Straightening Teeth With Invisalign Part V

Future Advances In Invisalign

 

In the future, it is probable that impressions of the teeth will no longer be necessary for starting Invisalign treatment, but that instead the teeth will be scanned by an intra-oral device, and the data will be collected electronically instead of physically.

As technology improves, the plastic of the aligners will probably vary in stiffness depending on which tooth that section of the plastic is attaching to.The locations and shapes of bumps on the teeth (attachments) will continue to evolve, and the ability to correct certain types of overbites and underbites will improve as more use of elastics and bone screws are integrated in with Invisalign.

 

©2011  James E. Eckhart, D.D.S.,  Inc.

www.eckhartorthodontics.com

1101 N. Sepulveda Blvd,  Suite 202, 

Manhattan Beach,  Ca.  90266  (310) 546-4724

21210 Anza Ave., Torrance, CA 90503 (310) 540-5911  

 

 

Straightening Teeth With Invisalign Part IV

Differing Opinions Among Orthodontists Regarding Invisalign

 

Invisalign has evolved tremendously over the past 12 years.  One of the main tools Invisalign has developed to make the aligners more effective in moving teeth is the temporary addition of tooth-colored plastic bumps onto the tooth surface. These bumps are called “attachments”, and there are different sizes and shapes of them, but their purpose is to allow the aligners to grasp the tooth more effectively in order to produce the desired tooth movements.  These “attachments” have evolved in recent years into shapes that have proven to help produce otherwise difficult tooth movements.  They have been created by a team of nearly 200 engineers hired by Invisalign to find effective ways to move teeth with aligners.  Invisalign continues to study the most effective way to use attachments to control tooth movements, and averages 1-2 new software releases per year as knowledge accumulates.  Doctors who used Invisalign years ago and quit, or who have  only done a few cases (less than 100, say), probably have not stayed current with the advances made by Invisalign, and may not have developed the experience to see the wide range of applicability Invisalign now offers.  It is quite clear to this writer that the profession of orthodontics is evolving into much more of an Invisalign delivery system, and much less of a braces delivery system, over the next few years.

 

©2011  James E. Eckhart, D.D.S.,  Inc.

www.eckhartorthodontics.com

1101 N. Sepulveda Blvd,  Suite 202, 

Manhattan Beach,  Ca.  90266  (310) 546-4724

21210 Anza Ave., Torrance, CA 90503 (310) 540-5911  

 

Straightening Teeth With Invisalign Part III

Advantage of Invisalign Over Braces

 

 

Since aligners are removed for eating, you can eat whatever you want.  That is not true for braces, because braces can be broken off the teeth if you eat something too crunchy.

Since aligners are removable, it is easy to thoroughly clean your teeth after eating.  You can brush and floss without any brackets (braces) being in the way and trapping food.

Invisalign hugs the teeth closely and has a very low profile, so there is nothing protruding out from the tooth surfaces to irritate the inside of the lips or cheeks.  Invisalign moves

the teeth in tiny increments, so the pressure on the teeth is small and very controlled, whereas with braces the teeth are moved by wires and the forces are larger and harder to

control.  For this reason, Invisalign causes very little soreness of the teeth, and what soreness there is lasts only hours, not days.  Invisalign is clear and hard to see, and is therefore

cosmetically superior to even the “clear” braces.  Also aligners can be removed for close-up photos, but braces are not so easily removed.

 

 

©2011 James E. Eckhart, D.D.S., Inc.

www.eckhartorthodontics.com

1101 N. Sepulveda Blvd, Suite 202,

Manhattan Beach, Ca. 90266 (310) 546-4724

21210 Anza Ave., Torrance, CA 90503 (310) 540-5911