Invisible Braces
While we've been doing invisible orthodontics for years now, we've now been certified as practitioners using a more advanced and effective approach that builds on the older technology.
Called ClearCorrect, the clear braces are smoother and even more invisible, and we have far better control over the individual steps in moving teeth for a dynamite grin and more perfect bite.
 This not only improves the confidence of your smile-power, it can add to the health of the teeth as well as the entire jaw/muscle system.
And what's really nice about invisible orthodontics is that you can take the aligners out to do exquisite cleaning and eat whatever you want!
The clear aligners also make pretty good delivery systems for tooth bleaching, so we can often lighten while we straighten.
View ClearCorrect 101: click here
Also can visit www.clearcorrect.com click here
You Don't have to be a Brace Face!
Getting teeth straighter before doing the final smile makeover can go a long way to making a final result that really pops! And sometimes it's impostible to rebuild a smile at all without realigning the teeth.
But does that mean years of metal-mouth braces? Not necessarily. Many of our aesthetic projects really lend themselves to the simplicity of clear removable aligners, a method of moving teeth with clear, invisible trays that pop over your teeth and require no brackets, no wires. They don't require coming in for adjustments every time you turn around.
The clear aligner snaps over your teeth.
We design the treatment plan according to your needs and final desires. Then the laboratory make a carefully crafted series of clear, slip-on trays. Each tray moves the teeth about a fiftieth of an inch. These minimal increments work for three weeks, then we change to the next aligner.
It's basically that simple. We see you for short, easy check appointments during the movement phase, which may be as short as a few months, rarely over a year.
This is a great approach for adults. Simple. Minimal appointments. Easy to take out to thoroughly clean. INVISIBLE!
Can invisible braces be used for everyone? No. Kids are not great candidates. Moving heavy molars around can be problematic. This is when we enlist the aid of our wonderful orthodontic colleagues! But for a number of adults who need aesthetic corrections, clear aligner orthodontics can be a major step forward. And, no, you're NOT too old to finally take care of yourself!
There are times when clear aligners are not your best option for getting beautifully straight and functional teeth. That's when we call on Six Month Smiles. Close to invisible braces that boast greater control and faster movement of teeth in the smile zone. Dr. Maher is our resident expert. She and assistant Erin McCraner, RDA have taken considerable advanced training and love improving smiles.
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Case of the Month
Having her teeth looking "like baby teeth" left a young patient feeling shy about her smile. She often spoke with her hand over her mouth, and she never would flash a full-fledged grin showing her teeth.
 
What caused this? A condition that ran in her family where the gums didn't shrink back properly when her teeth came in.
Her bite was actually fine, but her gums covered so much of her teeth, that they just didn't look like the adult shapes our eyes expect.
A little work with a laser made these teeth a normal shape again:
Next, she may do a little bleaching. The comfortable treatment took under half an hour.
It's always exciting and a real pleasure for us to be able to change people's lives every day through conservative aesthetic corrections like this. Just a little artistic sculpting can totally revamp a smile! ... and a life.
What about that tooth whitening at the mall, Costco and Sam's Club?
Actually, in most cases these rather inexpensive programs will get teeth a bit whiter for a little while, but we have some concerns about the complete lack of evaluation prior to applying some active chemicals to the teeth and in the mouth.
First of all, these cosmetic procedures are done by YOU. The untrained "technician" hands you the trays and you put them in yourself.
Where's the concern? Without analysis, we don't know if there are open areas that can lead to sensitivity or even death of the nerve in the tooth.
We also would like to evaluate if you have old crowns (caps) or fillings that will definitely NOT bleach like normal tooth structure. That can lead to some wild aesthetic outcomes!
Things like WhiteStrips aren't necessarily bad either, but we have similar concerns. Just ask us if you're a candidate, and we'll let you know during your exam. Besides dislodging easily and running the goo into your mouth, we've found the strips are not broad enough, so if you're going to use them, you have to alternate left and right positioning to cover the visible teeth in the smile.
The best bleaching comes from in-office procedures and professionally constructed trays that sheath the teeth completely and prevent premature leakage into the mouth as well as dilution of the active ingredients.
Additionally, your dentist may also wish to provide some anti-sensitivity treatments to cut down on Zingers.
Previewing a New Smile
It's now possible to preview the rejuvenation of your smile in a variety of different ways.
Sometimes we do this on the computer by digital design.
Sometimes we do this directly on your teeth using hand-builtup light-cured composite bonding material. But this is NOT bonded, just hardened. We can artistically change the shape and color of the teeth and let you see what our target design might be.
Test-Drive Your New Smile?
Sometimes people even go home with the material on their teeth so their spouse and friends can get a look. The composite can be popped off with a fingernail or a short return trip to the office.
Obviously, there are limitations here, since artistic reshaping the smile sometimes requires shortening or thinning teeth that are out of position, and this can't be done with the temporary test smile technique.
We often plan your new look by doing a Model Waxup. This uses the study models we make from your initial impressions. Then we reshape or add to the teeth.
It's not too easy, though, for 'civilians' to see the final results as they'd appear on their face. That's why we like some of the other preview techniques mentioned here.
You can also look at our Preview Books. These are collections of different smiles and different effects that we can achieve in remaking how others see you.
Some of our our patients simply leave the artistry up to us, and that's fine too, but we really encourage your input.
Another really neat trick is...
The Snap-on Instant Smile
The SmileStudio has been working with our lab technicians to create an instant smile makeover, the Snap-on Smile. These are OVERLAY teeth that are made out of a hard tooth-colored plastic that pop on top of your gnarly choppers!
You can eat with the snap-on teeth and take them out to clean (important!). Again, there are some limitations to what we can accomplish here, but the results are little short of amazing!
We like this approach, for instance, if we have to wait to do a permanent smile remake. This might be true if we are getting the gums up to snuff or making certain that decay is under full control. Here is a test view prior to an aesthetic gum lift:
How long to the Snap-on Teeth last? We are estimating around three years or more.
Costs are revolutionarily LOW for this immediately gratifying change in a smile AND, potentially, the bite. It's also a great way to replace missing teeth while one is waiting for an implant to become fully usable. IT ELIMINATES THE DREADED "FLIPPER".
Recently we heard the developer, Dr. Marc Leichtung, in a course, and he opened our eyes to some of the possiblities of this remarkable technology.
It's one other option to keep in mind.
  
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What is a "Non-surgical" Facelift?
Imagine what happens to a face when teeth are sunken in and worn down. The outside skin sinks in and wrinkles are far more evident. Bringing teeth back to their ideal position can renew facial appearance.
But it goes far beyond your teeth. Comfortable, balanced muscles also go a long way to contributing to a happy, relaxed facial appearance. We have seen, for instance, a harsh, masculine appearing face become softened and rounded as muscles are allowed to settle down and spasms are relieved.
And the facelift also comes from within as patients are finally happy enough with their appearance to actually flash a giant smile. That's a glow that can infuse a face with completely new character.
And achieving these changes has been one of our life's missions at The SmileStudio and has been one of the most satisfying.
The Power of a Smile
99.7 - Percentage of adults who say an attractive smile is an important personal asset.
74%- Percentage of people who say that an unattractive smile can hurt a person's chances for business or career success.
63%- Percentage of people who say they look best in photos when they are showing their teeth.
23%- Percentage of people who say they look the best with their mouth closed.
1897- Mark Twain writes this: "Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been!"
62- Number of times a day the average woman smiles. 8- Number of times a day the average man smiles.
Creating Beautiful Smiles
Take a look at How Cosmetic Dentistry Works -
http://www.howstuffworks.com/sssscosmetic-dentistry.htm
for a great introduction to cosmetic dentistry.
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