Choosing Ortho Treatment
In our office, we evaluate many aspects of a patient’s oral condition. In addition to their oral cancer, oral pathology, caries, restorations and periodontal examinations, the patient’s orthodontic situation is evaluated. After discussing our findings with you, a recommendation will be made if we feel your treatment can be accomplished here in our office, or we feel you should have a consultation with a Board-Certified Orthodontist.
In terms of orthodontic treatment, there are generally three choices:
- Conventional, Comprehensive Orthodontics
- Invisalign® Clear Aligner Orthodontic Care
- Fast-Braces® or Six Month Smiles® Short-Term Orthodontic Care
Kids Versus Adults
Ideal Treatment (Children) Vs. Realistic Treatment (Adults)
In children and teenagers, we seek to recommend Ideal Treatment and those with orthodontic problems are referred to Board-Certified Orthodontist specialists. They are in the “growing years” with their lives ahead of them and they deserve treatment that will last a long lifetime.
Adults generally are seeking more reasonable care. Those with severe orthodontic problems who would benefit from comprehensive, conventional orthodontic treatment are like-wise referred to the orthodontist from their consultation, evaluation and treatment.
“I don’t want to spend two years in Metal Braces”
With both Invisalign and 6-Month Smiles treatment we can deliver excellent cosmetic improvement of smiles. Invisalign often takes longer and there are movements not easily done with the Invisalign system. In 4 to 9 months, the Six Month Smiles system gives results with nearly invisible clear brackets and tooth-colored wires that are fixed to the teeth.
For adults seeking more cosmetic focused care, we have offered Invisalign care since 2005. Small problems requiring 10 or fewer aligners (each aligner is worn for two weeks and moves the teeth up to 0.2 mm each time) have been well treated with Invisalign Express. Those with more involved orthodontic problems, who did not want referral to an outside orthodontist, were treated with the full Invisalign product with treatment extending from 9 months to two years.
Since I had treated patients with full-band metal braces in my general practice residency and Neighborhood Health Center practices back in 1975-1978, I had an interest in a fixed orthodontic approach for short term treatment. Recent advances with the Six Month Smiles® system, led me to get trained and certified with that system.
What are the Pro’s and Con’s of Each Orthodontic System?
Conventional, Comprehensive Orthodontics
Pros
1) Provides tooth alignment that addresses esthetic, functional occlusion and skeletal jaw relationship problems.
2) Provided by a specialist with 3 years of Specialty Training in Orthodontics and who has met all of the rigorous requirements to become recognized by the American Board of Orthodontists.
3) The orthodontists that I refer my patients to are fully trained in the wide range of techniques of conventional orthodontic, orthognathic (jaw position altering) surgical approaches, as well as being instructors for teaching and certifying other dentists to use Invisalign. They have the full armamentarium of virtually all orthodontic techniques to choose from that would result in predictable and complete tooth, jaw and skeletal alignment.
Cons
1) Generally requires 1 to 3 years of treatment.
2) Treatment is more costly than more limited approaches of Invisalign or Six Month Smiles.
3) Patients have to be seen in both our office for routine care, cleanings and any needed restorations and by the orthodontist for their orthodontic care.
“Dr Rosenberg has been doing various orthodontic procedures since 1975, But he is a Prosthodontist and not an Orthodontic Specialist.”
Invisalign Clear Aligner Orthodontic Care
Pros
1) Can usually be done in our office. More advanced problems needed out of the ordinary Invisalign therapy are still referred to the orthodontist.
2) The most “invisible” form of orthodontic therapy
3) Usually less expensive than orthodontist-based therapy.
4) Aligners are removed for eating and cleaning the teeth. Easier to eat and clean the teeth than either traditional orthodontics or 6 Month Smiles.
Cons
1) While less expensive than conventional orthodontic therapy with long-duration braces, it is still a rather pricey dental service.
2) Achieving extrusion of teeth and moving the teeths roots into proper placement and alignment is not predictable.
3) Must be worn 22 hours a day to be effective. Compliance can be a problem and if not worn as directed, teeth can relapse back so that all new impressions and aligners may be needed.
Six Month Smiles Short Term Orthodontic Care
Pros
1) Addresses the most common need to improve the smile by focusing on aligning the front 6 or 8 upper and lower teeth.
2) Less costly than conventional or full Invisalign therapies.
3) Rapid results in 4 to 9 months.
4) Clear brackets and tooth-color wires are nearly invisible.
5) Nothing to remember to do — brackets are fixed to the teeth and work to align the teeth 24/7.
Cons
1) Fixed wires and brackets make oral hygiene (regular brushing and flossing) harder to do, just like regular braces.
2) To prevent breaking off the brackets while chewing or grinding the teeth, bite-opening composite guards are placed which can make eating a bit difficult in the beginning. These are taken off as soon as possible when cross bites are corrected or the teeth have moved so that they no longer hit the brackets while closing the teeth together.