Invisible Braces

 

STRAIGHTEN YOUR TEETH THE CLEAR WAY – NO WIRES OR BRACES

 

Every day more and more people are straightening their teeth to enhance their smiles. Beautiful white, straight and healthy teeth show well-being and attractiveness and is a desire of each person. A beautiful smile and healthy teeth make you feel great and has a positive effect on one’s social and business life. Your teeth are your personal business card.  It’s not unusual for people with teeth irrgularities to refrain from smiling, because they are embarrassed by the looks of their teeth. 

Modern technology and advancement in orthodontic dentistry has now made it possible to comfortably straighten  your misaligned teeth without conventional wired braces.

 

“Invisible braces”

In-Line® and Invisalign® are the new modern and contemporary  systems that use removable transparent splints straighten teeth. The clear plastic splints or aligners fit comfortably over your  teeth and are designed to move and reposition teeth gradually into the desired position. The splints or aligners are custom made  through a combination of the dentist’s expertise and 3-D computer imaging technology. Each aligner is individually designed and manufactured with a computerized image of the patients teeth generated at the beginning of treatment  and determines the course of action for you to get the desired position  of the teeth you want. Aligners are made from a plastic material that is very thin and comfortable to wear. A typical treatment requires 20 to 30 aligners for both the upper and lower teeth. Most adults complete their treatment in less than one year. However, treatment time depends on the specific alignment problem. Each aligner is worn for 6 to 8 weeks, then replaced with the next one in the series. Aligners are similar to teeth whitening trays, except a lot more high tech. And yes, you can use your aligner  to whiten your teeth at the same time! Up close it’s really hard for people to tell you’re wearing an aligner and it does not affect your outer appearance. 

 

How do I know whether this system is suitable for me?

To use this system the eruption of the permanent teeth should be complete, which means it is suitable for patients of 15 years and older. Nearly all cosmetic orthodontic teeth corrections for adults can be treated successfully with this system.

The system is especially suited for cases where:

Teeth are overly crowded -  When there is not enough room in the jaw for all of the teeth to fit comfortably or normally.

Teeth are widely spaced - When there is too much space between the teeth due to abnormal growth of the jaw or shifting of the teeth due to missing teeth.

 

Overbite/over-jet - When the upper teeth bite over the lower teeth.

Cross-bite - When the upper and lower jaws are misaligned, causing one or more upper teeth to bite on the inside of the lower teeth, on either the front and/or sides of the mouth.

 

Mild relapse -  After traditional braces have been removed, when some relapsing tooth movement has occurred.

 

This system may not be appropriate for certain cases of misalignment or complex bite problems. Fixed orthodontic appliances (traditional wire and bracket braces) are  then indicated. Please contact your dentist to find out if this system is suitable for you.

 

What are the advantages of the In-Line® or Invisalign® treatment

Treatment is  undetectable

The aligners are virtually undetectable and they go unnoticed when speaking in social situations. Aligners can give you that beautiful smile by straightening your teeth without anyone knowing.

Aligners are removable

The best part is, other than being clear and out of site, is they are removable. You can remove the splints/aligners while eating, drinking or when you brush or floss your teeth.   This means you are not faced with any inconvenience in your daily life. Maybe your going on a special date with a special someone and you would rather go without for a few hours, that’s just fine, but don’t forget to put them back in when you get home!

Aligners are comfortable

Metal braces and wire with sharp edges, often cause oral inflammation, are no longer necessary.

How Much Does Invisalign Cost?

The cost of In-Line® or Invisalign® treatment is slightly more than that of traditional braces. However, your dentist can determine the actual cost of treatment because it will be based on your specific needs, including how extensive your dental problems are, how long your treatment will last, etc. Payment plans for financing treatment  may be available through your dentist’s office. Consult your medical aid policy to determine what orthodontic benefits you may qualify for.

Transparent  tooth liners/splints as alternative to the traditional method using braces and wires has transformed the way we straighten teeth. This break through has been sweeping the world and everyone is taking advantage of this new technology.  Imagine having straighter teeth in as little as 9 months without having to wear braces!
  Invisible aligners is the best way to transform your smile without interfering with your day-to-day life. This treatment can give
you the smile you’ve always wanted without the braces you’ve always avoided.

Gumlift

 

UPLIFT YOUR SMILE WITH A LASER GUMLIFT

 

In this busy socially adapted world we live in, it’s more and more a reality that people judge each other by their appearance. We only get one chance to make a good first impression. Are you embarrassed that too much gum is showing when you smile? Does this prevent you to smile? Is you gum line very uneven or receding? If so, then gum reshaping (or re-contouring) could easily resolve these problems for you. With technology revolutionizing the way we do dentistry, high end cosmetic dental procedures are now available to every day people, not just for the rich and famous. 

High tech at work for you

Cosmetic laser dentistry is a cutting-edge way to correct gum related cosmetic problems. It is also more difficult for a patient to maintain and manage oral health when excess gum tissue is present. 

An advanced diode laser is used to re-shape or re-sculpt excessive or uneven gums quickly and comfortably to meet the cosmetic needs of the patient. The laser is a special beam of light with which the gum line is gently sculpted or reshaped to get the ideal gum  line that will instantly create a more visually appealing smile. In most cases, you can take your smile from good to great in just one visit. 

Complications are rare, and at most a patient may experience minor tenderness and swelling for up to one week. The discomfort should be minimal however, and will not interfere with daily activities such as speaking, eating, or drinking.

 

What is a “gummy” or “horsey” smile

A “gummy or horsey smile” is one of the most common conditions treated by laser.  Your smile is made up of lips, teeth and gums. They should all be in harmony. Excess gum tissue can create the appearance of short teeth. This will give your mouth an imbalanced, gummy look and a smile that is more red than white.  A “gummy” or uneven smile can make your teeth seem almost secondary in appearance to your gums, making your teeth look short and unattractive. Sometimes, too, an uneven gum line can make your teeth seem slanted or unusually sized or shaped.    

With the ease and comfort of a laser, gums can be re-contoured to reveal a more appealing smile. Gum re-contouring is a safe, comfortable procedure. The dentist will first numb the gums with anesthetic. Then, with a laser, he or she will gently re-shape the gum line, sculpting excessive and uneven tissue away. It also immediately seals the tissue, helping the patient to heal faster and more comfortably. Lasers cauterize while they cut, which means less bleeding and a dramatically reduced chance of infection for patients. This procedure can be completed in a single office visit.

Sometimes all that may be required is to contour the gum tissue to a more esthetically balanced appearance. This is called a simple cosmetic gum lift. Of course, there are times when contouring the tissue alone is not enough. In those circumstances the bone at the front of the root may have to be reduced surgically.

 

What are the causes of a “gummy smile” or excess gum tissue?

The shape of the patient’s mouth can sometimes bare more of the gum tissue than is visible in the average person’s mouth. Although the excess gum tissue is normal and healthy, it will make your smile look abnormal.

Overgrowth of gum tissue can also be caused by irritation, medication, medical problems and bad habits such as grinding or bruxing of teeth. Overgrowth of gum tissue can also be caused by the irritation from braces during orthodontic treatment, in spite of proper oral hygiene.

Nasal or adenoid problems can lead a patient to breathe through the mouth, especially at night. This habit dries out the gum tissue, leaving it susceptible to disease and overgrowth.

Medication such Dylantin (anti-epileptic), used for seizures and Cyclosporine, an immuno-suppressant to prevent rejection of tissue grafts  or organ transplants, can also lead to gum tissue overgrowth.

Crown or  tooth lengthening

During cosmetic procedures the dentist often needs to correct the level of the gum before veneers or crowns are made. This procedure is called crown or tooth lengthening. Tooth lengthening is the dental equivalent to trimming cuticles. A periodontist or skilled cosmetic dentist shifts your gums to a position that reveals more of your teeth and less of your gums. 

Usually this procedure is done with a scalpel and sutures (especially if bone level needs to be adjusted as well), and takes six to eight weeks of healing before your veneers or crowns can be made. The gum around teeth can be reshaped and balanced quickly and painlessly with laser. 

How will laser surgery benefit me?

Accuracy

Laser surgery is a precise and effective way because it can treat a focus area.  Surgical lasers are more accurate than a scalpel, and allow the dentist to conserve as much soft tissue and bone as possible. 

Safety and Comfort

Laser surgery is seeked out by individuals looking for extreme safety and comfort. Because of the precise focus with the laser, damage to surrounding areas is greatly reduced. Because dental lasers use a high-energy light beam, blood loss is minimized by the lasers beam aiding in clotting of exposed blood vessels.
 Another benefit of the high-energy light beam is it sterilizes the area being worked on reducing bacterial infections. Soft tissue lasers are considered safe for both adults and children.

 

Gum reshaping can be done alone or in combination with other cosmetic dentistry treatments. If you have a gummy or uneven smile, a great option to enhance your smile may be laser gum re-contouring or “gum lift”. It’s a quick, easy, and painless way to recanter the shape of your gum line to enhance your smile. 

Laser treatment, the newest, most comfortable, and fastest healing of all the gum surgery options, is becoming a more and more popular dental procedure today and will continue to grow at a high rate in the future.

Cosmetic Dentistry is Life Changing

 

COSMETIC DENTISTRY IS LIFE CHANGING

 

While traditional dentistry focuses on oral hygiene and preventing, diagnosing and treating oral disease, cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving a person’s teeth, mouth and smile. Today, millions of people turn to cosmetic procedures as a way to improve their overall appearance, self-confidence and image. 

Beautiful white teeth have become a status symbol

Beautiful white teeth are seen as a status symbol, and what use to be only available for the rich and famous is now available to everyday people who are looking to enhance their smile. Cosmetic dentistry offers the solutions to make you more confident, attractive and increase your self esteem ten fold. Thanks to dental technology advancements, you can have a runway-ready smile through a instant facelift or cosmetic smile makeover. 

 

Smile makeovers

The new trend in cosmetic dentistry is commonly referred to as a smile makeover. The goal of a smile makeover is to give the patient a smile that is brighter, whiter, and more even. There are a number of ways you can achieve that perfect smile. Smile makeovers are a combination of procedures, such as whitening of discolored teeth; straightening of teeth with braces; repairing chipped, cracked, broken or decayed teeth with porcelain crowns or bonded composites; replace missing teeth or fill spaces with implants; and correct uneven gums with gum re-contouring. Placing ceramic crowns or veneers on discolored, cracked, broken, decayed or worn teeth teeth can produce dramatic results in a relatively small amount of time. If you want a natural look, all ceramic crowns will match your natural teeth color perfectly and is very durable. Because of these dental advancements, more and more people are having their old crowns and fillings replaced with newer, tooth-colored materials to enhance their appearance and smile.

Any of these procedures and dramatically improve your smile and give you that appearance you’ve always dreamed of.

 

Reasons why patients want cosmetic dentistry

1. Whiter Teeth: People with a beautiful white smile generally show more confidence than those with ugly stained teeth. Tooth whitening is the easiest and quickest and most cost effective cosmetic procedure to give you a whiter and brighter smile in about an hour. 

2. Straighter Teeth: Beautiful white, straight and healthy teeth show well-being and attractiveness and is a desire of each person. A beautiful smile and healthy teeth make you feel great and has a positive effect on one’s social and business life. You could be the nicest person in the world, but if you have crooked or uneven teeth people may think otherwise just because of your teeth. Yes, it’s sad, but it’s unfortunately true.  Crowded  and crooked  teeth can be corrected with orthodontic treatment, porcelain crowns or veneers. 

3. Feel more attractive : A study conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry revealed that 96% off adults believe that an attractive smile makes them  more appealing to the opposite sex.  Approximately, 3 out of 4 people also felt that an unattractive smile can affect their chances for success in their careers. 

4. Replace missing Teeth: No one likes to having missing teeth, is does not look nice and is difficult to eat without teeth. Teeth can be replaced with dental implants. Dental implants are on the rise and fastly becoming one of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures done today. 

5. Unattractive Gummy Smile: A “gummy” smile can make your teeth seem almost secondary in appearance to your gums, making your teeth look short and unattractive. A periodontist will quickly and accurately remove those gummy gums with laser gum sculpting, and bring out those beautiful teeth that were hiding for so long. 

6. Feel & Look Young and confident: It’s absolutely amazing what a new smile can do. We’ve seen it so many times. A normal, average looking person will come in to our office and want a smile makeover done instantly. Usually ceramic veneers  and/or bleaching will do the trick. What’s amazing is once the veneers are placed and they see their new, beautiful smile, the real transformation begins. On their next visit they’ll now have a new hair style, new clothes, tan skin, and a new confident attitude. It’s quite amazing to see and we in the dental profession are happy to be apart of it.

7. Restorative benefits: Dental fillings are a common procedure used to treat decayed teeth. Previously most dental fillings were composed of amalgam (metal fillings).  Today, dental fillings fall into the category  of cosmetic dentistry, because you can select fillings made of composite or porcelain materials that closely match the color of your teeth, thus maintaining the natural appearance of your teeth and smile. 

 

A smile can make a difference

A smile serves as an individual’s most powerful tool. A great smile can make a lasting impression, boost a person’s self-esteem and confidence as well as improve their overall health. There is absolutely no reason not to take advantage of all the wonderful cosmetic procedures available today. If you feel as though your smile lacks the kind of brightness, quality, and appeal that you really want, you may want to consider cosmetic dentistry. It’s time for you to get that smile you’ve always deserved, but never had the chance to get, until now. A smile can make a difference and we believe everyone should have that chance to get the smile they’ve always dreamed of having. 

Technological advancement in natural-looking tooth-colored dental materials make today’s  cosmetic dental treatments more durable and predictable than in the past. The benefits of treatment has a profound effect on a person’s well-being and quality of life.