Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

Archives for September 2017

Can Invisalign Substitute for My Retainer?

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I am about to finish my Invisalign treatment and I have LOVED it. My friends only noticed I was wearing the aligners when I took them out of my mouth for eating. They always thought it was awesome and always asked me tons of questions. Plus, they’re super comfortable. My dentist tells me I’m going to have to wear a retainer for a bit and I will admit I’m dreading the idea. I’m not too keen on metal after my exquisite Invisalign experience. I had the idea that I could just keep wearing my final set of aligners in place of a retainer. Would that work? Can I ask my mom to cancel the retainer appointment?

Cyndy F.

Dear Cyndy,

Tulsa Invisalign

It’s fantastic that you’ve enjoyed your Invisalign treatment so much. You’re not the only one who feels that way, either. Invisalign has a higher than normal patient satisfaction rate, which means they’re definitely doing something right.

I also love how proactive you’re being about your care. You know what you like and are trying to arrange care which fits those parameters. The great thing about that is dentistry has many more options than it used to in the past.

While the idea of using your final set of aligners for your retainer sounds good on the surface, there are some issues that will creep up on you. First, the aligners were designed for two-week usage. Extended usage will wear them out. Plus, the inside is likely to get a tad bit on the grungy side and you’ll be longing for a fresh set.

The good news is while a metal retainer is certainly an option, it’s not your only option. You may want to keep your appointment with the orthodontist in order to go over some of the options I’ll present below. That way you can decide what’s best for you.

1. Lingual Retainers. While these are metal, they are placed on the backs of your teeth where your tongue touches. While they’re not truly invisible, your friends won’t be able to see them unless you make an effort to show it to them.

2. Wrap Around Clear Plastic Aligners. These are similar to Invisalign. They wrap all the way around your teeth the way your aligners did. You can ask to look at them and get an idea of whether you’ll like them as much as you did your orthodontic treatment.

3. Full Mouth Aligners. These are also clear plastic but they also cover the top of your mouth. Some companies even allow you to customize them. You can have them made in various colors, or have your favorite activity or sports team printed onto them.

Modern dentistry is filled with advancements and options. Always ask what ALL your options are. While technically dentists are ethically obligated to point out all your treatment options, we all have our favorites and some dentists are better than others at sharing the procedures they’re not as keen on.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Noah.

Does an Open Bite REALLY Have to be Fixed?

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My dentist wants me to get braces. He insists my open bite needs to be fixed. There’s nothing really wrong with my teeth except for that. Is it really necessary to fix it? I suspect it’s either just for cosmetic reasons or to make my dentist a load of money. Either way, I’m not interested. So, give me a real reason.

Mike A.

Dear Mike,

Tulsa Orthodontist

An open bite actually would benefit from being fixed, and for more than cosmetic reasons. While it does have a negative impact on the appearance of your smile, it’s actually the negative impact on your jaw joints and teeth that are the real concern.

How Do Open Bites Affect Your Body?

Your upper teeth are meant to go a bit forward of your lower teeth. An open bite prevents that putting pressure in unnatural places.

TMJ PROBLEMS
The first obvious problem is your jaw joints. Your temporomandibular joints get knocked about and ground down. This will lead to TMJ disorder. TMJ can be mild to so serious that your jaw locks up and you’re unable to close it or eat. Even the mild cases generally cause migraines, which can be debilitating in they’re own right.

Tooth Damage
Your molars especially will become ground down or even chipped or cracked. In most cases, you’ll end up needing dental crowns. This is costly and an unnecessary loss of otherwise healthy teeth.

Orthodontic Solutions to an Open Bite

Invisible Orthodontics with Invisalign

The most severe open bites require surgery to repair. But, if your dentist is suggesting orthodontics then you’re not in that situation. That’s good news because it means it can be solved with orthodontics. There are two routes to choose from:

  • Traditional braces. These are the usual metal brackets and wires you likely think of when you hear the braces. These can be placed by any orthodontist and a few dentists. Dr. Noah’s practice is one of those dentists.
  • Invisalign. These days there is another option. Invisalign can be useful in solving this problem without anyone knowing you’re even wearing them. Better still is almost any dentist can place them.

Bottom line, your dentist is looking out for your best interest and isn’t just trying to make a quick buck.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Noah.