Invisalign, Straight Teeth Without Braces - Western Pennsylvania Guide to Good Health- Western Pennsylvania Guide to Good Health

Invisalign - Straight Teeth Without Braces
By Lois Thomson

If you are concerned about the appearance of your teeth but can't imagine wearing braces as an adult, let Dr. Robert Luther Jr. introduce you to Invisalign. Dr. Luther has always included orthodontics as part of his practice, but is now looking forward to offering a new technique to his patients.

Appearance may not be the only reason to consider having your teeth properly aligned. But even if your teeth are fairly straight and you are not concerned about the appearance, Dr. Robert Luther Jr. mentioned the link between periodontal disease, and heart disease and diabetes, among others. "Studies are finding that even in people who don't have a lot of inflammation in their gums, a lot of bacteria is lodging between lower, crowded front teeth. That's something that needs to be addressed. We have to emphasize that (in addition to appearance) that's another good reason to straighten your teeth, just to eliminate some of that oral bacteria that's detrimental and can impact your general health.

"It is actually beneficial to your health to have your teeth straightened. It's pretty apparent that when you have crowded teeth, they're much harder to clean. But when your teeth are straightened, a lot of that harmful bacteria will be eliminated."

Invisalign is an alternative to braces, designed particularly for adults and teens. Dr. Luther describes the aligners as being similar to "a retainer that fits right over the teeth, almost like a skin. They're clear, so they're nearly invisible. You can speak easily with the aligners, so you can wear them and people wouldn't necessarily know you're wearing any kind of device. And they don't put a lot of stress on your teeth, so they're relatively comfortable in relation to braces."

He said they are designed to be worn 22 hours a day—being taken out only while eating, or brushing or flossing your teeth, and cleaning the aligners themselves. "So there's an advantage compared with having a lot of gear on your teeth, which is difficult to clean. A lot of times we find (braces) cause inflammation in the gums, and cavities in the teeth, if they aren't cleaned well. This can be avoided easily with aligners because it's so much easier to clean your teeth."

Dr. Luther explained how the process works: Invisalign designs a series of retainers, usually between 15 and 25 sets, based on information (photographs, impressions, etc.) the dentist provides. Invisalign scans the information into their computers, put the teeth into the perfected position, and then creates a sequence of aligners that move the teeth from point A to point B.

Patients usually start with three sets of aligners, with each set being worn for two weeks. In six weeks they go back for a check-up, and then receive three more sets. "You just go through a progression where the retainers are gradually making your teeth straighter and straighter. It takes about a year, so the 25th set or so would put your teeth in the ideal position. It's just a gradual, gentle movement of the teeth using step-by-step, very slight movement in a constant progression. So the teeth move a bit with the first set. The next set will be a little snug when you put them in but the teeth move into that position, then into the third position, and so on.

"I'm very excited about it. I enjoy the orthodontic aspect of my practice and I'm looking forward to implementing this. It's interesting to watch people as they see their teeth moving through this methodology, and it's fun for the patients because it's not stressful. It's one of those things where you're really making a difference for somebody in their life."

If you think Dr. Luther is excited, how do you think you'll feel if you try Invisalign and see the results! For more information, call (412) 788-6300 or visit www.pittsburghlaserdentist.com

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