Tag Archives: orthodontics for adults

Invisalign

Please Don’t Do Lumineers for This

I wanted to get my smile fixed. I have two canines that stick out which make me look a bit like a vampire, minus the youthful looks, along with one crooked front tooth. I  was thinking I could get Invisalign and maybe whiten them. My dentist pointed out that I would still be left with the chipped tooth. Instead, he suggested Lumineers, which he said can take care of all three problems at once. I liked that idea but the price seems a bit steep compared to what I was planning. Is there something that could take care of the chipped tooth which isn’t as much as Lumineers?

Joyce

Dear Joyce,

Invisalign aligner

I’m glad you wrote. Whatever you do, even if you had gobs of money to waste on it. Lumineers are just a brand of porcelain veneers . They tend to be marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists as being easy to place because they don’t necessarily require any tooth prep.

While that might be okay for teeth that go in some. Yours are going out. Using no prep veneers on them will make them look bulky. Some with similar experiences said they felt like they had horse teeth.

I think your idea of Invisalign and teeth whitening was fantastic. You can fix the chipped tooth with dental bonding once you are done with your orthodontic treatment.

Your dentist can provide you with a teeth whitening gel that you can wear in your Invisalign aligners which will allow you to straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time.

Most of what we talked about can be done safely with any dentist who offers the procedure. One exception to that will be your dental bonding to repair the chip.  This an advanced dental procedure that has to be done freehand. I would only let an expert cosmetic dentist do that part.

This blog is brought to you by Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch, friendly dentists in Lafayette, LA.

Invisalign

Will Invisalign Work for Me?

I went to see an orthodontist about options in fixing my teeth. I was hoping to avoid braces altogether. I have some front teeth that are crooked. The orthodontist said that he tried Invisalign quite a few years ago and it did not work for the patients he tried it on. He’s recommending traditional braces. Is this my only option?

Caroline

Dear Caroline,

Invisalign aligner

I’m glad you wrote. No, it is not your only option. It sounds like your orthodontist only tried Invisalign when they first came out. In the beginning, Invisalign would only work on the most ideal cases. Since then, they have made great strides in being able to handle more cases. In fact, as of this post, Invisalign is able to treat all but the most complicated cases.

Orthodontists were trained in traditional braces. Not all of them are comfortable moving out of their original training. Plus, general dentists can provide Invisalign, which cuts into an orthodontist’s business.

You mentioned that you just had some front teeth that are crooked. Unless there is something extraordinarily unusual about your case, then Invisalign is a great solution for you. In fact, it even has a hidden benefit. The aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. You just need to ask your dentist to provide you with some professional strength teeth whitening gel. You place the gel inside your aligners at a time that is convenient to you.

This allows you to straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time, giving you the equivalent of a mini smile makeover at a fraction of the cost that it would be if you did the two procedures separately. Even dentists who only offer Zoom Whitening can provide you with whitening gel for your aligners.

I hope this helps. Talk to a few dentists who offer Invisalign. This will give you more than one opinion about your particular case. Based on what you’ve described, I don’t think you are going to have any problems.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Invisalign

Am I Too Old for Invisalign?

I have never had a straight smile. When I was little, my parents could not afford dental care, let alone braces. In adulthood, I had one tragedy after another, which also kept me from getting braces. Now, I am 57. I know it sounds vain, but I am in a situation where I can finally do something about this. I know the teenagers are mostly using Invisalign to straighten their teeth. Am I too old for that way of straightening my teeth? I was hoping to do it without a mouth full of metal.

Althea

Dear Althea,

Invisalign aligner

First, let me say there is absolutely no vanity in wanting straight teeth no matter what your age. Not only is it just taking the best care of your teeth that you can, but when your teeth are not straight, it can contribute to jaw pain and even migraine headaches.  That means that straightening your teeth is also taking care of your health.

Second, you are definitely not too old to have Invisalign. While you may know about it from teenagers, it was actually made first and foremost for adults. Invisalign Teen didn’t come into play until several years later.

I personally know of an 80 something year old woman who used Invisalign and was quite pleased with it! You’ve got quite a few years to catch up with her. In fact, you’re practically a pup!

I’ll let you in on a little secret too. If you were also interested in whitening your teeth, you could do it simultaneously with your Invisalign treatment. The aligners you would use for your orthodontic treatment can double as teeth whitening trays. Then, your dentist would only need to provide you with the whitening gel.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.