Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

Can a Teenager Use Invisalign?

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My daughter needs braces. She told me that all of her friends that got their teeth straightened used Invisalign and no one can even see they’re wearing them. I asked my dentist about it and he said it’s for adults and not teenagers and that I’m better off taking her to an orthodontist. He recommended someone. They have the same last name, which could be a coincidence, but I’m suspicious because her friends are definitely using Invisalign.

Gina

Dear Gina,

Upper Invisalign Aligner

Out of curiosity, does your dentist typically offer Invisalign? Though I cannot be certain, my suspicion is that he does not. The reason I say this is because teenagers can definitely use Invisalign. My guess is that he was steering you toward orthodontics because that won’t send you to another dentist but a different specialty. If he sent you to a dentist who did do Invisalign, you might not return to him. The similar last name could be coincidence, but given his lack of honesty with the treatment scope, I am suspicious.

I would simply look up Invisalign dentists in your area and take her there for treatment. Some things to be aware of. You know your daughter better than anyone else, so only you can answer these questions. Unlike braces, Invisalign is removable. That means it requires patient compliance. If you think she will be responsible and wear them the amount of time each day that the treatment requires, you should be fine to go with that procedure.

It has a high patient satisfaction rate and is both more comfortable and faster than traditional braces.

I hope this helps.
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A Second Opinion on Invisalign?

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I understood that Invisalign was a good option for adults who wanted to straighten their teeth. I’ve had several friends use it with great success. I didn’t think my teeth were much worse than theirs, but when I went to see my dentist about it he told me that it wasn’t good at fixing misaligned teeth and I should just get braces. Is that accurate? I’d like to get a second opinion. If it is, what are my options?

Peter

Dear Peter,

Upper Invisalign Aligner

I’m not sure why your dentist said that Invisalign was not a good option for fixing misalignments. This is exactly what the aligners were made for. Please understand, I do not know who your dentist is, so I cannot tell you definitively if this is the case, but two things come to mind as possible reasons for saying it was not a good option.

The first is that he has not kept up with the developments in the dental field very well. While it is true that when Invisalign first came onto the market it was only useful for the most ideal of cases, now it is able to handle all but the most complicated of cases. Your dentist simply may not be aware of this.

The second is that he does not offer Invisalign and, if he refers you to a dentist who does, you may switch dentists permanently instead of just for this procedure.

My suggestion is that you find a dentist who does do the procedure and have your teeth straightened there. As a side note, the aligners used to straighten your teeth are also able to double as teeth whitening trays. This means you can straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time. You’d simply have to ask your dentist to provide you with the whitening gel and then wear it inside your aligners at your convenience.

Just make sure to have your teeth professionally cleaned before starting the whitening. Otherwise the results will end up blotchy.

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Fixing Protruding Teeth

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I finally have some money to fix my teeth. Mostly I am dealing with some front teeth that stick out. I’m not opposed to braces, but I am 53 and wondering if there is something better for someone my age? I know I’m a little late to the game in getting my teeth straightened. I just want a pretty smile for once.

Sylvia

Dear Sylvia,

Upper Invisalign Aligner

There is no late to the game when it comes to a beautiful smile. You get there when you can. I know a woman who is straightening her teeth in her 80s. Looking at it that way, you’re ahead of the game. You have a couple of options. The first is traditional braces, which you have already mentioned.

However, I would like to recommend you look into Invisalign (pictured above). This uses clear aligners to straighten your teeth. No one will know you are even using orthodontics. They are invisible even at a conversational distance. They are more comfortable than traditional braces and work in half the time.

There is an additional benefit to using Invisalign instead of traditional braces. The clear aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. This way you can straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time for a fraction of the cost. Your dentist will just have to provide you with the whitening gel, which you can wear in the aligners at your convenience.

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

How Often Do I Need to See an Invisalign Dentist?

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I have been saving up for Invisalign treatment for a while. I have all the money ready. However, since then, we have moved. Our new location is two and a half hours away from the nearest Invisalign dentist. I know that we get aligners every two weeks. The problem I have is the distance. That would be five hours just in driving. On top of that I would have to add the time for the actual appointment, gas stops, and I’d probably need to eat and use the restroom at some point. I have four kids and don’t want to drag them on such a long trip every two weeks. It’s also not tenable for me to hire a sitter so often. Is there a way a dentist would be willing to work with me on maybe not coming quite so often?

Sylvia

Dear Sylvia,

Upper Invisalign Aligner

I am glad that you wrote. You certainly have your hands full. You’re also extremely disciplined if you were able to save up that money while meeting the needs of four children. That’s impressive!

You should know that while you switch out the Invisalign aligners every two weeks, we generally give you two pairs of aligners so that you are only actually coming in once a month. However, given your situation, you may be able to get your dentist to stretch that out even further. A lot of that would depend on how complex your particular case is. If there isn’t anything that would require a lot of monitoring, your dentist may be able to give you a few months worth at a time.

You should know that Invisalign aligners can also double as teeth whitening trays. I don’t know if that is something you are even interested in or need. If you are, it is a great way to save some extra money by knocking two procedures out at once. Plus, because the aligners can fill in for the bleaching trays, you will not have to worry about the additional cost of have bleaching trays made. The only thing you’d have to pay for is the bleaching gel itself, which is not very expensive.

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Smile Direct Ditched Me

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I was a patient of SmileDirectClub and then in December they went out of business. I thought they would at least send me the remaining aligners, but that hasn’t been the case. I’ve been wearing the same ones since then. What do I do? Is there another company like them?

Amanda

Dear Amanda,

A SmileDirectClub image with an X through it

Are you sure you want another company like them? The problem with SmileDirectClub, is their product only worked for some people. If it didn’t work and you complained about it, you would not get a refund unless you removed your complaint and signed a non-disclosure agreement. This, in part, is what put them out of business.

So many people had things go wrong, that eventually there was a court case that ruled they could no longer require those non-disclosure agreements, plus it released about 17,000 that were already in effect. This allowed clients to share their negative experiences and the company went into bankruptcy shortly after that.

They’ve told their clients, that they will no longer be helping them. If they’re in the middle of treatment, too bad. However, they do expect those who were on a payment plan to continue paying. Nice, right?

Any other mail order service, like SmileDirect, is going to have similar problems. The reason for this is every human body is unique. Sometimes our body’s follows the treatment plan to a tee. Most times, adjustments need to be made as we progress. When you are not under the care of a dentist, these needed adjustments get missed. That puts the health of your teeth in danger. They could even come loose.

My suggestion is to finish out your treatment, do it through an Invisalign dentist. This will give you the care you need. As a bonus, the aligners can double as teeth whitening trays, so you can save some extra money by getting some professional strength whitening gel from your dentist and having your teeth whitening done at the same time as your get your teeth straightened.

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

Am I Too Old for Invisalign?

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I have always been embarassed by my smile. I am finally in a position to do something about it. I was hoping to get Invisalign to straighten my teeth, which is the biggest embarassment, and when that is done get some teeth whitening done. Someone told me that Invisalign is for teenagers. Because I am 55, does that disqualify me from getting them? I was hoping to avoid a mouth full of metal at this point in my life.

Stephanie

Dear Stephanie,

Upper Invisalign Aligner

I think it is awesome that you are ready and able to improve your smile. The short answer is no, you are not too old to get Invisalign. While this orthodontic treatment is popular with many teenagers, the treatment itself was originally designed for adults. Many adults want to straighten their teeth but because they are in a professional setting they don’t because the junior high look of a metal mouth could impact how they are viewed at work. When Invisalign came out, it was a game changer. In fact, a group of dentists I know once talked about how old their Invisalign patients were to get an idea of whose getting them the most, and one of them had an 81 year old patient! You are practically a child in comparison.

You should know, that if you go ahead with Invisalign, you will not have to wait until your treatment is over in order to have your teeth whitened. The aligners can double as professional teeth whitening trays. Then, all your dentist has to do is provide you with the gel, which you can wear simultaneously with with aligners at a time that is most convenient to you. Not only will this give you a smile makeover, but in a shorter time frame AND it will save you money.

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Am I Too Old for Invisalign?

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I’m seventy two years old and have always been embarrassed by my smile. Growing up, my parents could not afford braces. They worked hard, but such luxuries were still out of reach. Now, I’m way to old for a mouth full of metal and my skin is pretty paper thin so it cuts easily. Several of the young teenagers at my church are getting their teeth straightened with this thing called Invisalign. You can’t even tell there is anything on their teeth. I asked them about it and they said it doesn’t hurt. Am I too old to get this? I like the idea of getting my teeth straightened. There’s a widow in my book group and I’ve always wanted to smile at him and get his attention. This might give me the confidence.

Esther

Dear Esther,

Upper Invisalign Aligner

First, let me say right off the bat that I think you are awesome! You chat with the teens at your church and have your eye on a fella. You ROCK. Second, you are emphatically NOT too old to get Invisalign. Though it is popular among teens, it was originally designed for adults. To put you even more at ease about your age and Invisalign, there is a study group (The Molis Group) who get together and discuss various cases and techniques. They did a survey of dentists in the group about the ages of their patients. There were several in their 80s. However, that is not an age limit. That was just from that particular group.

You are perfectly safe to get Invisalign as long as your teeth are healthy. There is a hidden benefit too, that may help you get the attention of that widow. The aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. Your dentist can provide you with teeth whitening gel that you use in the aligners at your convenience. By the time you are done with your orthodontic treatment, you will not only have straight teeth, but youthfully white ones too! You’ll look at least a decade younger.

You’ve got this!
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Can Invisalign Cause TMJ Problems

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I’ve been using Invisalign for about three months now and most of the time it is awesome. One thing that does worry me is that whenever I put in a brand new pair of aligners, it causes my jaw to ache for a few days. Is it possible that this treatment is actually causing me to develop TMJ Disorder? My friend who has that said her first symptom was her jaw aching.

Missy

Dear Missy,

Upper Invisalign Aligner

TMJ Disorder is when there is a problem with the temporomandibular joint in your jaw. It’s the hinge joint. Sometimes, TMJ problems can be caused by having a bite that is out of alignment. However, you are working to straighten your teeth and are getting them in alignment, so that would not be an issue. In fact, sometimes orthodontics is the “cure” for TMJ Disorder.

Of course, it is possible, if you went to a horrible orthodontist who provided you with braces that messed up your bite, you could end up with some TMJ problems. However, Invisalign is designed with sophisticated computer software and is more accurate than what you would normally get.

What is Causing the Ache?

So, if Invisalign is so awesome why is your jaw aching when you first pop in those new aligners? The most likely cause is that your teeth are shifting. In the first couple of days when you place in your newest set of aligners, you will notice that they are a bit snug. That is because they are shifting your teeth into the new position. After two or three days, the aligners will feel looser and the aching will subside. This is because they are now in the next designated position for your treatment plan.

Don’t Try to Speed Up Your Treatment

Some patients, in an effort to speed up their treatment, will put in the next pair of aligners as soon as their new ones loosen up a bit. However, this is a dangerous thing to do. Yes, your teeth are in their new position. However, the remainder of the time you are supposed to wear those aligners is so the bone has time to integrate with the teeth in the newer position.

If you don’t give it that time, there will gradually be an ever widening gap between your teeth roots and the bone, which can cause your teeth to come loose and even fall out. So, make sure you use them as prescribed.

If the achiness of the first few days is getting to you, I have a couple of recommendations that should help. First, you can try changing out your aligners at night, so you can sleep through most of the initial achiness. A second thing you can do is take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory.

A Secret Benefit to Invisalign

Did you know that your Invisalign aligners can actually double as teeth whitening trays? This means you can straighten and whiten your teeth simultaneously at a fraction of the cost it would normally be. Simply ask your dentist for some professional strength teeth whitening gel and wear it in your aligners at your convenience.

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

Invisalign and Missing Teeth

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If I have missing teeth, can I still get Invisalign? I’ve seen an orthodontist for a consultation and he said Invisalign only works on the most ideal cases, but my dentist thinks I can still get Invisalign if I want to. I’m not sure which is right. They both have “motive” to get my money. Hahaha. As I live in a completely different state from you and you can’t get any of my money, do you think Invisalign is possible for me?

Elinore

Dear Elinore,

Upper Invisalign Aligner

I like your style. It is always a good idea to ask for your advice from someone who cannot benefit from the answer given. While it used to be in its early days that Invisalign only worked on the easiest cases, there have been quite a few advancements in the technology and it is now on the opposite ends of the spectrum where it works on all but the most complicated cases.

Invisalign does fine working around missing teeth, so you shouldn’t have any problems with Invisalign if that is the most complicated thing about your case. So, you may be wondering why your orthodontist was saying it cannot. I don’t think it was a completely financial answer. Orthodontists were trained to work with braces. They have more confidence in working with that procedure. He’s telling you what HE can do the best job with.

If you decide to get Invisalign, you should know there is one other hidden benefit to Invisalign. The clear aligners they use can also double as teeth whitening trays. This means, if you want to, you can straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time. It is like getting a mini smile makeover for a fraction of the cost.

I would consult with the Invisalign dentist you choose about replacing the teeth. In some cases, the teeth can just be shifted, depending on the placement of the teeth, without it having a negative impact on your smile. However, in some cases, your dentist will need to open up space for you to replace those teeth. In that case, you can replace the teeth once your case is done. The best tooth replacement is a dental implant. However, one step at a time.

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Fixing a Black Triangle

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I’ve just finished my braces and am starting my retainer. My orthodontist ended up shaving off about 2mm of space on the teeth. This ended up creating a black triangle at the gums. Will this go away or will I need to have another procedure done? Would grafting gum tissue to the space fix it?

Emma

Dear Emma,

example of black triangles at bottom teeth

Black Triangles

My guess would be your orthodontist is planning on fixing this by closing the space and just has it this way at the start of your retainer treatment. The first thing I would do is talk to him about it. If he doesn’t plan on doing anything about it and the gums don’t adjust when you’re done wearing a retainer, then you’ll need to take steps.

Gum grafting won’t be a useful procedure for you in this case. Your gums position themselves based on both the positions and shapes of your teeth. Even if you grafted gum tissue there, it would shift to a position based on the teeth in the area.

If your dentist doesn’t close this space and it bothers you, the procedure to fix it would be dental bonding. However, you don’t want to have just any dentist do this. It’s a tricky procedure to get right. You’ll need an expert cosmetic dentist to work on this.

One thing to be aware of with braces is to make sure you’re really getting in there when you brush your teeth. The areas surrounding the brackets gather bacteria. If you aren’t super careful, you’ll end up with white spots on your teeth. You haven’t mentioned this as an issue for you. I’m only bringing it up for the benefit of others who may still be wearing braces.

The Modern Alternative to Braces

These days, there are been tremendous advancements in orthodontics. The best of these advancements is Invisalign. These are sometimes called invisible braces because they use clear aligners to straighten your teeth instead of metal wires and brackets. They are completely invisible even at a conversational distance.

They have another, mostly unknown, benefit as well. The aligners can also double as teeth whitening trays. This will allow you to straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time.

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