Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

Archives for September 2019

Can Invisalign Help a Narrow Smile

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I needed braces when I was younger, but the dentist said I needed a palate expander. My parents decided that was too expensive and never went through with treatment. Now I’m an adult and still need orthodontics. I have heard Invisalign is a way for adults to straighten their teeth without anyone knowing. Will that work for me, as someone with a narrow smile or will I still need a palate expander?

Kelly

Dear Kelly,

Upper Invisalign Aligner

You are too old for a palate expander at this point in your life. Those are designed to be used on children whose mouths are more malleable. Once you get past around twelve years old, these are no longer going to work. That doesn’t mean things are hopeless.

You can still have orthodontics as an adult. Invisalign could be a good choice for you. In the past, it only worked for the most ideal cases. These days, they can take on all but the most challenging bites.

When you have a narrow bite and there is no longer the option of using a palate expander, it often means you have to extract some teeth to make room for a correctly positioned bite. Fortunately, with computer-aided orthodontics, such as clear braces like Invisalign or Clear Correct, you can often see what your smile will look like before you go forward.

Giving Yourself a Mini-Smile Makeover with Invisalign

One hidden benefit of Invisalign is the aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. Your dentist can provide you with a professional strength whitening gel. You can wear the gel in your Invisalign aligners for a set period of time each day.

You’ll simultaneously be able to straighten and whiten your teeth without anyone knowing.

Advantages of Invisalign

You’ll find there are quite a few advantages to Invisalign over traditional braces:

  • You’ll be able to straighten your teeth in half the time as traditional braces
  • No uncomfortable metal wires and brackets
  • No one will know you’re wearing orthodontics
  • Your final aligners can double as your retainer when your procedure is finished.

The key for you will be to get with a good orthodontist who can look at your case and make some recommendations specific to your bite.

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

Orthodontist Shaved My Son’s Teeth

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I’m fuming after a visit to the orthodontist. I took my 12-year-old son in to get started with orthodontic treatment. The doctor said it would be a longer visit because they were getting everything set up, but didn’t really elaborate on everything they’d be doing. It may be on me, but I didn’t clarify. I just thought he was getting braces put on. Come to find out, AFTER the appointment no less, that the dentist shaved his teeth. I had to hear about the procedure from my son. I thought he was mistaken when he came out and told me what they’d done, so I corrected him, and the assistant then told me what my son was saying was accurate. She said it was normal for treatment and that they do it with all their patients. Now, on top of everything else, I’m worried about the long-term damage the orthodontist may have caused. Why did he do this and can it be fixed?

Signed,

Not Ok in OK

Dear Not Ok,

Smiling young woman with braces

Why Did the Orthodontist “Shave Teeth?”

This is done to make space. Once the dentist measures out how much space is there and how much space is necessary for all the teeth once they’re in alignment, it becomes apparent if more space needs to be made. There are several ways to make space, such as palatal expanders and tooth extractions, but reducing the width of teeth is common as well. In short, if the dentist removes just the tiniest amount of structure on the sides of each tooth, it adds up to a fair amount of space overall. This may have been the easiest and least invasive method for your son. It’s referred to as “interproximal reduction.”

Interproximal Reduction is Safe

Although each dentist has his own toolkit he draws upon for various cases, interproximal reduction often earns a place in the toolkit because it is a safe and fast choice. True, some of your son’s enamel is gone now. Nothing will bring it back. However, if the reduction was such that your son would be at an increased risk for decay now, the dentist would have protected the surface with dental bonding. You can confirm if this was necessary with the dentist.

The Dentist Should Have Spoken with You

Despite the fact that this is a safe and trusted procedure, the dentist should have explained it to you in advance. He’s required to get “informed consent” before procedures are carried out, and if he didn’t fully inform you, then you didn’t give consent. That’s not ok. It’s possible he glossed over it or the detail was lost amid all the new information you were being given at the time, but if you’re 100% certain he didn’t discuss it, or even think he should have been more direct about it, then you should mention it to him. Again, it doesn’t sound like his practice was off, but if he’s missing the mark in communication, he needs to address that.

This post was sponsored by Dr. Ryan Noah, a Tulsa orthodontic treatment provider.