Invisalign Orthodontics - Reasonable for Patients of All Ages by Western Mass Dentist, Larry Life

www.meadowplacedental.com

Many patients are not aware of the ease in which teeth can be straightened today without having to wear braces. Clear, thin and nearly invisible plastic shells have been utilized for orthodontic correction of poorly positioned teeth for over 15 years. A series of "aligners" is fabricated from initial impressions and a new aligner is placed every 2 to 3 weeks until the goal is accomplished. A simple case may require only a few aligners, whereas a very complex case may require 20 to 40 aligners.

It is the patient´s responsibility to wear each aligner nearly 24 hours a day, taking it out only when eating, brushing and flossing. The advantages of these aligners besides being nearly invisible, is that they can be removed easily to facilitate oral home care, there are no sharp edges in the mouth like wires and brackets, and the forces they create to move the teeth are generally more gradual and thus less painful compared to traditional braces.

A very simple application of this technology that is often overlooked is the correction of lower incisor crowding. Frequently those patients that originally had braces in their teenage years experience an orthodontic relapse. This often leads to severe crowding in the lower anterior area. Because this condition is not always obvious during a smile, it is frequently overlooked as a problem. However, the crowding always gets worse with time and eventually the roots of the teeth get too close together making it difficult to floss and even difficult for a skilled hygienist to keep the area clean and healthy.

It is incumbent on a dentist and hygienist to address this concern if a patient has a crowding condition. With the continuing higher standards of care, there are some professionals beginning to suggest that it is a form of supervised neglect not to inform patients of the risks associated with this type of crowding.

With the advent and continued advancement of removable aligner orthodontic therapy nearly all types of crooked tooth problems can be addressed in this way. If you are in the western Massachusetts area please do not hesitate to call our office at 413-525-6123. We would be glad to inform you of all your orthodontic treatment options.

www.meadowplacedental.com