Invisalove
Gotta tell ya, I sure do love Invisalign. What I just said is significant.
Back when I was a dental student and O.J. was busy pitching Hertz rent-a-cars while he was running through airports, I sure did hate orthodontics. When I somehow escaped dental school in the dead of night and started out from scratch in TC, I couldn’t believe my one co-worker, Former Office Manager Diane, had previously been paid to bend orthodontic wires. If I had only known FOM Diane while I was a student, I’d have somehow raised the cash to pay her off for a wire job well done.
I’m not suggesting students should go out and hire folks to do their work; I’m just making clear the sort of fantasies this former student used to entertain (the Doc “wrath of” Kahn productions are not suited for impressionable readers younger than grandparents of Baby Boomers.)
Bending wires was tedious stuff and I basically stunk at it. Maybe that’s one reason why I’m always saying if you enjoy something, you’re going to be good at it. Orthodontics didn’t even seem like dentistry; it was more like engineering. I never tried engineering, but following the line of my enjoy/”excel at” tendencies and the way I fix stuff that isn’t teeth, I’d have probably stunk at engineering too.
And there’s more.
Until Doc Fong took me and my crooked teeth on as patients, my smile looked something like a cross between a piranha and a train crash. You would have thought when I was a D-student I’d have hung out downstairs waiting for some kind of Ortho Department handout. It wasn’t until I’d been practicing dentistry in town for a while that I noticed a few interesting things (we covered my slow study self last week.) Parents didn’t like it when I sent their kids to the orthodontist even though my teeth were the funkiest zigzags in the room. A friend also wondered why I tended to have my hand in front of my mouth when I spoke.
Doc Fong totally transformed my thoughts on orthodontics and then became one of my best friends and a valued mentor. Haven’t stopped smiling since.
One of the things I really enjoy about dentistry is esthetics or the cosmetic stuff. About five years ago, I heard about a new approach to orthodontics called Invisalign. Next thing you know, I was certified to do Invisalign orthodontics. Who knew?
Invisalign is delivered wire free with custom fit clear plastic aligners that are virtually invisible; the process combines typical restorative dentistry techniques and some amazing technology. Teeth are moved 0.2 millimeters every two weeks (that’s when the aligners are changed.) Active treatment averages 6 months to a year, followed by retainers just as with traditional orthodontics. Invisalign isn’t appropriate for all orthodontic challenges; consults regarding Invisalign as a viable alternative are recommended.
The process, beyond screening, involves a comprehensive exam, full-mouth X-rays, photographs, a bite record, and upper and lower arch impressions. The information and a treatment plan are submitted to Align Technology in Santa Clara. There, a CT scan is made from the dental impressions, producing an extremely accurate 3-dimensional model of the teeth. CAD (Computer Aided Design) software is then used to simulate the movement of teeth during treatment. The plan and virtual results are then reviewed by the dentist and patient off the Align website. The aligners are made only after the patient’s approval of the plan (it’s pretty cool seeing the projected result before care even begins.) Align then uses stereolithography (SLA, I looked it up) to build precise molds capturing each stage of tooth movement. Active treatment begins on delivery of the aligners to the dental office.
Invisalign works as a great approach to correcting crowding or spacing between teeth. A typical application would be retreatment of an orthodontic case that had relapsed; perhaps from the lack wearing retainers (don’t feel too guilty; we’re not asking for a raise of hands.) Another great application is the ability to move maybe only one tooth. A memorable patient had walked around for close to fifty years with one upper anterior tooth sticking straight out. “I hate that tooth but there’s no way I’m wearing braces,” she said. I responded, “What if there were a way we could straighten that tooth without braces?” The rest was history…and in only about four months. Invisalign can also be used to help set up minimally invasive veneer cases or help folks with bite related issues. The aligners are worn 22 hours per day and are removed for eating and oral hygiene.
Our first patient, back in the day, was none other than OM Dalila (guess I couldn’t find any blood relatives.) And the aligners didn’t even come close to slowing down the verbally gifted One on the phone or with patient/guests.
Most practices offering Invisalign also offer third party financing; orthodontic coverage as an existing part of your dental insurance plan should include Invisalign.
If you’ve always wanted straighter teeth but never cared for the metallic look, ask your dentist about Invisalign.
