Dr. Robert L Knudson is a Dentist and has answered some of the common questions bizymoms visitors have about Invisalign.
Q. What is an invisalign?
A. Invisalign is a type of orthodontic appliance that allows most orthodontic care of adults and teens to be handled without using "braces." It is provided through its manufacturer to me by prescription according to my direction. The design, speed and treatment design is completely under my supervision. As Whatcom County’s only Premier Provider of Invisalign, I have roughly 250 cases under my belt. Treatment time is generally less than braces because all types of orthodontic movement can go on simultaneously, whereas "braces" tend to have only one or two types of movement occurring with each wire change. I refer you to invisalign.com for some more detailed information and photos.
Q. How does invisalign work?
A. The process involves taking very accurate molds of the teeth and the bite relationship along with photos and x-rays. We scan those molds in a sophisticated CT scanner that allows us to create a "digital" model of your mouth. On that digital model the technician and I make your teeth straight by moving the individual teeth on the computer. From this data series of real models of your teeth are manufactured going from "crooked" to "straight." On those models, a thin layer of acrylic plastic is pressed into place and trimmed for comfort. What I receive back from the laboratory is a series of clear aligners that we dispense to the patient over the course of treatment. The patient will wear the appliances for two weeks on average before switching to the next set, and visit our office every 4 to 8 weeks to have their progress monitored and modified as needed, just as you would with braces. When the desired result is achieved, we are done. If it takes more aligners to do that than planned, we will prepare more at no additional charge so long as the patient is complying with the recommended wear time and shows for his or her appointments. Retainers are included in the price – 4 sets normally – because people who want their teeth to stay straight need to plan on having retainers available and retainers that will actually move your teeth back into place if you forget to wear them actually wear out over time.
Q. What are the primary benefits of invisalign?
A. The advantage to invisalign over braces is one of comfort – more gentle movements of the teeth and no brackets to drag on your lips, speed – see above, hygiene – you remove the appliances to eat, and you brush and floss like normal, and personal control – you can take them off whenever you desire. The advantage of Invisalign over "Six Month Smiles" brand of orthodontics is that it can be used to do the same thing as this type of braces in the same time span more comfortably. To clarify what "Six Month Smile’s" is – clear orthodontic brackets and tooth colored wires (I have them available, too, for those who need braces) and the treatment is to only align teeth in the smile without consideration of the rest of the bite. That is generally the promise made by folks marketing that system. It is standard wire-based orthodontics done quickly and only for looks, not for function or longevity. If you want a "textbook result" with that, it is no different than regular braces, but that is not what they are selling at that price.
Q. How long does invisalign treatment take?
A. The average case of Invisalign runs 12 to 14 months, but that is like saying the average house has three bedrooms. Everyone is different. I have done cases to completion in as little as 4 months and others have taken over three years (Lady looked like a shark when she came to me). As a rule, it is faster than braces by a long shot.
Q. How much does invisalign cost?
A. Prices range from around $3800 to $5920 – basically the same as braces, and if you price braces plus 4 sets of retainers, we probably are a better value in most cases.
Q. Who uses invisalign?
A. Most all my adults use invisalign, and most teens, too. I use braces generally only on cases where teeth are inaccessible to the appliance (un-erupted), young patients in their adolescent growth spurts (jawbones growing while appliances are made to fit the jaw at the time of impressions), or in "non-compliant kids" who won’t wear their appliances ("Mom says I need my teeth straight.")
Q. Are there certain dental conditions that automatically exclude someone from being an eligible patient?
A. Not really. Generally, having straighter teeth improves dental health over being left crooked. The only situation I could think of that would stop me is if the teeth were badly decayed and were not going to be repaired prior to treatment. Because the appliances are made based on the shapes and configurations of the teeth at the start, repairing the teeth during treatment would change the fit of the appliances and perhaps make them unusable, requiring new appliances at additional expense.
Q. How to contact Dr. Knudson if we have further questions?
A.
Address:
520 Birchwood Avenue Suite B
Bellingham, WA 98225
USA
Phone: (360) 671-4480
Fax: (360) 647-9680
Email: greattooth@aol.com
Website: http://www.beautiful-dentistry.com/
