Galleria Dental Aesthetics | Dental Blog
Northern Virginia, including Arlington and Alexandria
Archive for December, 2011
Is Orthodontic Treatment Painful?
Tuesday, December 27th, 2011
Sensitivity is a major concern for people considering orthodontic treatment. Some people avoid treatment because of their fear of the discomfort. The truth is that pain is very subjective and will vary depending on the depth and breadth of your orthodontic treatment.
There are some sources of discomfort in the orthodontic process, including:
- Spacers between the teeth
- Adjustment of the archwire
- Force exerted by the combination of brackets and wires
Many studies and anecdotal evidence suggest that fixed appliances (like metal braces) tend to be more pain-inducing than removable appliances like Invisalign. Other studies say the opposite. Everyone’s experience of pain and discomfort varies slightly.
Realistically, you will most likely experience some discomfort from orthodontic treatment. Many Invisalign patients report the greatest discomfort during the first few days after wearing a new aligner, after which time the discomfort lessens.
The overwhelming majority of patients find that the temporary discomfort is well worth the results of straight teeth and an aligned bite. Both the aesthetic and functional benefits of orthodontic treatment will outlast any discomfort you may experience.
To learn more about orthodontic treatment available to patients living in McLean and the surrounding Northern Virginia areas, please contact the experienced dentists at Galleria Dental Aesthetics to schedule a consultation.
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Why Should I Choose Invisalign for my Teen?
Tuesday, December 20th, 2011
With the innovative Invisalign system, your teen does not necessarily have to wear metal braces. With comparable treatment length, cost and results, why not let your teen enjoy the virtually invisible way to straighten teeth?
Invisalign may not be right for every teen. Some parents may be concerned that their teens will be tempted to take the removable aligners out more often than necessary. Another common concern is that Invisalign does not work as effectively in correcting the orthodontic needs of a teen’s developing dentition. Several features of Invisalign Teen address those concerns:
- Blue dot wear indicator. This feature tells parents and dentists if the teen is not wearing the aligner often enough.
- Eruption accommodation. Eruption tabs and other design features plan for teeth that will erupt or are partially erupted.
- Power ridges. This feature provides the extra force necessary to perform complex movements that are characteristic of teen treatment, including tooth root movement.
These features personalize treatment to a teen’s specific treatment needs while retaining the full benefits of Invisalign. Teens still get to take the clear, plastic aligners out to eat, so dietary restrictions are not necessary with Invisalign. The removable nature of Invisalign also makes it easy to maintain oral hygiene. Your teen can brush and floss normally, while metal braces can make these tasks difficult.
The only way to find out if Invisalign is right for your teen is to schedule a consultation with our Premier Invisalign Provider. At Galleria Dental Aesthetics, we will determine if Invisalign will address your teen’s needs or whether another treatment will be more effective.
If you live in Arlington, Northern Virginia or the surrounding areas, find out if Invisalign is right for your teen. Please contact the experienced orthodontists at Galleria Dental Aesthetics to schedule a consultation.
contact the experienced orthodontic team at Galleria Dental Aesthetics to schedule a consultation.
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Problems Invisalign Can Fix
Friday, December 16th, 2011
Like traditional metal braces, Invisalign can correct a diversity of orthodontic issues, including:
- Crooked teeth
- Gapped teeth
- Crowded teeth
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Crossbite
The tooth movement provided by Invisalign differs slightly from other orthodontic treatment. As such, your orthodontic treatment depends largely on how your teeth need to move.
Cases of a certain severity may require metal braces or another orthodontic approach. To find out if you are a candidate, we must first examine your teeth, jaws and bite. We may need to take x-rays of your mouth and use computer imaging technology to determine the proper treatment to align your bite.
If you live in Alexandria or the surrounding Northern Virginia areas, find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign at Galleria Dental Aesthetics; please contact our experienced orthodontists to schedule a consultation.
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Problems Traditional Orthodontics Fix
Monday, December 12th, 2011
Straight, properly aligned teeth are the hallmark of a beautiful smile. In addition to an aesthetically pleasing smile, orthodontics achieves a functional, healthy bite.
Traditional orthodontics treats many dental problems, including:
- Malocclusion
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Crossbite
- Open bite
- Crooked teeth
- Gapped teeth
- Crowded teeth
All of these issues can mar your smile, make chewing and speaking difficult, and exert physical stress on the temperomandibular joint (TMJ). Braces are worn for a period of time that is dependent upon how much movement is required to straighten your teeth and align your jaws into an optimal bite.
“Bite” refers to the way your teeth and jaws come together. More and more adults have begun seeking orthodontic treatment because of varying degrees of bite misalignment. Contrary to popular belief, most adult orthodontic patients report that there is no difference in the way they are treated or perceived when wearing braces.
If you prefer to avoid metal braces, Galleria Dental Aesthetics can offer Invisalign to patients who are good candidates for the orthodontic system. Invisalign corrects many of the same issues as traditional braces, but uses clear, plastic aligners instead of metal wires and brackets.
If you are interested in orthodontics and live in McLean or the surrounding Northern Virginia areas, please contact the experienced orthodontic team at Galleria Dental Aesthetics to schedule a consultation.
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