Posts Tagged “braces”
Straight Teeth In Half The Time
With the popularity of “extreme makeover” reality TV shows, cosmetic dentistry has featured fairly heavily in prime-time schedules of late, normally demonstrating some of the more extreme treatments that involve surgery to completely rebuild someone’s jaw from scratch. Such an invasive procedure could well put you off having any kind of smile correction, but the truth is that there are a number of far less severe methods of realigning your smile that will never require a general anaesthetic.
One such method is using Invisalign aligners to close small gaps and correct misaligned teeth. The Invisalign system works by using a series of slightly different shaped aligners to gradually move your teeth in to the desired position. The great advantage of the Invisalign system over traditional braces is that they can be removed for eating and teeth cleaning, and they are almost invisible to the casual observer. No more train tracks, no more metal wires. Although there can be some discomfort experienced from wearing the aligners, it is far less than having a dental surgeon go in with a knife.
For people with only slightly misaligned teeth there is also the Invisalign Express system. This treatment is completed in around half the time of the normal Invisalign system, and because it uses fewer aligners it is also significantly cheaper. Of course, whether you are suitable for the shorter option will be something you can discuss with your cosmetic dentist during your initial consultation.
Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, Invisalign, braces, cosmetic dentist
Tags: braces, cosmetic dentist, Cosmetic Dentistry, Invisalign
| March 1, 2010 at 4:29 pm | No comment
The Right Angle For Your Teeth
Even if you have never worn them yourself, everybody knows exactly what is meant by a “brace” or “braces” when it comes to cosmetic dentistry. Some countries have a higher usage rate than others, but chances are that if you went to school any time in the last 40 years that you will have had a friend who had to wear a brace. Back in those days most braces were obvious and ugly, often requiring a head strap or even face mask to be worn to apply the required pressures to the teeth and jaw.
Nowadays these obvious and demoralising rigs are rarely seen, and there are even some orthodontic systems available, such as Invisalign, that are subtle enough to go unnoticed by all but the keenest eyed observer. Realignment of teeth or bite will almost always have to be done by brute force alone, but the existence of such unobtrusive options as Invisalign compared to what was available 40 years ago is testament to how far this field of medicine has come.
People have been trying pseudo-medical methods to straighten teeth probably for as long as they have been combing their hair, but the modern field of orthodontics didn’t really come in to being until towards the end of the 19th Century, with the first school of orthodontics being founded by Englishman Edward H Angle in 1901. In fact the classification system laid out in Angle’s “Treatment of Malocclusion of the Teeth” was used worldwide and still forms the basis of the field today.
Modern orthodontists have a much better understanding of hygiene and infection control than they did in Angle’s day, but it his testament to his intellect and methodology that so much of his original teachings remain.
Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, Invisalign, Orthodontics, Orthodontist, braces
Tags: braces, Cosmetic Dentistry, Invisalign, Orthodontics, Orthodontists
| February 19, 2010 at 11:55 am | No comment
Ensuring Valentine’s Success
No Valentine’s cards this year? Never mind, you’re probably too busy to be out meeting people anyway, and your work doesn’t exactly put you in contact with many desirable members of the opposite sex. Or maybe the aura of suave confidence you exude is just too overpowering, leaving your many admirers too intimidated to declare their interest. Yea, it’s definitely something like that.
Let’s be honest though, you’re probably being overlooked for a reason. It’s true that when it comes to adult relationships that personality is the biggest turn-on and the mind the largest erogenous zone, but first impressions are also incredibly important, and how is anyone ever going to find out about your razor wit and velour charm if they’ve pigeonholed you as a loser before you’ve even opened your mouth? This isn’t an advocacy of the shallow nature of some human beings; it’s simply a pragmatic analysis of the cruel facts, ones which hold even truer in the cattle market bars and clubs that most people in the Western world rely on to meet members of the opposite sex.
So what can you do? Well, for most people it’s just a simple case of a nice shirt or dress and a new pair of shoes, maybe a new hairstyle, while others may find a few trips down the gym improves their shape, posture, complexion and confidence. For others, it may be your teeth you need to look at.
How we express ourselves facially is hugely important to the way humans communicate with each other, and therefore plays a large role in any attraction. If you have crooked or misaligned teeth then maybe people don’t like looking at your mouth when you smile, or perhaps you don’t like people looking at them, meaning you don’t smile or talk as much as you would like. Issues such as these require a little more help than just a gym membership, but there are all kinds of braces available these days that will help you express yourself the way you want and help improve that all important first impression. The ultra-modern Invisalign system is so inconspicuous that most people won’t even notice you’re wearing one, so braces won’t turn you in to the geeky playground outcast during your treatment.
Sometimes first impressions are just down to confidence rather than anything you look at, but some new clothes, dropping some weight and a nice new smile aren’t going to hurt that either, are they?
Posted in: Invisalign, braces
Tags: braces, Invisalign
| February 16, 2010 at 9:52 am | No comment
Hollywood Smile or Slough Scowl?
Last night saw the stars of stage and screen, plus a few from elsewhere, turn out en en mass for the 67th annual Golden Globes. Although the ceremony can’t hold a candle to the Oscars in terms of rampant celebrity fervour, the Globes are often an early indication of who the winners and losers will be at the Academy’s own bash and so are monitored closely by industry watchers.
Before After?
This year’s ceremony offered a slight break with convention by being presented by a single MC for the whole night. What raised even more eyebrows was the choice of presenter with, love him or loathe him, Ricky Gervais being given free rein to lampoon and berate whoever he saw fit during the course of the evening. Ricky Gervais is somewhat of a novelty in Hollywood in that he still has his original smile when so many other actors and actresses (ie 99.99999% of them) buy in to the so called Hollywood Smile (the clue is in the name I guess).
Perhaps he is unsure of how braces may affect his confidence and public persona, how they will look on camera, or maybe just what his friends will think. This is something that many people worry about when considering dental procedures, but with modern developments like the Invisalign system there is no need to get hung up on having a mouth full of metal wires. The beauty of the Invisalign system is that they are completely clear and therefore nearly invisible. Perhaps if someone told Ricky about this he might be looking a bit more Hollywood in time for next year’s awards.
Posted in: Invisalign, braces
Tags: braces, Golden Globes, Hollywood Smile, Invisalign
| January 18, 2010 at 4:42 pm | No comment
The Wonder Of Invisible Braces
As mentioned in a previous blog, an excellent example of how the world of cosmetic dentistry has developed over the years is the Invisalign system. This kind of orthodontic treatment straightens crooked teeth and closes gaps in your smile with the use of a clear plastic aligner, rather than strapping up your mouth with metal wires and elastic bands. This is not only a lot more comfortable for the wearer, who can remove the aligners while eating and to clean their teeth, but they are also far more discreet. In fact most people won’t even notice that you’re wearing them at all!
The first step on the path to a straighter smile from Invisalign is a trip to a cosmetic dentist for a consultation. Most Invisalign certified dentists will not charge you for your initial consultation and this will give them a chance to discuss with you exactly what you’re looking for from your treatment and what procedure they would recommend. In the event that you aren’t suitable for the Invisalign treatment your dentist will still be able to suggest alternative courses of action, some of which we will talk about in later blogs. Either way, this consultation will allow you to make the most informed decision possible and won’t cost you anything, so what do you have to lose?
Should you decide to proceed with the treatment your dentist will take a mould of your teeth and several photos of your bite. These will then be sent to the Invisalign laboratory, where they will create a 3D model of your teeth and use their patented software to simulate the movement of your teeth from their present state to your desired one. The lab will then produce several sets of retainers, each designed to be worn for 2 weeks at a time, moving your teeth little by little to their desired position. Your dentist will explain to you everything you need to know about how to wear your new Invisalign braces, how to clean them and how long the treatment is expected to take.
As these kinds of braces can be removed by the patient, successful treatment does require a certain level of dedication and commitment. If you never wear them then they aren’t going to work, and there is nothing your dentist can do about that! However even if there is some initial discomfort it will be worth it for the winning smile you are left with.
Posted in: Invisalign, braces
Tags: Aligners, braces, cosmetic dentist, Invisalign
| December 17, 2009 at 9:38 am | 2 comments
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