Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

Will Invisalign Work for Me?

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I have two differing opinions about whether I should use Invisalign. My dentist said Invisalign will be fine for my case, but when I went to see an orthodontist about it he said traditional braces were a better option for me. I do want to fix my teeth but I’m not too keen on the whole metal mouth thing. Is my dentist or the orthodontist correct?

Mandie

Dear Mandie,

Two images: one of a woman placing her Invisalign aligner. The other, she's smling with it in.

Please bear in mind, I don’t know your specific case. I can’t give you a definitive yes or no, but I can give you some guidance.

First, the orthodontist you went to see said that traditional braces would be better. What he didn’t say was that Invisalign wouldn’t work in your case. My experience has been that orthodontists are specialists who are protecting their specialty. As such, they tend to downplay Invisalign.

I’d ask yourself if your dentist has always been honest and trustworthy in his dealings with you. Has he been the type of dentist to try to talk you into procedures to get more cases or does he just give you your options and let you decide? Have you ever doubted him? Has he ever misled you? If he’s trustworthy and he says it will work for you. Then, you may just want to believe him and go with Invisalign.

If you have any doubts, you are perfectly within your rights to get a second opinion from another Invisalign dentist. Let them know up front they won’t be doing the procedure, you just want to know if you’re really a good candidate because of conflicting opinions.

If you do get a second opinion, you can double the input by going to a dentist who does both Invisalign and traditional braces in their office.

Invisalign and Teeth Whitening

While most patients know the benefits of Invisalign, such as comfort and invisibility, they may not be aware of one that is rarely advertised.

If you turn out to be a good candidate for Invisalign, the aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. That means you can simultaneously whiten your teeth while you straighten them.

Your dentist will simply need to provide you with the gel and give you instructions as to how long to wear the gel. Instead of putting it in your whitening trays, you’ll put the gel in your aligners to the exact same effect.

Be aware that even professional teeth whitening will only whiten natural tooth structure. Therefore, if you have any dental fillings or any other dental work, those will remain the color they currently are.

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

Solution for a Huge Tooth Gap

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I have a tooth gap big enough to almost fit another tooth in. My dentist suggested Lumineers. I can’t imagine that scenario turning out well. What would I have? A center tooth like a cyclops? Eeww! I do want a solution though. What do you recommend? Please don’t say Lumineers. I might cry.

Luna

Dear Luna,

A woman placing her Invisaliagn aligners

Orthodontics no longer has to mean metal braces

I’m glad you have more sense than your dentist. You’re right that Lumineers would end up a disaster. With such a large gap you’d need one of the top cosmetic dentists in the world to make that look natural. I have a much better solution for you.

Commonly, a tooth gap is repaired using dental bonding. This closes the gap with a composite resin. However, again, the size of the gap you’re dealing with would make this challenging.

In your particular case, I’d suggest orthodontics. As an adult, you won’t want a mouth full of metal even if it means closing your tooth gap naturally. Instead, Invisalign will be a fantastic solution, but without being uncomfortable and unsightly. They have one of the highest patient satisfaction rates too.

Getting a Mini Smile Makeover with Invisalign

Many people find that by combining teeth whitening with Invisalign, they get a mini smile makeover of sorts. The Invisalign gives them beautiful straight teeth, while the teeth whitening takes years off their appearance and makes them a brilliant white color.

One thing to be aware of with teeth whitening is it will only whiten natural tooth structure. If you have other dental work, such as crowns or fillings, those won’t whiten from the solution. Instead, they’ll have to be redone in order to get them to match your new white color.

I hope this helps you. Again, I’m glad you sought out advice instead of just listening to your dentist’s disastrously bad suggestion.

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

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.

Is Orthly a Good Replacement for Invisalign?

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I keep reading about this product Orthly that replaces Invisalign at just a fraction of the cost. Is this legitimate?

Miranda M.

Dear Miranda,

If you’re asking if there’s an Invisalign substitute called Orthly which costs less than Invisalign, then the answer’s yes. But, if you’re asking if it’s a safe replacement, the answer is no.

Here are some of the concerns.

1. The designers have no dental training. They make that clear themselves. “Orthly does not practice dentistry nor do any employees in the company.” So, you’re talking about an app, designed by a college student who was just looking for a cheaper way to straighten his teeth. Does he understand how to move the roots of teeth without causing them to come loose?

2. You only see a dentist a couple of times. This is actually where they save their money. With Invisalign, you’re under the care of a dentist every two weeks. The appointments are designed to make sure nothing is going awry or needs to be addressed with your teeth. They’re designed to protect your teeth.

While an orthodontist working with Orthly can request you send pictures of your progress. That’s practically useless. How can a photo possibly measure things like mobility, root absorption, periodontal disease, and oral hygiene? If these problems crop up, you can lose your teeth.

3. They accept no responsibility for what happens to you. They state, “We partner with licensed, board-certified orthodontists and we ensure that they are the ones who lead the treatment process.” Those are the ones who will face liability, while Orthly rakes in the money.

So, which do you choose? That’s a personal decision. Obviously, I have strong feelings about the issue, but that is borne out of fear of low-income patients, desperate to straighten their teeth, getting themselves into situations where they end up losing their teeth, with no money left to replace them and zero recourse.

If you’re wanting to straighten your teeth, but struggle with the ability to afford it, talk to your dentist. Many of them will work with you financially.

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

If My Teeth Shift, Do I Re-do Invisalign Treatment?

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I had an Invisalign treatment when I was in my late teens. I’m in my mid-20s now and my teeth seemed to have shifted. Do I need to re-do the Invisalign treatment?

Missy L. – Pennsylvania

Missy,

First, I’d like to assure you it is normal for people’s teeth to shift. If they didn’t, orthodontics would never work. However, genetics plays a large factor in how much shifting people experience.

It’s likely your dentist provided you with a retainer to wear temporarily after you completed your Invisalign treatment for a specific period of time. If your teeth are shifting you may want to wear that retainer again.

The only reason I would re-do the Invisalign treatment is if your teeth shifted into a position you don’t like. Otherwise, a retainer should do the trick.  Some people have teeth which constantly shift. For those patients, I often recommend a permanent retainer. This is permanently fixed to the back of your teeth. You’ll be able to keep your teeth in proper alignment without worrying about people seeing your retainer.

Talk to your dentist or orthodontist. When they look at your bite, they’ll be able to tell you which treatment is preferable in your case. It’s likely, because your Invisalign treatment was completed in your teens, you’re going to a new dentist. Your old dentist should be able to easily provide any records or information your new dentist need about your Invisalign treatment.

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

Invisalign and Football

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I need to make my mom and my football coach happy. My coach won’t let me play without a mouthguard, and my mom says she didn’t pay for Invisalign for it to sit in my gym bag. Is there a way to work this out? Can I use the Invisalign as a mouthguard?

Reginald B. – Kansas

Reginald,

It’s great to see you’re being so responsible and taking steps to get the information you need. Both your mom and your coach should be very proud of you.

Don’t use your Invisalign aligners as a mouthguard. It’s not designed to absorb shock the way a sports mouthguard does. You will have a damaged mouth…and fewer teeth. There is a way to make it work. First, let your dentist know what’s going on so he can adjust your treatment accordingly.

Next, make sure you keep your aligner’s case with you at all times, even at football practice and games. When you’re not practicing keep your aligners on. Games are a little trickier because they last for so long. You don’t want to leave them out the entire game. Keep the case with you. When you’re not playing, put them in. When you are playing, take them out.

Other than that, just be sure the only other time they’re out is to eat and to clean your teeth.

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

I’ve Ruined My Invisalign Aligners

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Can you help me? I’m so embarrassed. I left my aligners in the car when I went on a date. I was worried my date would notice. Now that I think about it, that was pretty stupid. No one has ever noticed I wear them. It’s just that I hadn’t been on a date in a long time and I was pretty nervous. Long story short. The heat warped my aligners. Can I use a hairdryer to try to get them back in the right shape?

Karen B. – Michigan

Karen,

I hope your date went well.  Dating can be nerve-wracking sometimes, so don’t feel too bad. Besides, you are not the first patient to do something similar. Unfortunately, the hair dryer isn’t a good plan. They’re carefully designed by computer. The chances of you getting them back to the exact correct position to continue your treatment are astronomical.

Generally, you switch Invisalign aligners every two weeks. If you’re early in those two weeks, I’d just tell your dentist what happened and then have him make you a replacement pair. If you’re later in that two week period then I’d speak to him or her about moving you onto the next pair.

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

Can I use old invisalign aligners for teeth whitening trays?

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I was cleaning out my dresser and found an old pair of invisalign aligners. Can I use those as whitneing trays and just order the whitening gel? It would save me a ton of money?

Jillian K. – Ohio

Jillian,

Well, do you know which pair of aligners this is? If it’s anything but the last pair, you could shift your teeth and do your bite serious harm. Plus, they’re old, but how old? There’s a lot of information I don’t have here.

While some people whiten their teeth with invisalign aligners, that is always done during their Invisalign treatment, not consecutively.

If I were in your position, I would just talk to my dentist about it.  Let him look at the aligners and make sure they’re the right pair AND in suitable condition. It’s possible, but I wouldn’t do it without checking it with your dentist first.

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

Can I Switch Invisalign Dentists?

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I’m not too crazy about the dentist who’s doing my invisalign. I’m happy with the product, but can’t stand the dentist. He’s always talking politics and of course he hates my candidate, so I spend the whole appointment hearing him tell me everything that’s wrong with him. I can’t go back every two weeks until the election. I just can’t. Is it too late to switch?

Vivian K. – Massachusetts

Vivian,

Politics should be left out of the operatory unless the patient brings it up. Sorry, there’s not thing more unbearable that won’t stop talking about politics.

You can switch at any point in any dental treatment and your dentist is ethically bound to share all the treatment information with the new dentist.

I’m glad you’re happy with the Invisalign treatment itself. It has a very high patient satisfaction rate.

There are lots of good dentists that are certified to place them. Most of them politics free….

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

Can’t get a date. Is it my teeth?

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Everyone says I am beautiful. I can see where my face is pretty, but I have a huge gap in my front teeth. Could that be why I can’t get a date? If so, what can I do about it at 37? I’m not wearing braces.

Jenna S. – Maine

Jenna,

I would be ridiculously unfair of me to say your teeth are the reason you can’t get a date. It could be you just haven’t met the right guy. It could be you’re beautiful AND wicked smart, so men are intimidated.  I won’t convince you to get a procedure based on something emotional and personal.

What I can do is tell you how to discreetly fix your teeth at 37. You have a few options.

  1.  Fill in the gap.  That can be done wtih dental bonding. I have a hesitation with this, simply because you said the gap was huge. You don’t want to do this if filling it in will make your smile look unnatural.
  2. Invisalign.  If all that is worrying you about your smile is the gap, Invisalign can close it without you having to wear traditional metal braces.  This uses clear aligners to gently shift your teeth into proper alignment. No one will even know you’re doing it.
  3. Porcelain Veneers. I’d only suggest this if you needed a complete smile makeover. It can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth.

I’d pick one of these only if YOU are unhappy with your smile.  Otherwise, go about your life. The right man will come along.

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