Invisalign at Fiddlehead
AN AGING SMILE - BEFORE A TIMELESS SMILE - AFTER
Invisalign is another 21st Century technology that we've used at Fiddlehead since 2006. It is essentially a new way to straighten teeth without the use of metal brackets that are bonded to the teeth. Instead, Invisalign uses a series of clear plastic trays (made with advanced computer technology) to move your teeth to the desired position.
There are two reasons to consider Invisalign:
- Invisalign treatment in our office is thousands of dollars less than conventional braces.
- Invisalign often takes far less time than conventional braces.
It is best used to straighten or close spaces between the front teeth. If you have severe bite problems with your back teeth, or jaw joint pain we always recommend you see a specialist like our local orthodontists at Champlain Orthodontic Associates.
Here's a case we did for a terrific 40 year old gentleman who always hated his smile:
HERE'S HOW IT WORKS......
Invisalign uses a series of very thin clear plastic trays to move your teeth incrementally to the desired position. We give you a new set of clear trays every 2 weeks. These nearly invisible trays must be worn 22 hours a day, and should only be removed at meals and for brushing and flossing. Most treatment times are between 8 to 15 months.
The trays are nearly invisible!
Here's Dr. Chuck's smile with and without his Invisalign trays in:
Dr. Chuck with NO trays in. Dr. Chuck wearing Invisalign Trays
Dr. Chuck is treating himself with Invisalign as I write this entry for the website. He has needed braces his whole life, but did not come from a family that could afford it. Chuck's orthodontic problem was so complex, that even as an adult he was never inspired enough to go through jaw surgery and years of conventional metal brackets. But this fall, after seeing patient after patient who loved the process, he was determined to fix at least the cosmetic flaws in his smile.
With every passing year, more and more of our patients ask about Invisalign and many are now raving fans after their treatment. In fact, we have now treated half of our staff!
WHO IS A CANDIDATE FOR INVISALIGN?
Invisalign is best used to correct front teeth that have excess spaces, or look crooked.
It is also a wonderful second treatment for people who didn't wear their retainers after they had their braces done as a teenager.
Invisalign is used for teens and adults of any age. (Unfortunately, Invisalign cannot be used with children under age 14 who are still growing a lot.)
Here's a photo of a teen case:
BEFORE AFTER 7 months of Invisalign
BEFORE AFTER 9 months of Invisalign!
Invisalign is not the right solution to every smile problem:
- There are a few kinds of severe "bite problems" that are impossible to correct with invisalign alone.
- Invisalign is not a good solution for people with Jaw Joint pain or problems.
If you have a severe bite problem or jaw joint issues, you would only want a specialist to do your invisalign treatment.
Invisalign may not be your only option. Dr. Lynda has 25 years of personal expertise in the art and science of "Cosmetic Dentistry", so she may have suggestions for you that are better for your particular situation!
Bottom-line: Every situation is different, so the best thing to do is come in for a consult to learn about your particular needs.
BEFORE - Hated her space at age 60 AFTER - 10 month of Invisalign!
BEFORE - 45 year old body builder AFTER - 15 months Invisalign
Here's a case where the patient didn't wear her retainers after braces, and her lower teeth had moved back to their original position. So now at age 33, she wanted her best smile back!..
BEFORE AFTER - 8 months
THE PROCEDURE:
Initially, we complete a comprehensive exam of the health of your teeth and gums. You cannot begin Invisalign if you have active gum disease, or active tooth decay. If your teeth are in stable condition, we will evaluate your "bite" and decide whether INVISALIGN can address your chief complaint. If you are not a candidate for INVISALIGN in our office we will thoroughly explain why and give you many more options.
After determining our goals, we take the photos, models and X-rays that are necessary to fabricate the series of plastic trays. We send these records to ALIGN TECHNOLOGIES and their high-tech facility makes your trays using some of the most advanced computer aided diagnostics and manufacturing in medical science. Here are some photos from the planning of a typical case on our computer screen:
About a month from your initial visit, you begin your treatment by receiving the first 3 trays. After that, you will visit us every 6 weeks for a check of your progress and to receive the next trays in the series. It is critical to understand that this methodology only works if you are absolutely committed to wearing the trays 22 hours each and every day of your treatment time.
When the final tray has brought the teeth to the desired position, it can be used as a retainer at night for several months. In most cased, we will make you a set of permanent retainers that you wear at night at least 4 nights a week. (Most people will need to wear retainers indefinitely if they want to keep their teeth in the final position.) For the lower teeth, some people prefer a discrete, permanently bonded wire on the inside of the dental arch to retain their position.
Some of our other patients' remarkable changes with Invisalign....
This technology is absolutely the future of tooth movement.
BEFORE AFTER 11 months
BEFORE - Never heard of Invisalign AFTER - 12 months
Fiddlehead has been doing Invisalign since 2006. (It can be tricky!.. So you really want to work with an Invisalign dentist who has a lot of experience with the technology.)
It's also important to work with an invisalign dentist who has had a background in orthodontics before picking up invisalign. For years, Dr. Lynda did regular braces right here in our office, so we can give you the best advice on whether invisalign is right for you. (It is NOT the right treatment for every person who wants a smile improvement.) That said,... Invisalign has become one of Fiddlehead's staff and patient favorites.
THE BENEFITS
It's removable for good hygiene- you can brush and floss normally, which can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Some orthodontic appliances, like braces, can cause gingivitis (usually reversible once the braces are removed.)
Your gum health may improve- Research has shown that periodontal tissue health may improve with use of Invisalign Aligners during your orthodontic treatment.
You can still eat what you want- because the Aligners are removable you don't have to worry about what you eat.
Cleanings are quicker and easier than with traditional orthodontics!
STRAIGHTER TEETH LEAD TO:
Healthier Gums- properly positioned teeth are easier to brush and floss than teeth that are crowded, crooked, or spaced too far apart. As you age, straight teeth will not be as prone to gum disease.
Decreased risk of dental trauma and abnormal wear- Properly aligned teeth are less stressful on the supporting bone and jaw joints.
More beautiful smiles- Straightening your teeth with Invisalign will make you feel less self-conscious and more confident as you age, there is no sense having teeth that look 20 years older than you do.