We found it exciting patients increasing interest in orthodontics and eagerness to understand its principles. Moreover, more parents ask so many questions we appreciate, like when to take a kid for its first orthodontic visit.

Indeed, there are many questions, but we wanted to prioritize some decision-influencing ones. But first, we must agree about orthodontics. The idea is to create a picture of what orthodontics is.

Aligning teeth and repositioning the jaw helps patients get a functional occlusion which means their bite will improve, positively affecting other functions:

• It significantly enhances dental hygiene, which also reduces the chance of tooth decay and periodontal disease that leads to expensive corrective dental treatments;
• Reduces the possibility of teeth wearing off from unwanted friction;
• Patients will experience better food nutrients absorption;
• In some cases, it helps eliminate sleep apnea;
• It reduces pain from jaws’ improper positioning and craniofacial complications;
• It significantly improves the facial profile of patients with a symmetric alignment of the jaws and also benefits their self-esteem.

Awareness about the financial costs of invasive treatments that could occur in the future has also moved parents to learn about early interceptive orthodontics. Indeed, the American Dental Association – ADA recommends parents take their kids for a first orthodontic checkup no later than age seven.  

An early Interceptive Orthodontic checkup starts with an evaluation that helps the orthodontic specialist determine the need for a first intervention to make room for newly coming permanent teeth, prevent crooked teeth, guide adult teeth eruption, expand the jaws to prevent underbites, crossbites, and overbites.

Interceptive treatment is the first of a two-phase treatment Salem & Keizer. The second phase starts when the dental and jaw structure matures, and an orthodontist uses orthodontic braces or clear aligners to complete teeth straightening.

Pros and Cons of Invisalign vs. Braces

As we proceed with the orthodontic treatment process, orthodontists might recommend using braces or clear aligners, depending on the severity of the malocclusion.

Here we briefly refer to both orthodontic devices and their compared benefits and drawbacks.

Invisalign and Clear Aligners 

Invisalign is the most prominent and world-class tech type of clear aligner. Invisalign has several advantages for patients compared to traditional braces, so here we list some.

Discreteness

Invisalign is discrete. Invisalign trays are made of a patented thermoplastic material that is safe for humans. In fact, the most remarkable of all Invisalign advantages is, as its name implies, invisible to the trained eye.

Comfort

Trays are comparably more comfortable than braces. Indeed, they snuggly adapt to the patient’s dental arches and gently move teeth to their correct position.

Hygiene 

One of the most critical considerations of braces is they help patients, after treatment conclusion, have better hygiene. But what happens during orthodontic treatment with braces?

Practicing good oral hygiene habits during treatment is challenging. Food particles and debris accumulate in the braces, wires’ nooks, and crannies.

Invisalign trays are removable, so patients can detach their appliances before eating and drinking, practice their regular hygiene routine and brush their aligners with liquid soap before using them again.

Efficiency

Invisalign is a proven orthodontic method providing patients and orthodontists with an efficient and fast teeth displacement progression for particular mild to moderate malocclusion cases, and lately, it has advanced to cover some severe cases.

Traditional Braces 

So far, Invisalign benefits outweigh traditional metal braces, but hold on a second; things aren’t as simple as they seem. Braces have been accompanying us for decades, and there is a powerful reason.

In short, malocclusions classify according to their class and type, but there is also a more subjective classification referring to their severity. Therefore, orthodontists use protocols and undergo intensive training to help them develop an acuteness to ascertain the level of gravity of the malocclusion.  

Dr. McDonald possesses this acuteness to define and recommend to his patients when getting traditional braces is the best option for a patient. Additionally, there are other braces treatment options; among some of them, we have the following:

Clear Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces are an excellent choice for their discretion. Ceramics mimics teeth’ color, making them almost invisible. However, they aren’t as sturdier as stainless steel metal and can’t hold the strain required in some severe cases.

Lingual Braces

Cemented at the back of teeth, they are invisible. However, lingual braces’ main drawback is their location makes them even more challenging to clean conventionally.

Dr. McDonald plans to work with Inbrace, a lingual brace with enhanced technology that includes easier-to-clean smaller, with lesser nooks and crannies components.  

Do Orthodontists Prefer Braces or Invisalign?

Now that we’ve revised the types of orthodontic braces and Invisalign clear aligners to correct a malocclusion, we might also discuss a controversial topic. Is there a specialist preference when it comes to orthodontics?

Yes, there are preferences, but on top of preferences, specialists like Dr. McDonald make an exhaustive evaluation and planning for each case to define the most suitable orthodontic device according to the particular problem.

Dr. McDonald has been using Invisalign since 2004. In fact, he bases his decisions on a principle, not to jump on bandwagons too early. Dr. McDonald has studied Invisalign Thoroughly before recommending it to patients.

Complementarily, braces had been accompanying us for several decades, and they evolved into systems that offer enhanced comfort and are consistently more efficient and easier to clean.

Furthermore, after your first evaluation and concluding the malocclusion is quite severe, there is a high possibility Dr. McDonald will choose orthodontic braces, leaving no room for Invisalign.   

What Is Invisalign First?

Talking about Early Interceptive Orthodontics is to talk about Invisalign First. Moreover, Invisalign First design is intended for Phase 1 Orthodontics, helping your little kid develop the jaws to make room for existing and upcoming permanent teeth.

But other than growing the jaws, Invisalign First helps your kid reduce the possibility of a more traumatic orthodontic intervention after the dental structures mature in adolescence and prevents the need to extract teeth in the future. 

What Is Invisalign Teen? 

Regarding Invisalign Teens, there seem to be no differences from standard Invisalign. However, there are some subtle differentiating factors. Here we list some of the most prominent:

• Specifically designed for a teenager’s mouth;
• In some cases, it includes eruption tabs helping erupting molars;
• Includes a compliance indicator assisting the orthodontist in determining if the patient is complying with usage.

What If I am Not Happy With My Invisalign Results? 

Dr. McDonald is an experienced and trained orthodontist developing and implementing an orthodontic treatment plan. But what is a plan without rules to follow? As in any other medical and dental area, treatment or therapy implies following recommendations to the letter.

Compliance is critical for getting the finest results according to the plan. Indeed, a lack of compliance might not help get those expected results. Moreover, creating a beautiful smile relies mainly on the patient. 

A specialist might anticipate a possible timeframe for the treatment. Poor compliance might suspend the effects of treatment and even cause relapse. Though seeing results mostly comes after a patient decides to follow the orthodontist’s recommendations, here we list some of the most common:

• Practicing good oral hygiene habits;
• Following a diet that excludes sugar. Food restrictions for braces users also include refraining from eating some of their favorite foods, including crunchy, hard, and in general, foods that can damage the appliances by bending or breaking the wires and loosening the brackets; 
• Taking care of elastic rubber bands and; 
• Attending orthodontic visits and other treatment-specific recommendations like using appliances for at least twenty-two hours per day when referring to Invisalign Clear Aligners Keizer.

In specific, when referring to Invisalign, there is a minuscule group of patients surfing the web asking, why are my teeth not perfect after Invisalign? Of course, the answer depended on compliance, but it also could depend on the patient’s physiological response to strain.

We don’t want to enter into the realm of clinical or technical terms, but what does physiological response to strain mean? In a few words, Invisalign exerts a force on teeth that sit on the alveolar bone. 

There is a little tiny space formed of soft tissue named periodontal ligament between the tooth and the bone that breaks and regenerates with tooth movements.

Some patients experience a faster break and regeneration process, affecting teeth displacement, but in other patients, the process moves slower.

So, suppose a patient experiences disappointment, like when stating I hate my teeth after Invisalign, but has complied with all of the specialist’s recommendations. In that case, the professional must deliver a result that might include redesigning the original plan.

In the event of a lower periodontal ligament response, the specialist could add extra sets of trays after getting new digital scans, include attachments, or use both options to induce teeth to keep moving.

Ensuring Formidable Results

Dr. McDonald works with patients throughout the entire orthodontic process to oversee it goes according to the plan and prevent potential issues like developing gingivitis to implement measures to control it. Results come with proper compliance and control.

Schedule an appointment for you and your family. Dr. McDonald and his heart warmth team will help assist you in getting a functional and beautiful smile.