Invisalign®/Invisalign® Teen
Invisalign® and a few similar technologies use a series of custom-made, clear aligners created specifically for your individual treatment plan to gradually move your teeth – generally without brackets. Simply wear them throughout the day and night. Remove them when you eat or to brush and floss your teeth. As you wear each set of aligners, your teeth gently and gradually begin to shift into place. For many cases, Invisalign® is a great option.
Clear aligners for adults have been available for over a decade, but until recently they weren’t recommended for teens in most cases. Why not? Chiefly, for two reasons: It was thought that teens wouldn’t always wear them for the recommended 22 hours per day; also, since many teens have some permanent teeth still erupting (emerging from below the gums), the precisely planned movement of the teeth might be disturbed.
Luckily, technology has come to the rescue. The first problem is addressed by “compliance indicators” located on the aligners themselves. These colored dots fade over time as the aligners are worn in the mouth, showing whether or not you’ve followed the plan. To solve the second problem, aligners made especially for teens come with “eruption tabs” built in; they are designed to hold space for teeth that have not yet fully erupted.
Why see Dr. Doppel?
These days it seems as though you can get Invisalign® from just about anyone, so why see an orthodontist? Invisalign® is not an off-the-shelf teeth alignment solution. It is one of the tools that we use to provide orthodontic services and requires exacting diagnosis, treatment planning, and treatment management just as braces do. Dr. Doppel is a certified orthodontic specialist with over 15 years of experience treating patients with Invisalign®. While Invisalign® is an amazing new technology, sometimes you need tools beyond Invisalign® to get the outcome you want. Dr. Doppel can combine specialized treatment types to get you the best results.
Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces are made of clear materials and are therefore less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, ceramic braces are used mainly on older teenagers and adult patients who have cosmetic concerns. While they are visually less prominent, they do require more attention to oral hygiene as ceramic braces are larger and are more brittle than their metal counterparts. For these reasons, ceramic braces tend to be used more on upper front teeth than on lower teeth.
Iconix Braces
Iconix stainless steel champagne colored brackets truly offer the best of both worlds – the durability of stainless steel and the aesthetics of “white” gold.
Traditional Metal Braces
Traditional metal braces are the most common type of braces and are more comfortable today than ever before. Made of high-grade stainless steel, metal braces straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires. With metal braces, you have the option of adding colored elastics (rubber bands) for a more unique and colorful smile. Contact us, today, to get started with your premiere Seattle braces provider.