Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

Invisalign Didn’t Work For Me!

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I’m hoping you can help me!

My dentist recommended Invisalign to fix my midline and make room to put veneers on my lateral teeth. The agreed-upon price that I paid was $4,675.00. Initially, I was supposed to do a period of 9 months, but after the 9 months and my first set of trays, my midline was still not straight.

My dentist ordered a new set of trays and recommended that I do it for another 9 months. I have spent a year and a half working with my dentist and trying Invisalign to correct my midline, with no success.

I am extremely frustrated having spent so much time and money without any results. I decided to speak with other dentists that work with Invisalign and traditional braces. They all recommended traditional braces, stating that Invisalign would not give me the results that I was looking for.

I’m wondering how I should go about getting a refund from my dentist so that I can afford braces?

Thank you for your time and advice.

-Jennifer

Jennifer,

First, the doctors you are now seeing that recommend traditional braces are most likely right that Invisalign wasn’t the best option in this case. However, many orthodontists tend not to give Invisalign enough credit. Many believe that traditional braces are the only way to correct crooked teeth.

two people smiling. One with traditional braces and one with invisalign

Traditional braces are typically the most recommended option, but Invisalign can also be very successful. I believe that many orthodontist specialists feel that because you don’t need to be an orthodontist specialist to use Invisalign, that they are protecting their status as specialists by using traditional braces.

It can be challenging moving a midline and keeping it straight, so seeing an orthodontist specialist is a good choice.

Every dentist handles refunds differently. Some dentists will, without hesitation, give you a refund if you aren’t satisfied with their work. While others will not be so willing. The first step is to simply request a refund, and if that doesn’t work, then you will need to increase the pressure by:

  1. Politely request a refund from your dentist.
  2. Ask your new dentist to call and ask for a refund.
  3. Threaten that you will make a complaint to the state dental board. Make sure to follow through if they still don’t refund you.
  4. If everything else failed, get a lawyer.

Make sure you stay polite and calm but also firm to show them you are serious.

I hope this helps.

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

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.

Gum Recession During Braces

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I had a problem with gum recession during my braces. This created a black triangle at my gums. Is there a solution for this?

Dave

Dear Dave,

images of teeth with black triangles

Unfortunately, quite a few patients develop this problem with traditional braces. Many patients find it harder to keep up with their oral hygiene as well. Yes, gum recession can lead to black triangles. I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. The first thing I’d do is find out the cause of the gum recession, making sure it’s not a result of gum disease. If gum disease is the cause, that will need to be dealt with first.

There are orthodontic treatments that make it easier to brush and floss properly. For instance, with Invisalign, you simply remove your aligners then brush and floss as you normally would.

Treating Black Triangle After Orthodontics

Sometimes orthodontics can correctly repair a black triangle, but if this happened during your treatment that’s not going to happen. Instead, you’ll need a cosmetic solution.

I’ll be honest with you, not many dentists can do this repair. It’s treated with dental bonding, but because of the placement of the spaces, it requires some real expertise in cosmetics to make this look natural.

Unless your dentist is among the top cosmetic dentists in the country, I’d have him recommend someone for you.

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

DIY Braces

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I’ve got a group of girls in my elementary school class who are doing DIY braces with rubber bands. I know this has to be dangerous, but when I told them that they said that “I didn’t know because I’m not a dentist and this was on YouTube with lots of people who’ve done it.” As you’re a dentist. Can you let these girls know what they’re getting themselves into?

Miss Ketchum

Dear Miss Ketchum,

Someone smiling with braces

You sound like a compassionate teacher. I’m glad you’re looking out for these girls. I’m sure their parents will be too. The first thing I’d do, though, is let their parents know what they’re doing at school. It’s very likely they’re hiding this from their folks and this will give them a heads up so they’ll know to keep an eye out for it.

Now, onto what you should show the gals. I’m sure you’ve told them this many times, but you cannot believe everything you see on the internet. I’ve seen the video they’re talking about. There are actually several of them and, for a while, they were very trendy. In this case, listening to whoever uploaded these to YouTube could actually cost them their teeth.

When you get braces from a dentist, it’s a carefully planned treatment. First, the teeth are gently edged into a new position. Then some time is given for the bone to reform around the roots of their teeth. With the rubber bands, their teeth are being tipped inward. While it will bring their teeth closer together, it doesn’t do it properly. However, the way it does do it does not allow the bone to reform properly around them. The danger of that is your teeth don’t have any support. They will become loose. If you continue on with the bands, they will eventually fall out.

There have even been a few cases where some young people slept in their bands and they ended up with the rubber bands worming their way under their gums. The only way keep them from developing a severe infection was to have surgery to dig them out.

Alternatives to DIY Orthodontics

They don’t have to shift their teeth themselves. There are lots of fun options in orthodontics.

  • Traditional Braces

Getting traditional braces can give you an opportunity to express your personality. You can get them different colors or even a mixture of colors. You can even switch your colors at some appointments, so you get the opportunity to mix it up a bit.

  • Invisible Braces

Maybe you’re the type who doesn’t want anyone to know you need braces. In that case, Invisalign is your better option. Instead of the flash of colored braces, you can have invisible ones. Seriously. No one can tell you’re wearing them even at a conversational distance.

These have an added benefit of allowing you to whiten your teeth at the same time you’re straightening them. So, if you gals happen to be big coffee drinkers (shame on you!) then you can get rid of those unsightly coffee stains.

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.

Dentist Told Me to Go to Orthodontist Not Cosmetic Dentist

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I have a gap between my teeth I want to fix with cosmetic dentistry. I’d asked my dentist for a referral but he says that’s a waste of money and I should see an orthodontist. I’m too old for a mouth full of metal. Besides, it’s my money, if it’s more expensive but works I’ll be happy. I don’t want to be a metal mouth at 42.

Lara M.

Dear Lara,

A woman placing her Invisaliagn aligners

Orthodontics no longer mean metal braces

The only time cosmetic dentistry is a waste of money is if you go to a bad cosmetic dentist. It sounds to me like your family dentist is feeling a little salty about you asking to see a cosmetic dentist, probably because he hasn’t developed his skill set to include cosmetic work.

Cosmetic dentistry isn’t a recognized specialty with the American Dental Association (ADA). Instead, it’s general dentists who’ve invested time in learning the cosmetic procedures. Obviously, some dentists will be better than others, so you have to be careful.

Are Orthodontics the Only Solution for a Tooth Gap?

There are several solutions for a tooth gap, but let’s look at the orthodontic ones first. Obviously, you already know about the traditional metal braces. But, there have been significant advances in orthodontics since you were a child. We now have braces that you can’t even see.

If you look at the image above you see a woman placing clear aligners onto her teeth in the first picture. The second picture beneath that is her with the aligners on. As you see, there’s no way to tell she’s wearing anything on her teeth. This is Invisalign. It uses sets of clear aligners to straighten your teeth which are not visible even at a conversational distance.

But, let’s say you still don’t want orthodontics. That’s okay. The most common solution for a tooth gap is dental bonding. It uses a composite resin to fill in the gap. A good cosmetic dentist will make it blend seamlessly in with your natural tooth structure.

If there are more things about your teeth you’d like to change than just a gap, you might consider porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers completely remake a smile. They can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth.

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.

Do I Need to Keep Wearing My Retainer?

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When I was a teenager, I had to get braces and was told to wear a retainer for a month all day and then later, only at night. My upper front teeth relapsed a bit, so I spoke with a new orthodontist who said new braces would fix this problem. He also suggested I could use my old retainer to get the teeth pretty straight and then have a new retainer made. He mentioned six months of daily full time wear and then at night would do the job.
I’ve worn the new retainer fulltime for nearly three years and notice one tooth seems to shift after a few hours of not wearing the retainer. So now, I feel like I can’t go more than a few hours without the retainer. Am I imagining this or does this occur sometimes? And if it happens, what are the repercussions? What should I do?
– Justin in Oklahoma

Justin,
You’re probably not imagining that your teeth are moving. Clearly, one tooth in particular, seems to be changing position a bit. You should continue to wear the retainer all the time, day and night. If you don’t want to wear it during the day, you have a couple choices.
Your first choice is to get a permanent retainer bonded to the insides of your teeth. This could be done on the upper or lower teeth. The only issue is cleaning your teeth – you’d need to use a floss threader to adequately clean your teeth. If you’re okay with this, this may be a good solution.
If you’re not keen on this, your other option is to have a tooth bleaching splint created. This clear bleaching tray holds your teeth in position and isn’t as noticeable as the basic orthodontic retainer.
A dentist should see you to determine why your teeth haven’t stabilized. It isn’t good for your teeth to change position so you need to keep using the retainer to avoid this issue. Hopefully, over time, the movement will stop.

This blog brought to you by Tulsa dentist, Dr. Noah.

Closing a gap with teeth effects bands

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I have a small gap between my teeth. I’ve heard that Teeth Effects bands can close these. What do you think as a dentist about them?

Donald B.- Alexander, AR

Donald,

Please be careful about this. These are nothing more than simple rubberbands. Instead of sliding your teeth together they will tip your teeth together, which will permanently damage your teeth. I would go with traditional braces, or maybe Invisalign. If you are otherwise happy with your teeth alignment, you might be able to find a local dentist who does dental bonding and can close the small gap that way.

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

What should I get done – dental implants or braces?

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I am looking to have some orthodontic work done and I’m trying to find out if it makes sense or not. Soon, my wisdom teeth will be extracted along with tooth #5 and tooth #12. These two additional teeth need to come out due to severe decay and a period of time where I drank too much soda without dental coverage. To be honest, I never really trusted my last dentist. So I was wondering if it is possible to still get braces with these teeth missing? Or do you think I need to get dental implants on each side where the teeth will be removed? Also, I had to have two crowns several years ago, one due to an injury and the other because the filling was large. Will that complicate the possibility of braces as well?

– Robert in Arizona

Robert,

The answer is yes, braces are still a possibility even if you do have crowns.

Although, you need to make sure your tooth decay problem is taken care of before having braces put on. Drinking soda and frequent snacking is harmful to your teeth, especially if you get braces. This is because the braces catch food which leads to more tooth decay. It is important to keep your braces pretty clean.

The tooth numbers you referenced, #5 and #12, are premolars so you don’t want to leave empty spaces there. Dental implants are an excellent solution to replace missing teeth. Or dental bridges may be another option that could work. If the teeth that surround those two teeth have suffered significant decay, bridges may be the better of the two options.

Hopefully that answers your questions.

This post is sponsored by Tulsa dentist Region Dental.

Related link: Invisalign