Splinting a Tooth: Emergency Dental 101

Ever wondered how we can fix a dislocated tooth?

Impacting just about anything other than what you intend with your teeth is generally a cause for immediate concern. Why? because it’s usually accompanied by pain and the fair chance that there might be something wrong with your tooth. Especially if the impact was particularly hard, dental emergencies with your teeth can range from a simple chip (which isn’t that big of a deal) to teeth that can be forced every which way.

So you might be wondering, if a tooth is knocked around but not completely out of your mouth, what sort of treatment is available? In many cases, this scenario would be the realm of dental splinting. But first, a word about the two different kinds of “loose teeth”.

First, we have primary occlusal trauma. This happens when excessive force encounters your unfortunate dental structures. However, the important detail here is that the force is a “parafunctional force”. This means the force is one that your mouth wouldn’t expect from within. It is an impact outside the normal range of force your body would encounter in your day to day life, like chewing or clenching your teeth at night.

Next, there’s secondary occlusual trauma. This refers to damage that occurs as a result of your normal biting forces, on a tooth that’s been undermined by some sort of damage to either your gums or the underlying bone.

This is to say, while your teeth can become loosened over time by the natural force of unchecked decay and lack of care — in the event that you are the victim of outside forces impacting your mouth (primary occlusal trauma), the circumstances are a bit different.

How your dentist fixes loose teeth by splinting

One common occurrence in our Garden Grove emergency dental office is that of the “tooth that got knocked during a soccer game” (for example). In this case, there is a very good chance that the dentist would elect to splint it, especially if you were able to reach an emergency dentist in time.

In every case, the way the tooth is treated depends on where the damage originated. When the tooth is dislodged, it stresses the periodontal ligament (what your teeth use to stay attached). With a splint, your dentist can mechanically counter-act that force and treat the effects at the same time.

In its most basic form, splinting is an emergency dental treatment that joins teeth together like a freshly sealed and polished summer deck. Using tiny little posts, splints distribute the load evenly to protect, re-position, and promote healing.

Temporary splinting is often accomplished with splints either inside or outside your tooth’s crown. Extra-coronal splints are splints that are applied on the outside of the tooth’s crown. Intra-coronal splints are installed into a tiny channel that’s cut into your tooth. With either approach, the splint is bonded or cemented in place to make the teeth more stable and rigid.

Permanent splinting is a bit different. It uses a dental crown to cover the affected tooth alongside a splint that is secured to the other crowns, effectively and permanently keeping the tooth in place.

Have you experienced a dental emergency?

When it comes to fixing loose teeth, the above is only scratching the surface. For every patient, treatment of loose teeth will be just a little different. This is meant to give you an idea of what’s capable and maybe what to expect. If you’ve suffered a dental injury in or near Garden Grove, California and don’t know what to do – we’re here to help. Get in touch today to learn more.

Can You Stay Young Longer With Better Teeth? Of course not, but….

For centuries, the fountain of youth was written of as a mythical spring that would magically restore the youth of anyone who bathed or drank its waters. Written of by Herodotus, hunted for by Ponce De Leon, and memorialized – in stories and legends cherished by communities around the world, the story of the fountain of youth is a relatively common one. It resonates for a specific reason. That reason?

Getting old sucks.

There’s no reason to sugar-coat it. As the years go by, things start to go. First it’s the muscle tone, then it’s the muscle function, and then – before long – your teeth are starting to go too!? But there’s an upside.

We live in a world where modern healthcare and dental care have allowed people to live longer, healthier, and more active lives. In turn, seniors everywhere are more youthful than ever. Despite the fact that the Fountain of Youth didn’t quite pain out as a quick fix, keeping our bodies – and particularly our teeth – youthful is one great way to slow the hands of time.

So, what can you do? A large part of keeping your teeth young actually starts with preventative maintenance.

Trying to stay looking young? Start with your teeth!

Preventative Maintenance: The One True Way To Keep Your Teeth Young

Just like with the other systems in your body, treating your teeth well will keep your teeth young and full of vitality. That means good oral hygiene, flossing, regular cleaning, fluoride, and a good diet. If you haven’t been to the dentist lately or don’t have a dentist – find a dentist and get updated x-rays, a cleaning, and a consultation with the dentist. Does it cost a little money? Sure. Can it prevent much more painful and expensive treatments in the future? You bet! As the sayings goes: an once of prevention is worth a pound of cure..

Invisalign and Braces

If your teeth aren’t perfectly straight, or you suffer from a significant over-bite or under-bite, you might be a good candidate for some sort of orthodontic treatment. With a wide variety of options ranging from the clear, almost invisible plastic retainers of Invisalign to the power and consistency of traditional braces — major improvements to your facial structure and smile can be made.

Dentures

If you haven’t kept all of your teeth, and have instead had to consider replacing your teeth with a denture – it could be a decision that successfully restores shape to your face and function to your mouth. As an experienced provider of affordable dentures in Garden Grove, our advice is to weight your options carefully and be patient. With dentures, sometimes a perfect fit and feel can take time.

Implants

Have you ever considered fully replacing your tooth with a perfect prosthetic that’s cavity proof, as strong as a natural tooth, and as white as you want it? For some patients, it’s a one way ticket to a more youthful smile and greater confidence. However, this can be a long, expensive, and uncomfortable process for some patients.

Whitening

Did you know that the act of smiling naturally releases endorphins in your body that make you feel better? Looking for a reason to smile? Whiter teeth sound like a good enough reason. Whenever you feel more confident about your smile, you’re going to smile more. And all it takes is a short session in the dentist’s chair.

Don’t Sweat it

When it comes to getting older, there’s one thing you can’t do – and that’s worry too much about it. While you can try all of the above to improve your smile, keep your teeth white, and maybe even feel a little more youthful – we’re all getting older every day. While it’s nice to look youthful, it’s best to feel healthy.

Can Better Teeth Help You in the Post-Graduation Job Hunt? Maybe

There are plenty of sayings and platitudes when it comes to getting ahead in the professional world. Unfortunately, none of them typically call attention to the importance of your teeth. Should the job hunt be a signal that you need to find a dentist? Maybe. Because you can build a good resume, wear the perfect outfit to the interview, and ace every question – but in the end, could your teeth give you the final edge you need when it comes to getting that new job you’ve had your eyes on?

In an NBC news article Bad Teeth, Broken Dreams: Lack of Dental Care Keeps Many Out of Jobs, the notion that your teeth can have a very real impact on your professional prospects is made even more clear. For example, one subject interviewed, said “I really don’t smile a lot. I know that when you have a job, you want to have a pleasant attitude and you’ve got to smile and be friendly.” Unfortunately, when your teeth need work sometimes it’s hard to summon the confidence to do something as simple as smile – a basic job requirement.

When employers are hiring, especially for roles that will put the employee in front of the public, it’s nearly impossible for someone with missing or bad teeth to get the job.

A first impression can speak volumes, but unfortunately – that’s not always a good thing, especially when the inclination is to judge a person first by their appearance and then by their merits. But there is a silver lining. That is, that research shows that when a person is offered dental care, their “employability” has been proven to rise.

Whether you’re just beginning the search for new employment or have been looking for years, have you considered making an investment in your teeth?

In-Office Teeth Whitening

When it comes to cosmetic dentistry, in-office teeth whitening is one of the fastest, most economical, and most noticeable upgrades you can make to your teeth. Take Alisha’s experience, for example:

“All I did was search for a dentist near me, schedule the appointment, and sat in the chair for what seemed like 30 or 45 minutes. After that, the difference for my teeth was like night and day.”

Invisalign

While not as immediate as teeth whitening, Invisalign takes about a year and has been proven to effectively treat an impressive range of misalignment. Explore any number of our posts about Invisalign to learn more…

Can Invisalign Treat Overbite and Underbite?

Is Invisalign Right for Me?

Cosmetic Dentistry and You: Three Popular Choices for a Better Smile

More Extensive Cosmetic Repairs

As a family dentist that’s treated countless patients of all ages, we know well that no two mouths are the same. Sometimes, patients require a combination of different treatments to give them the confidence they’ve been lacking. From dental implants and tooth replacement, to maxillofacial surgery to adjust jaw and bite problems – there’s almost always a treatment option.

Better Teeth = Better Job Prospects? You bet

Even if the studies weren’t true and it wasn’t proven that better teeth lead to better job prospects, there’s no denying that confidence sells. With the confidence of better teeth, selling yourself in a job interview only gets easier.

Next time you’re looking for a job, if you’re a patient in Southern California, why not see what our dentists in Garden Grove can do for you? With extensive experience with cosmetic dentistry, Invisalign, veneers, and more – we have something for every budget when it comes to improving your smile (and your confidence).

What’s the Difference Between Invisalign and Traditional Braces?

Could Invisalign be your ticket to straighter teeth?

One of the most frequent questions we get about Invisalign goes something like this, “What’s better? Invisalign or ‘regular’ braces?”

Invisalign can help straighten your teeth, and so will traditional braces. However, Invisalign does so in a way that is much more convenient for many patients. While traditional braces involve a fair amount of brackets, wires, and sometimes even rubber-bands to help do their job, Invisalign only uses a series of custom aligners that can be easily removed. As your treatment progresses, the aligners gradually get smaller and smaller, slowly and gently applying pressure in order to move your teeth in the direction they need to go.

If you’re only now beginning to do your research on Invisalign, this might be where you start to wonder, “Well why would anyone bother with traditional braces if Invisalign is so easy?” and the answer is, because Invisalign – unfortunately – doesn’t work for everyone. While it can do a great job of aligning problem teeth (while doing so almost invisibly) it doesn’t do everything, and that’s okay! Because while the advantages of Invisalign benefit patients around the globe, the distinct advantages of traditional braces do the exact same thing.

So instead of viewing Invisalign as a better treatment than traditional braces, simply view it as a different tool with it’s own specific set of utilities. After all, would you compare a Philips head screw-driver to a flat-head screw driver? Sure, they’re both screw-drivers, but they accomplish different tasks in somewhat similar ways. When it comes to the difference between Invisalign and traditional braces, the story isn’t much different.

Let’s look at Invisalign vs. Traditional braces with 3 different contexts that are important to anyone considering braces: convenience, cleaning, and capability.

Convenience

This is where Invisalign sort of takes the cake. Being able to remove the plastic retainers used by Invisalign is an incredible benefit. While the retainers need to still be worn for most of the day, the ability to remove them at will makes eating and cleaning much easier. On top of this, being able to go without retainers for a special event (every now and then) is an option many adult patients prefer.

On the other hand, traditional braces are convenient in their own special way. While they are noticeable and harder to clean, they do require less visits to the orthodontist and less diligence over all. For younger patients that might have a hard time keeping “honest” with the need to wear Invisalign for 22 or 23 hours, traditional braces might be more convenient.

Cleaning

Without a doubt, cleaning your teeth with Invisalign is much easier than the alternative. Traditional braces can be cumbersome to brush around which often can lead to the development of localized pockets of plaque and discoloration (which can be easily treated). With Invisalign’s clear retainers, all you need to do is brush, floss, and rinse as you normally would – with a little attention paid to your retainers, in order to clear out any lingering bacteria.

Capability

Capability is the great equalizer when it comes down to comparing Invisalign vs. more traditional braces. While traditional braces might be harder to clean and less convenient for the average adult, it is undeniable that the sheer scope of what can be corrected with traditional braces is much greater. Some mouth, jaw, and tooth adjustments simply can’t be made without the more powerful influence of traditional braces. For this reason, they continue to occupy a dedicated space in our toolbox as useful and valuable dental “tools”.

As a preferred provider of Invisalign in Garden Grove, Primary Dental Care has helped countless patients improve their smile and boost their confidence. Is Invisalign right for you? Only a consultation can say! Contact us today to learn more.

The Ultimate Guide to Flossing

Any patient that’s lived a long life with a healthy smile knows that you generally can’t get by without flossing. And if you do, there’s a great chance that you’re just incredibly lucky. For most, ignoring this simple step in any good oral hygiene routine is one great way to eventually find yourself looking for a dentist nearby that provides cosmetic (or emergency) dental care.

Follow the “floss” tips below to get a better handle on your oral health, safe money on future dental visits, and protect your teeth and gums as well as you can.

Need a quick walk-through? That’s okay! In fact, by reassessing how you should be flossing, many patients have discovered they’re missing out on easy and important ways to cleanse and protect their teeth and gums even more effectively. Of course, while the ADA guide below focuses on using string floss you can also successfully floss by using a variety of other tools, which we will describe below.

“Is it normal to bleed during flossing?”

Many patients wonder if it’s normal to bleed while flossing. In most cases, no. If your gums frequently bleed while flossing, it could be a good sign that you have the early symptoms of gingivitis or periodontal disease.

Sometimes, it could also be because you’re just flossing too hard. If your gums don’t frequently bleed, or maybe you taken a couple days off for flossing, it’s not abnormal for the gums to become irritated. Whenever you floss, simply be sure to be careful . Snapping the dental floss all the way up your gum too aggressively can cause tissue damage that contributes to sensitivity. Just like brushing, being gentle is the name of the game.

If you notice light traces of blood on your floss or notice a bit of blood after flossing while brushing your teeth, you may be flossing to hard. Do your best to avoid forcing floss in between teeth. It can snap through all the way up to your gums and cause slight tissue damage. This tissue damage will cause gum sensitivity as well as cause light gum bleeding.

String Floss

When most people think about flossing, they think about the classic “string” of dental floss that – when used properly – can effectively clean your entire mouth with ease.

Floss Picks

A floss pick is a lot like a toothpick, except it also has a small string of floss threaded to either end. Floss picks make flossing more convenient and easier for some patients. However, be sure to continue being gentle. Guide the floss gently between your teeth (without forcing) and gradually outline the curvature of each tooth to clear away any stubborn gunk or debris.

the “Water Pick”

Water flossers are popular among patients who need to try extra hard to floss. In many cases, this is because they are stepping up their “oral hygiene” game after getting a dental bridge or recovering from periodontal pockets. For patients like these, the added depth of cleaning from a water flosser can make a big difference.

Patients who use orthodontic appliances like braces also enjoy a water flosser due to is ability to effectively get into the nooks and crannies created by braces that floss simply won’t work for.

For patients of every age and background, flossing is an essential component of any oral hygiene routine. At Primary Dental Care in Garden Grove, if you’re a patient looking for advice on how to protect your gums and teeth with better oral hygiene – contact us today!

Your Most Random Dental Questions: Answered

Questions questions questions. To us, one of the most important parts of being a dentist is answering our patients’ questions. We’ve said it before and we’ll likely say it again, but education is one of the key aspects of good, quality dental care.

But enough rambling! Today we have some interesting ones. Read on to learn more on topics as varied as, “Is chewing my cheeks bad?” to “How do you expect me to talk to you while I’m in the dentist’s chair?!”

I chew my cheeks. Is it dangerous?

You would be surprised by how many patients ask this question. Some people bite their cheeks, some people bite their nails, and some people have a tendency to twirl their fingers in their hair until it falls out. Chances are, if you’re biting your cheeks you’re doing no harm. After all, it’s better than biting your nails – which can actually chip your teeth.

What is a “All on 4” Dental Implant?

All on 4 is an implant supported denture. During the procedure, your dentist will place four implants at different angles in your jaw. This is performed on a jaw that has no teeth, and is used as a full restoration, where a denture is then screwed into the 4 implants and cannot be removed – except by your dentist. Patients tend to really enjoy the stability and natural feeling of this denture.

“Can a dental implant be done in a single day?”

The short answer here is yes, the long answer is….well, quite a bit longer. While a dental implant can sometimes be performed in one day, the primary factor that we try to remain cognizant of is how long it will take for the bone to become integrated with the implant so that the implant can sustain chewing forces without failure. Sometimes, the rate at which this happens can be improved by drilling extra pilot holes beneath the implant platform, in order to help stimulate what we call “primary stability” – which is the most important factor when it comes to the “immediate” application of force to the implant.

In order to accomplish this, it’s generally best if only a single (or small amount) of teeth are being replaced, and can only be done if sufficient bone is available. For patients who are diabetic or smokers, there tends to be a lower success rate due to insufficiencies with blood supply.

“When my dentist talks to me when I’m in the chair, how am I supposed to respond?”

This is always a funny question to respond to. In fact (if we’re being just a bit silly), one of the hardest aspect of being a dentist is navigating the space between awkward silence and forcing you, the patient, to talk when you literally can’t. In most cases, we do our best to answer yes or no question – or time the conversation to give you an opportunity to talk. In the end, don’t worry about it! It’s something that every dentist has to develop a knack for. Here at Primary Dental Care in Garden Grove, we do our best to make every patient’s appointment enjoyable – and that means gaining a sense for what the patient wants from their appointment.

The Ideal Age for Invisalign

As an experienced dentist in the Garden Grove, CA area – we are no strangers to a patient’s desire for a more perfect smile. From cosmetic dentistry options on the simple-end, like teeth whitening, to involved and all-encompassing options like dental veneers and dental implant surgery – we honestly do it all. However, with that said – one of the most commonly inquired about solutions remains Invisalign.

As a preferred provider of Invisalign in Orange County, our entire dental team recommends the system as a great solution for cosmetic adjustments for a straighter smile. While Invisalign generally can’t correct problems stemming from misalignment with your jaw, teeth that are rotated, crooked, or moderately out of place are great candidates for the system.

But what about age?

Many patients wonder how old you have to be to get Invisalign. For most adults, age isn’t a problem. But when it comes to patients who haven’t yet lost all of their “baby teeth” it begins to become a factor: here’s why.

It all comes down to discipline.

While Invisalign does offer a solution for teenagers, would you trust your 11 or 12 year old to commit to a daily exercise routine with absolute adherence? Do you have to remind them to keep their room clean? Do they constantly forget their homework on the bus?

When it comes to Invisalign, forgetfulness is the enemy. The system requires the patient to be completely mature about the treatment of their teeth, and fully aware of the fact that if the Invisalign retainers aren’t worn for the majority of the day, they will not work.

Invisalign is meant to be worn at least 22 hours a day, and only removed to eat, brush, and floss. Some patients mistakenly believe they do not need to be worn at night, this is not true. While it’s okay to remove your Invisalign retainers every once and a while for special occasions (think a special dinner or a formal event), the longer they stay out the longer it takes for the treatment to be rendered fully complete (if at all).

With a teenager, this can sometimes be a problem. On top of this, there generally isn’t a stigma in middle school or even high-school when it comes to traditional braces. In fact, some kids have been known to look forward to braces! Combine this with the fact that traditional braces are less expensive and more effective at treating more challenging irregularities, and the best solution becomes relatively clear.

Do you have questions about Invisalign? Our dental team in Garden Grove has the answers. As one of the area’s leading providers of Invisalign, we’ve treated patients with a wide variety of irregularities.

Learn How Smoking Impacts Your Dental Health

Let’s start with a basic premise, smoking is bad for you. You know it is! Back in 1980, 721 million people smoked tobacco products every day. Today, the number is even higher, and according to the BBC – cigarette smoking kills nearly 500,000 people every year in the United States. That averages out to about 1,300 smoking-related deaths every day – with smokers living up to 10 years fewer than nonsmokers.

Let that sink in for a moment.

If smoking is so bad for you that it actively harms millions every year and over the course of their live time – what do you think it does for your teeth?

Whether you’re smoking cigarettes, cigars, or using chewing tobacco (or pouches), every time you enjoy your particular vice – it starts in your mouth, passes your teeth and bathes your gums in its damaging combination of carcinogens and chemicals. Ultimately, smoking is never worth the “buzz” but read on to learn why.

If you’ve already stopped smoking, pat yourself on the back. But your next step should be to find your way to the nearest dentist. If you’re a patient in California, our dentists in Garden Grove have helped countless patients bounce back after years of abuse from tobacco products.

The risk of oral cancer

Both smoking and chewing tobacco are active contributors to a variety of mouth cancers affecting your lips, throat, gums, tongue, and mouth.
Smoking or chewing tobacco can contribute to cancers of your mouth, tongue, lips, gums and throat. Unfortunately, many patients don’t discover oral cancer before it’s already advanced to an aggressive state.

Cavities and other damage

Smoking and smokeless tobacco put a great deal of strain on your teeth for a few reasons. As someone that uses tobacco products, you increase your risk for cavities by more than 3 times that of a non-smoker. This happens in a few ways, first, smoking weakens your body’s ability to fight infection while also inhibiting saliva production in your mouth, this makes it harder for your mouth to fight harmful bacteria. On top of this, smoking also inhibits blood flow to your gums, which will cause your gums to slowly pull away from your teeth. This contributes to cavities by advancing the progress of periodontal disease and giving debris, bacteria, and food particles a place to collect – contributing to cavities, infection, and tooth loss.

Periodontal (gum) disease

The damage from smoking occurs in a couple different ways. First, the rate of plaque production in your mouth will increase. This drastically increases the rate at which your mouth is continually attacked as bacteria eats its way into your teeth and gums. To compound on this, smoking lowers the oxygen count in your blood, which slows your blood’s ability to heal the various systems in your body. This means, when gums become infected, your body will be less powerful when it comes to fighting it. Ever dealt with occasional bleeding of the gums? This is a sign of gum disease. If you’re a smoker, there’s a good chance it won’t go away quite as fast (or at all) without drastic changes.

Smoking Causes Staining

Show any dentist a set of teeth from a smoker and a set of teeth from a nonsmoker and the difference won’t be hard to notice. In fact, it typically won’t even take a dentist to spot the staining apparent on a smoker’s teeth. Tar and nicotine actively leave brown and yellowish deposits on your teeth that will slowly begin to settle into cracks in your tooth enamel, which can make the staining permanent. If you’ve experienced staining and have recently quit, our dental team in garden grove has successfully brightened ex-smoker’s smiles with in-office teeth whitening.

Looking for help? We’re here
As one of Garden Grove’s top dentists, we’ve helped patients bounce back from years of dental damage caused by smoking. If you’re a patient in Garden Grove hoping to make a change by quitting smoking, don’t wait! Start today.

Do You Know How Cavities Work?

When it comes to taking care of your teeth, one of the most commonly heard words is “cavity”. From “how many cavities have you gotten filled?” when discussing dental health between friends, to the exclamation, “I think I might have a cavity!” when you feel a sharp jolt of pain upon eating or drinking.

Nobody wants a cavity. They don’t want cavities because they hope to avoid the dentist’s drill, and they don’t want cavities because cavities can lead to much more serious problems.

But what causes them? You might think it’s just sweets and poor oral hygiene that cause cavities and lead to the eventual need for root canal treatment – but diet is only a small piece of the puzzle.

The Causes of Cavities

1. Something to kick-start the decay

Cavities rely on acid and food debris to make the conditions ripe for the creation of decay that makes the teeth week and vulnerable. Fermentable carbohydrates are one of the primary contributors to dental decay. This is because fermentable carbohydrates begin to break down in your mouth – while other “carbs” do not break down until they’ve had a chance to move further into your digestive system.

But what are fermentable carbohydrates? They include the obvious foods, like sweets and other sugary confections, as well as bread, bananas, breakfast cereal, and crackers. When these carbohydrates break down, they become sugars and continue to attack the teeth.

2. Lack of Saliva

Did you know that your saliva is an active contributor to the protection of your teeth? Your saliva is a very important buffer that helps maintain a proper balance in your mouth. In order to maintain your saliva’s ability to protect your teeth, it’s important to avoid habits and activities that undermine it. One of the biggest is snacking. When you snack, it lowers the pH balance of your mouth, which takes time to restore to a proper level. Too much snacking prolongs the amount of time your mouth is ripe for decay. Think about it: if you snack every couple of hours, you lower your mouth’s pH every couple of hours, and continue to keep your mouth ripe for decay.

3. The Importance of Oral Bacteria

Bacteria isn’t always a bad thing. Did you know an alligator’s stomach bacteria can make short work of bones and hooves? Bacteria can do some amazing things. When it comes to the bacteria in your mouth, it’s important to realize that some people are different. Genetics has a lot to do with the kind of bacteria that’s in your mouth and whether or not it contributes to decay. This bacteria is typically established when you’re very young, and is the reason why many people seem to never get cavities.

Preventing cavities by taking proper care of your teeth is one of the best ways to prevent the need for root canal treatment in the future. Have questions? If you’re a patient in the Garden Grove area, get in touch with us today!

Does Invisalign Work? Yes, but…..

Invisalign is one of modern cosmetic dental technology’s greatest innovations. The funny part is how simple the system really is. Of course, a great deal of complicated precision goes into 3D molding the trays that are actually used to align your teeth, and producing models to show you how much straighter your teeth will be. But the concept in itself is relatively simple: multiple sets of high-tech plastic aligners, gradually adjusted in size to methodically improve your smile.

But one of the most common questions we hear about Invisalign is, “Does it actually work?”

Our experience as a leading Invisalign dentist in Garden Grove makes us uniquely suited to answering that question. But the answer isn’t as simple as a “yes”. It’s a little more complicated than that.

The first concern with Invisalign should be where you get it. Unlike your car or a shirt from the local mall, the first major factor that will ultimately dictate whether Invisalign will “work” or not is who’s providing it. Like any piece of precision equipment, the success of Invisalign treatment largely relies on the experience of the “operator”. In your case, this would mean your dentist.

Invisalign is available from an incredibly wide range of providers. The unfortunate reality is that not all of them know how to use it to the best of its ability. While the Invisalign system predicts the spacing of your teeth, it does little to account for how your bone and soft tissue will be impacted. With this in mind, it takes a dentist who truly knows what they are doing with the Invisalign system to apply their own expertise to modify each patient’s treatment plan to account for their unique situation, especially when that situation is a little more complicated or complex.

Many patients considering Invisalign who have done some “shopping around” begin to notice a few discrepancies when it comes to what dentists say is treatable with the clear plastic aligners. This, again, speaks to how important experience is with the Invisalign system. The range of conditions an experienced Invisalign provider can correct is much greater than those of a less experienced dentist or orthodontist. With the proper experience, your Invisalign provider can use IPR, elastics, buttons, attachments, and other add-ons to use Invisalign to treat even severe crowding, spacing, rotations, open bites, and up to class 3 malocclusions.

At Primary Dental Care of Garden Grove, our dentist and orthodontists are deeply experienced when it comes to the effective application of Invisalign on a wide variety of patients. If you’ve been considering Invisalign and are a patient in Southern California, contact us today for a free consultation.

Garden Grove Dental Arts : Marianna Ibrahim DDS

714-537-5700

Monthly Archives: May 2016