Considering Invisalign?

Are you wondering what Invisalign treatment is really like, and what effect it will have on your day-to-day activities? Will it slur your speech? Will people know you're in treatment? You're not alone in your concerns! Following is a list of questions and answers for anyone pondering Invisalign treatment.

How exactly does Invisalign work?

Using 3-D computer imaging technology, Invisalign creates a series of custom-made, clear aligners exclusively for your teeth, based on the treatment plan that we specify for you. Each aligner moves teeth incrementally and is worn for about two weeks, then replaced by the next in the series until the final position is achieved.

Will I experience pain during treatment?

Most people experience temporary discomfort for a few days after a new aligner is placed. This feeling of pressure is normal and is a sign that Invisalign is working by sequentially moving your teeth to their final destination.

Can other people see that I'm in treatment?

One of the benefits of Invisalign is that the aligners are clear. You can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing.

Can I smoke during treatment?

We discourage smoking while wearing the aligners as they may become discolored.

Are there any foods I cannot eat while in treatment?

You can eat normally during the entire course of treatment. One of the advantages of Invisalign is that the aligners are removable. Simply take the aligners out before each meal, brush when you're finished eating, then reinsert the aligners afterward.

What about chewing gum?

We recommend removing your aligners for all meals and snacks, as gum and other chewy substances can stick to the aligners.

How often must I wear my aligners?

Aligners should be worn all day, except when eating, brushing, and flossing.

Will my speech be affected by the aligners?

As with any orthodontic treatment, aligners may temporarily affect your speech. If this does happen, your tongue will adjust within a day or two and your speech should return to normal.

How can I clean my aligners?

The best way to clean your aligners is by brushing and rinsing them in lukewarm water.

How often must I visit your office during treatment?

For most patients, visits every 6-9Drs. Sondhi and Biggs will provide you with a specific schedule that supports your individual treatment plan.
weeks are frequent enough for us to determine that your treatment is progressing properly.

Mouth Guard Check!

School football programs, and other school sports are gearing up for practice, so before a referee calls a time out because you've had your bell rung, ensure that your mouth guard fits properly. Wearing a proper-fitting mouth guard is imperative while playing football, and could prevent:

• Chipped teeth
• Broken teeth
• Lip and cheek injuries
• Jaw fractures
• Joint injuries
• Concussions
• Tooth root damage
• Mouth lacerations (particularly for players who have braces)

It is important that people with braces on their teeth use mouth guards designed to protect the teeth and braces. Never use the form-fitting mouth guards with braces, because that could loosen or break brackets. Also, the continual tooth movement, from the braces, would cause it to no longer fit properly.

The American Dental Association estimates that a third of all dental injuries are sports related. Fifty-eight percent of game injuries are the result of player-to-player contact. If you have any questions about a mouth guard you are currently using, or are in need of a mouth guard, please contact any of our Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics staff members, who will assist you with the proper type of mouth guard.

TIME FLIES

 

Is your summer break almost over? Remember, with the start of school just around the corner, there are many changes about to happen to your schedule. If your appointment is sometime after the beginning of school, confirm it is at a time that coordinates with your schedule. Summer schedules are often hectic and appointments can be forgotten in the chaos. If you are needing to make or reschedule an appointment, please feel free to contact any one of our Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics team members. Enjoy the rest of your summer vacation!

Keep us updated!

Please help us to stay in contact with you.  If you have moved, changed your email address, or have a new phone number, please let any one of our team members know.

Also, did you know that you can find us on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter? We are always looking for ways to stay connected with our patients outside of the office, and social media is a wonderful tool for this. Feel free to "Like" us on Facebook or "Follow" us on Twitter. If you have not checked out all of our YouTube videos, please feel free to take a few minutes to view those as well. If you have any questions on how to "Find" us, please ask any one of our Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics team members.

What About Fast Braces and 6 Month Smiles?

 

You may have seen some of the newer information regarding a process called "6 Month Smiles", or another process called "Fast Braces".  They claim that the alignment of your front teeth can be completed very quickly, and people would certainly prefer to be in braces for 6 months, instead of 16 months! 

However, if you research these claims carefully, you will find that these techniques focus only on aligning the front teeth, and do nothing to correct any of the problems with your bite, which is a significant issue in terms of your long-term dental health. 

Thankfully, the newer treatment technology does not require us to accept these compromises.  The kind of corrections that can be made with "6 Month Smiles" in, well, 6 months, leave the patient with an incomplete and unstable correction.  However, because of the new technology with self-ligating braces, we can do a complete correction for similar cases in 11-12 months.  Hardly worth the difference to accept a compromise, or an unstable result. If you have a question, please contact any one of our Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics team members.

When Do I Get My Braces Off?

 

That is one of the most frequently asked questions for any orthodontist!  Now, thankfully, the answer is -- "much sooner than they used to".  That is because the newer technology with braces has eliminated the colored ties that used to slow down tooth movement, and therefore made the treatment process much more efficient.  Treatment that used to take at least 2 years can now easily be completed in 14 months.  The more complex treatments, that used to take 2-1/2 to 3 years, can now routinely be completed in 17-18 months.  Isn't progress a beautiful thing? If you have any questions about this technology please feel free to contact any of our Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontic team members.

Where Have All the Colors Gone?

 

You may have noticed that there is a change in the way braces look these days.  That is because, with the previous technology that was available, colored elastics were placed on the brackets to hold the wires in place.  Increasingly, you will notice that the colors are not being used any more.  That is for a very good reason.  The newer technology with braces allows us to move teeth more efficiently by eliminating the colored ties.  As much fun as it was to select the colors, the fact is that those elastic ties also retained a lot of plaque, and were difficult to keep clean.  The move from colors to clear braces is good for a lot of clinical reasons, and makes the treatment time much shorter.  Considering that the braces would have to stay on longer if we still used the previous technology with elastic ties, who wants the colors anyway? If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any one of our Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics team members.