blurring, making the aligners more visible. This may not necessarily happen, but just in case test the dental fixture solution on an old pair of aligners before you use them. It cannot cause anything but aesthetic damage, so your Invisalign braces will always work. To use, it is recommended that you soak them in dental fixture fluid twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, for at least an hour.

(3) Another alternative is soaking them in a small amount of baking soda (1tbsp to ½ cup of water) for an hour per day, twice per day. Bicarbonate of soda is a great cleaner and will always get you're aligners squeaky clean.

After cleaning your aligners, brush off any excess chemicals with a toothbrush and rinse thoroughly. Never place your Invisalign braces around hot temperatures, such as hot water as these could cause damage to them. Lastly, if you do use the more cost effective methods and start to notice a difference in appearance, swap over immediately to the Invisalign cleaning system, which is designed not to cause any damage to your braces.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Get Your Invisalign Here!

Everyone in this world loves to look smart and better than others. For this purpose, people do not even bother to spend money. There is no doubt that your presentation is actually the base of your personality. In every part of life, you have to present yourself in the best way. For best presentation, you cannot give a room to natural problems even if they are preborn. Some people have teeth that are not arranged in perfect order and they have to use braces to fix them at perfect place. These braces sometimes add a negative look to their personality. This problem has forced the dental surgeons to adopt a technique that will work perfectly for the treatment of teeth but also do not disturb your look. The result is in front of us. We have got Invisalign that is a treatment for the teeth to mold them in prefect orientation.

Invisalign is very common in the developed countries like America, England, France and so on. However, United States of America is offering best Invisalign. Among different states of this country, California is one of the best states for getting this treatment. In San Diego Invisalign is performed by experienced consultants and surgeons. If you want to get rid of the pain that you have to suffer form the application of braces then Invisalign is the best alternative for you. It is of course more efficient type of treatment. In this type of treatment, patient can also get rid of the hesitation that he feels due to braces as Invisalign is an invisible type of braces with same function and enhanced effectiveness.

Another positive trait of Invisalign is that you can carry on brushing your teeth in the common manner as if you do not have any layer on your teeth. This enable you to eat whatever you want without the tension that you have got braces on your teeth that will be damaged by some kind of food. In Invisalign, advanced imaging software is used. This software makes the surgeons capable of recognizing the area that requires treatment and also prescribes the type of treatment. Special kinds of solutions are applied to stick these invisible braces on the teeth. There are no maintenance issues with Invisalign. You do not need to take a regular care of them. Once, Invisalign is applied then you will not have to worry about the alignment of your teeth as Invisalign will do it in a perfect manner.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

How to Pay for Invisalign

If you are considering an expensive treatment like Invisalign, talk to your dentist or orthodontist New York about possible payment options they may accept. Most dentist are happy to discuss alternatives with you.

Paying over time:
There is nominal down payment and the balance paid over the length of the treatment. (No interest is charged as long as the payments are on time.)

Dental Insurance:
If you have dental insurance, bring your insurance card. We will be able to give you an estimate of your costs at the first visit. We will call the insurance company on your behalf and find out if you have any orthodontic benefits and what they may be. All the claims will be submitted for you and we will do everything we can to get you your full reimbursement.

Cash, Checks & Credit Cards:
You may make payment using cash, check or credit card (MasterCard, Visa, American Express) at your appointment or by mail.

Automatic Bank Draft:
We encourage monthly payments by Automatic Bank Draft (automatic withdrawals from your checking account each month.) Save time and hassle! No checks to write, no envelops to stuff, save on stamps and no interest charges due to forgotten payments.
Invisalign is a wonderful alternative to conventional braces. It is certainly more attractive and easier to wear for most people, but, like braces it comes with a price tag that can be hard for many people to budget. Here are a few options to explore with your New York Dentist:

Automatic Credit Card Payments:
You can have a monthly payment automtically deducted from your credit card. Ask your dentist if this is an option.

Payment in full at time of bonding:
You may be able to get a discount for payment in full at the time of service.

Fee Plan (CareCredit):
Ask your dentist if you qualify for CareCredit - this is a payment plan system that works like a credit card with monthly payments to cover the cost of your New York Invisalign dental treatment.


Tips for Tooth Brushing

When I was in college I decided to give my local dental hygene program an opportunity to work on my teeth. At the time I assumed that it would be an opportunity for a free on hour . Boy - was I wrong. After reviewing the state of my teeth in horror for what seemed like hours, I was told that I had "pockets" of 4 and 5. This meant nothing to me at the time, but they emphasized that they needed patients with these qualities and they said it in a way that made me think it wasn't a good thing.

When they asked me if I flossed, I said sure and promtply gave them a demonstration showing how I managed floss both sides of my mouth with a single jab. They were clearly mistified by my awesome preventative abilities, or so I thought.

I spent every tuesday thereafter falling asleep in the dental hygene chair for weeks on end. That experiece taught me never to negect my teeth again and now I make sure to use all the right flossing and brushing to avoid more dental embarassments. Here are some things I learned:


Type of Toothbrush: I found that the toothbrush that works the best at the gumline is Sonicare - it is expensive but it reduces dental bills. However, if ou are patient and have good technique, you can use any brand of toothbrush you like. Try to buy one that is soft and has lots of bristles. Change your toothbrush often, no less than every three months. Toothbrushes are cheap compared to cavities. Make sure to change out the brushes regularly.

Type of Toothpaste: You should choose a toothpaste that will motivate you to brush. Avoid frequent use of whitening toothpaste. Any toothpaste that has fluoride is preferred. Fluoride can protect and rebuild your tooth structure. .

Flossing: I thought I was flossing correctly for years - but it turns out I didnt have the right technique. As your dental hygenist to demonstrate the correct technique the next time you are at the dentist Pennsylvania. You may be suprized at what you learn.

Dental Maintenance: Most dentists will ask you to go in for a cleaning every 6 months. This is also the most that your insurance will pay for, but you can always go more regularly if you have gingivitis.

Although I only brush twice a day (the shame!) it is recommended that you actually brush five times a day. Brush when you wake up, after breakfast, after work, after dinner, and before bedtime. There are folks at my office who bring their toothbrushes to work and I bet they have very low stress visits to their dentist as a result.

So, there you have it - my tips for beautiful, clean teeth, no gingivitis and great breath. Figure out what you can commit to for dental care Pennsylvania and stick to it!


The right age for getting your children orthodontic care in Pennsylvania

Although most orthodontic problems are best treated in late childhood, some conditions are best dealt with at an earlier age.

By age 7, most children have a mix of baby (primary) and adult (permanent) teeth. Some common orthodontic problems seen in children can be traced to genetics, that is they may be inherited from their parents. Children may experience dental crowding, too much space between teeth, protruding teeth, and extra or missing teeth and sometimes jaw growth problems.

Other malocclusions (literally, “bad bite”) are acquired. In other words, they develop over time. They can be caused by thumb or finger-sucking, mouth breathing, dental disease, abnormal swallowing, poor dental hygiene, the early or late loss of baby teeth, accidents or poor nutrition. Trauma and other medical conditions such as birth defects may contribute to orthodontic problems as well. Sometimes an inherited malocclusion is complicated by an acquired problem. Whatever the cause, the orthodontist is usually able to treat most conditions successfully.

Orthodontists are trained to spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present. The advantage for patients of early detection of orthodontic problems is that some problems may be easier to correct if they are found and treated early. Waiting until all the permanent teeth have come in, or until facial growth is nearly complete, may make correction of some problems more difficult. For these reasons, the AAO recommends that all children get a check-up with an orthodontist no later than age 7. While your child’s teeth may appear straight to you, there could be a problem that only an orthodontist can detect. Of course, the check-up may reveal that your child’s bite is fine, and that is comforting news.

Even if a problem is detected, chances are we will take a “wait-and-see” approach, checking your child from time to time as the permanent teeth come in and the jaws and face continue to grow. For each patient who needs treatment, there is an ideal time for it to begin in order to achieve the best result. Starting earlier doesn't necessarily mean finishing sooner. The orthodontist has the expertise to determine when the treatment time is right. The orthodontist’s goal is to provide each patient with the most appropriate treatment at the most appropriate time.

©2006 American Association of Orthodontists


Why to get Invisalign

Why Straighten Teeth?

Straight teeth help an individual to effectively bite, chew and speak. Straight teeth contribute to healthy teeth and gums. Properly aligned teeth and jaws may alleviate or prevent physical health problems.

It contributes to self-esteem, self-confidence and self-image - important qualities at every age. A pleasing appearance is a vital component of self-confidence. A person's self-esteem often improves as orthodontic treatment brings teeth, lips and face into proportion. In this way, orthodontic treatment can benefit social and career success, as well as improve a person’s general attitude toward life.

You may be surprised to learn that straight teeth are less prone to decay, gum disease and injury. Straight teeth collect less plaque, a colorless, sticky film composed of bacteria, food and saliva. Decay results when the bacteria in plaque feed on carbohydrates (sugar and starch) we eat or drink to produce acids that can cause cavities. Plaque can also increase the risk for periodontal (gum) disease. When teeth are properly aligned, and less plaque collects, these risks decline. And when teeth are properly aligned it is easier to keep teeth clean. As for injuries to teeth, protruding upper teeth are more likely to be broken in an accident. When repositioned and aligned with other teeth, these teeth are most probably going to be at a decreased risk for fracture.


Untreated orthodontic problems may become worse. They may lead to tooth decay, gum disease , destruction of the bone that holds teeth in place, and chewing and digestive difficulties. Orthodontic problems can cause abnormal wear of tooth surfaces , inefficient chewing function, excessive stress on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth, or misalignment of the jaw joints, sometimes leading to chronic headaches or pain in the face or neck. Treatment by an orthodontist to correct a problem early may be less costly than the restorative dental care required to treat more serious problems that can develop in later years.

©2006 American Association of Orthodontists


Friday, September 17, 2010

Dental Implants

Over 15 years ago I lost one of my teeth due to an unexplained decay of one of my roots. My dentist explained that sometimes the body attacks itself and that is why my root had decayed and had subsequently resulted in the necessity of removing my molar. So, after much drilling and poking and prodding and pressure as if my mouth were a construction site, my tooth was removing. I was told at that time that I should either get a bridge or a dental implant Pennsylvania. I thought that might be a good idea and that I should probaby do it, but then I heard the price tag. Needless to say, cheapskate that I am, I still have a gaping hole in my mouth and have learned to live without my tooth.

Being a cheapskate I finally got my implant 15 years later. I learned a great deal about the difference between a bridge and an implant and I can tell you that the difference is worth it. A bridge is less expensive, but you ruin 2 good teath on either side of your missing tooth and that seems counterproductive. And the pain that I had anticipated turned out to be minimal. I expected to be on vicodine for days, but, with minimal anti-inflamatories I recovered a few days later. In retrospect, I wish I had gotten the dental implant after the tooth was drilled when my insurance was willing to cover it.

So, the moral of the story is that if you have a missing tooth - get a dental impant. It looks and feels like a real tooth once the crown is put on and it leaves all your teath intact.