If you had a magic wand and could change one thing about your smile, what would it be? The most common answers we hear from our patients are that they wish their teeth were “straighter” and “whiter.” If you feel the same way about YOUR smile, then you might consider clear aligner therapy. Clear aligner therapy, such as Invisalign, is an orthodontic alternative to traditional braces that uses a series of custom aligners to move teeth into their proper positions gradually and gently without the use of unsightly brackets and wires. This easy process will not only help you achieve the more attractive smile you desire, but also provides many health related benefits.
Do your gums bleed or have they receded exposing the root and/or do you build-up a lot of tartar on your teeth? When teeth are misaligned (crowded, gapped, or rotated,) it is harder to remove the plaque and bacteria that form around them. The presence of this plaque and bacteria can lead to inflamed and/or receding gums, pockets developing between the teeth and gums (which can harbor more bacteria resulting in further gum disease), bone loss, and ultimately tooth loss. When teeth are properly aligned, it is easier to brush and floss the teeth and gums effectively, resulting in better removal of the plaque and bacteria that contribute to gum disease, tooth decay, and even heart disease.
Are your teeth sensitive, worn, or chipped or have you had to have crowns placed on many of them due to cracks? Besides simply straightening misaligned teeth, clear aligner therapy can also correct many abnormal bite relationships, such as open bites, overbites, underbites, or crossbites. In each of these abnormal bite relationships, the upper and lower teeth fail to come together properly causing the teeth to collide rather than glide against each other. This can put extra stress and pressure on the teeth and jawbone, resulting in gum disease, receding gums, indentations at the gum line (abfractions), cold sensitivity, worn, chipped or fractured teeth, and/or tooth loss. Aligning the teeth and correcting the bite puts the teeth in their most stable position reducing their risk of wear and trauma.
Unlike conventional dental braces, clear aligner therapy is designed to be comfortable and convenient. After an examination with your dentist (which should include x-ray evaluation to ensure the bone around the teeth is healthy), a series of custom aligners are created. Each aligner is worn for two weeks for approximately 22 hours a day, before advancing to the next aligner. Because the aligners are removable, you can brush and floss your teeth normally and can remove your aligners to eat and drink. An additional benefit of clear aligner therapy is that the aligners can be used as custom bleach trays allowing you to bleach your teeth while straightening them!
Close monitoring by your dentist is critical to ensure the teeth are moving as planned. Typically, your dentist will want to check your progress every 6-12 weeks. There are mail order clear aligners out there that SOUND easy and may cost a little less, but without direct dentist involvement in your care, there is a much higher risk of bone loss during treatment or improper movement of the roots of the teeth which can be seen only in x-rays.
If you are interested in seeing if Invisalign is right for you, please visit us at Cheek Dental for a consultation. Whatever your age, misalignment, or bite problem is, straightening your teeth can boost your self-confidence by giving you the smile of your dreams all while knowing you are also improving your oral and physical health!
Dr. Kristina Chandler practices at Cheek Dental here in East Cobb. You may contact her at 770-993-3775 or visit www.cheekdental.com.
