Orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of tooth misalignments, jaw irregularities, and facial development. Not just for esthetic enhancement, orthodontics also serves to improve a patient’s overall oral health for a lifetime, and can even help with speech impediments. A properly aligned bite makes it easier to eat, smile and speak!
Here are some issues that orthodontics can help correct:
- Premature or late loss of baby teeth
- Thumb sucking or other oral habits
- Difficulty in chewing or biting
- Mouth breathing
- Crowding, dental malpositions
- Unstable jaws
- Difficulty with speech
- Teeth do not touch
- Facial asymmetry
Having straighter teeth can provide you with many benefits. They are easier to keep clean and healthy. They improve the functionality of your bite. They help correct dental-related speech impediments. And of course, they look great! Fortunately, you no longer have to deal with unsightly and uncomfortable brackets, wires, and appliances if you want to straighten your smile. Nowadays there are many options for the esthetic-concerned patient (example: tooth-colored bracket and wire). Some orthodontic treatments can be completed in as quick as six months! That means that you have a new smile before your next cleaning! Our practice uses Invisalign® braces, the invisible way to straighten your teeth.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign uses a series of clear removable aligners to straighten your teeth without metal wires or brackets. The aligners are made through a combination of Dr. Lung-Tor’s expertise and 3-D computer imaging technology.
You wear each set of aligners for about two weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move – little by little, week by week – until they have straightened to the final position.
You’ll visit us about once every 4-6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.
Total treatment time averages 9 – 15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case.
At the end of your treatment, we will provide you with a series of complimentary custom retainers to ensure you can maintain your satisfied results for years to come.
Invisalign can be the best way to transform your smile without interfering with your day-to-day life!
Advantages of Invisalign
The Invisalign treatment consists of a series of clear aligners, created precisely to gently and gradually move your teeth.
Virtually Invisible — Only you will know you’re wearing braces.
Completely Removable — Eat, drink, brush and floss, or take them out for special occasions such as weddings, prom, or senior pictures.
Faster Treatment Time — No fixed metal brackets or wires to adjust means you’ll spend less time visiting the doctor. You will receive a new set of aligners every other week during your Invisalign treatment.
Will Invisalign work for me?
The Invisalign System is an alternative to braces for patients who have full adult dentition and complete jaw growth, and it is effective on a broad range of cases. Even teenagers can benefit from the Invisalign system. We can determine if you are a good candidate during an initial exam.
Overly crowded teeth: This occurs when there is simply a lack of room within your jaw for all of your teeth to fit normally. When left untreated, overly crowded teeth can cause dental decay, an increase in chances of gum disease, and can prevent the normal function of teeth.
Widely spaced teeth: This occurs with the abnormal continued growth of the jaw bone. When teeth are missing, this issue can also be caused by the other teeth shifting due to extra space. Spacing issues in teeth can cause some periodontal diseases.
Crossbite: This occurs when the upper and lower jaws are both misaligned. It causes one or more upper teeth to bite on the inside of the lower teeth and can happen on both the front and/or the sides of the mouth. This issue can cause wear of the teeth, gum disease, and bone loss.
Overbite: It occurs when the upper teeth bite over the lower teeth. It’s typically caused by genetics, bad oral habits, or over-development of the bone that supports the teeth. This issue can lead to gum problems or irritation, and/or wear on the lower teeth and can cause painful jaw and joint problems.
Underbite: This occurs when the lower teeth protrude past the front teeth. It’s usually caused by undergrowth of the upper jaw, overgrowth of the lower jaw, or both. It can also be caused by missing upper teeth. This issue can prevent the normal function of front teeth or molars which can lead to tooth wear. It can also cause painful jaw and joint problems.